Return to the Land

fun for boys who rarely ventured away from the farm. It promoted fellowship among young people throughout the state and nation. On several occasions our judging team won the livestock judging for the state, which brought recognition to our Bland Chapter. State forestry camps were held at Holiday Lake in Central Virginia to which our chapter always sent several delegates. During summer when school was over Mr. Reynolds would periodically show up on his students’ farms and check on our projects. He was a good influence and he always encouraged us. He often insisted that we could do better. There were never any demeaning remarks and often a little bragging was done by our advisor, which made us work even harder. The freshman year passed quickly and I became totally committed to my Ag classes and the FFA. This organization seemed to bring out the best in each of us. The students worked together in harmony and rarely were there disruptions in class. My basic education went well but it was still too early to think about college and the future. I was busy enjoying the present. All my classmates in Ag seemed to be good students. Shop, industrial and mechanical, was taught by Mr. Reynolds. He was always serious, as if each of us were being paid by the hour. He helped to develop our skills for construction and repair that included woodworking, welding, and working metal. We also attended safety classes. Many of these skills stayed with us through life.

While many of the FFA members never farmed for a livelihood each of my fellow classmates became good responsible citizens and were successful in their endeavors. Much of what Mr. Reynolds instilled in us early on lasted a lifetime. Later in my professional life, as a physician, I was in a position to partially repay Mr. Reynolds in a small way for the leadership and academic qualities he imparted to me as a young Ag student. In the sophomore years my fellow students honored me with an elected office of reporter in the FFA. Community services were being done by the group including helping the forestry service fight fires and we became members of the KVG (Keep Virginia Green) Club.

Mr. Ralph Reynolds Vocational Agriculture Advisor

The junior year brought the realization that major decisions were needed in preparing for the future. While our farm was relatively successful it would not be sufficient to farm economically. The farm income had always been supplemented with Dad’s income. My parents had always encouraged the thought of medicine. Also, previous members of my family had also been physicians. My love was for farming but the appeal of a profession in the medical field

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