Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine June 2025 by Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine

made an impact Mr. Smith

After five decades, a legendary Fauquier High School teacher is retiring

Stepping up to Help Fauquier’s Lifesavers

An Artist with the Needle Robo-champs and the Kids Behind Them

LiveLiFeHealthiest Your LiveLiFe

Compassionate. Caring. Nationally recognized.

LiveLiFeHealthiest Your LiveLiFe

Fauquier Health has earned Leapfrog’s Top General Hospital award for outstanding quality and safety—the only hospital in Virginia and one of just 36 in the nation to receive this distinction.

Compassionate. Caring. Nationally recognized.

This honor acknowledges the efforts of our caregivers to keep our patients safe. We’re proud to be recognized as one of the safest hospitals in America.

Fauquier Health has earned Leapfrog’s Top General Hospital award for outstanding quality and safety—the only hospital in Virginia and one of just 36 in the nation to receive this distinction.

With trusted care, close to home, we’ll help you live your healthiest life.

This honor acknowledges the efforts of our caregivers to keep our patients safe. We’re proud to be recognized as one of the safest hospitals in America.

With trusted care, close to home, we’ll help you live your healthiest life.

See all we have to offer at FauquierHealth.org

With trusted care, close to home, we’ll help you live your healthiest life.

See all we have to offer at FauquierHealth.org

FROM THE EDITOR

Learning is a lifelong process.

Our cover story this issue is about the teaching career and retirement of David Smith, a legendary Fauquier High School teacher who touched and inspired so many students’ lives over the years by creating engaging classes and encouraging them to analyze facts for themselves. We have many dedicated teachers in our school system who accomplish a lot with traditional education.

But so much learning can take place outside the traditional classroom.

For instance, our “local adventures” column this month is a trip to Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield where the main attractions are the hiking paths and the gorgeous views. But the campus offers educational opportunities as well through a self-guided nature walk and the opportunity to learn about the historic Civil War battle in detail through a downloadable audio tour app.

As STEM education — and technology itself — continues to grow, kids and teenagers are drawn to learn more and join local robotics clubs. Read about the accomplishments of three local clubs and the robots they’ve built on page 22.

The Fauquier Education Farm offers a wealth of knowledge about farming for all ages. On page 50, read about their specialized farm incubator program where those new to farming can learn to build it into a successful business.

But perhaps the best educational opportunities come from giving of yourself.

Team leader of The Bridge Community Church’s Canteen Unit Dave Cooper led two mission trips to Asheville in October after the floods (story on page 44). On the second trip, he brought his 15-year-old daughter Emily. To do that, she had to miss school. But her father told her, “You won’t remember what you did in school that week, but you’ll remember what you did in North Carolina that week.”

And I believe she will.

EDITOR

Pam Kamphuis

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

A Celebration of Fauquier County

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The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 11,500 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustration or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2025 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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Best Bets

What to do? There's lots going on in our area — and there's never enough time! This page and our free weekly Best Bets email newsletter (scan the code below to subscribe) aims to help you make plans and have fun.

Sounds of Victory Concert

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 5-7:30 P.M.

MICHAEL A. HUGHES CENTER FOR THE ARTS 597 BROADVIEW AVE., WARRENTON

The Piedmont Symphony Orchestra joins forces once again with the Silver Tones Swing Band for a high-octane collaboration of patriotic works and Big Band hits of the era. This performance celebrates the anniversary of V-Day, marking the end of WWII, and is a tribute to those who have served Veterans and active members of the U.S. military will receive discounted tickets and WWII veterans are free.

Warrenton Town Limits Festival

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 4 P.M.

THE WARF, 800 WATERLOO ROAD, WARRENTON

Get out and spend time with old friends and neighbors and meet new ones at the Warrenton community’s largest, familyfriendly summer event! Hosted by the Town of Warrenton Parks and Rec, the evening will be a blast, filled with good eats, activities including a moon bounce, live music and shopping with local vendors and businesses. Don’t miss the patriotic skydiver show and the fireworks at dusk and so much more.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Hosting an event? Add it to the calendar at no charge and it may be chosen for Best Bets! FauquierNow.com/calendar

American Legion Post 72 Annual Father’s Day Charity Car Show

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 8 A.M. - 3 P.M.

WARRENTON HORSE SHOW GROUNDS, 60 E. SHIRLEY AVE., WARRENTON

Check out some classic cars and other unique vehicles at what has become an annual Father’s Day tradition in Fauquier County. Car enthusiasts from near and far come to show their cars, hang out with others who share their passion and welcome interested spectators of all ages. Some exhibitors go all out and set up their parking space with props from the car’s historical era; as organizer Dave Lucash says, “Every car has a story.” In addition to the vehicles, there will be kids’ activities, a craft and vendor show and food trucks. Event benefits the Fauquier Food Bank and other local charities. Free and open to the public.

Juneteenth 2025

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 11 A.M. - 8 P.M. (RAIN DATE JUNE 21) | MAIN STREET, WARRENTON

The themes of community, unity, and commitment will be honored and celebrated at this year’s Juneteenth festival which highlights the African-American culture and experience. Hosted by Washington Howard University Radio (WHUR) 96.3, the day will be filled with both educational and entertaining experiences. Local history exhibits, storytelling and community spotlights will complement the presentation of Black history through the lens of the Afro American Historical Association (AAHA) of Fauquier County. The whole family will enjoy traditional dance performances, children’s activities, contests to highlight Juneteenth’s history, 60+ vendors, food and more. Music will fill the day with performances from N2N Band, XPress Band, Special Occasions, Prophecy, the Trinidad & Tobago Baltimore Steel Pan Orchestra, and other traditional sounds.

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giving back

The gift of time and talent

Warrenton Lifestyle’s ongoing “giving back” feature highlights some of the countless time and talent volunteer opportunities in Fauquier County and nearby. In this we hope to bring awareness not only to the needs of our neighbors and the organizations that help but the many ways you can be a part of strengthening even more what is already an impressive community.

Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer

CASA CHILDREN’S INTERVENTION SERVICES

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are specially trained community volunteers appointed by local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judges to speak in the best interest of children who are brought before the court for reasons of abuse or neglect. The CASA is an official part of the judicial proceedings, working alongside attorneys, social workers and other professionals. By handling only one case at a time, each CASA volunteer has time to thoroughly explore the history of each assigned case and work directly with the children. Opportunities in Fauquier County available. Background check, screening, and attendance at training sessions required.

casacis.org

JoAnn Polen Jpolen@casacis.org

For more opportunities to help, check the PATH Foundation’s Volunteer Hub database at letsvolunteer.org or inquire at another nearby nonprofit or organization that relies on volunteer assistance.

Volunteer Positions

SPIRITUAL CARE SUPPORT MINISTRIES

Spiritual Care Support Ministries provides support and education with a Biblical perspective to those who are ill, dying, grieving and experiencing personal losses, and to those who journey with them. Volunteers are needed for a variety of projects including phone or in person outreach, assistance with mailings, event planning, representing SCSM at special events, answering phones, filing, shredding, making booklets for our support groups, home visits, computer data entry and help with decorating the center for different events. Both licensed and lay counselors are needed, as well as host for Veterans Coffee Socials. Volunteer application, background check and training required.

7179 New Hope Lane, Warrenton scsm.tv/volunteers

Volunteer Coordinator

Courtney Hammack 540-349-5814

Are you an organization in need of volunteers? Email editor@warrentonlifestyle.com with information.

local adventures

Take an Easy Hike at Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield

BY JACKI DYRHOLM

Over the past few years as our favorite hiking places around Northern Virginia and Shenandoah National Park have become more popular and attract increasing numbers of visitors, my family and I have sought out new places to hike and enjoy nature in solitude. We found one in the Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield near Bluemont in Clarke County, just about an hour’s drive away. It’s turned into one of our favorite places to go when we need to get away for a few hours and reconnect with nature.

Paved Hiking Loops at Cool Springs Battlefield

Fun fact — the nearly 200 acres that now comprise Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring

Battlefield was once home to the Virginia National Golf Club. At this time, it’s officially part of Shenandoah University which preserves the natural and historical aspects of the site.

Now the paved golf cart paths serve as walking trails, making the campus family friendly as well as a great place to run and hike.

There are two hiking loops to choose from: the Southern Loop is a relatively flat walk that also runs along the Shenandoah River and is

great for a quiet walk and birding. The more popular Northern Loop contains self-guided walking trails, a gorgeous Shenandoah Valley overlook and a waterfall. Both loops begin at the information kiosk. Start the Northern Loop on the path to the left which will lead you between the river and the open meadow. This part of the hike is a relatively easy but enjoyable walk with wildflowers and the occasional bird sighting. Once in a while you will hear bells tolling from the nearby Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville. Keep a lookout for clearings in the trees that have short paths that lead down the river.

After about a mile, you can continue on to reach the waterfall, or turn right to get to Shenandoah Valley overlook’s views. Be warned, it is very steep going up and coming back down.

Know Before You Go

Cool Spring Battlefield is located at 1400 Parker Lane, Bluemont. Enter Shenandoah University River Campus following your GPS.

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Admission is free and there is ample parking. There are no bathroom facilities but there are portable toilets in the parking lot.

There is a covered pavilion with picnic tables. Bring binoculars for birding.

If you go in the summer, don’t forget to put on sunscreen and bug spray.

Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a leash and pick up after them.

Remember to leave no trace and take all trash with you.

Walk back down to the river and follow the sign for the Ridge to River Trail. The unpaved path will lead you to a very pretty waterfall located in the Rolling Ridge Conservancy. Miles of hiking trails are located within this 1,500-acre wilderness preserve just north of Cool Spring Battlefield.

Cool Spring Self-Guided Nature Walk Guide

The self-guided nature trail (there are laminated guides at the information kiosk) is geared towards children and features nine

stops along the walking trail. These stops include a riverside view, a rocky slope, bat roosting boxes, a pond and a heron rookery. The rookery is one of the highlights of Cool Spring in my opinion. It’s quite a beautiful sight! Each summer, more than two dozen great heron families raise their young in a rookery of nests at the top of a cluster of trees along the river.

Cool Spring Self-Guided Civil War Trail Guides

On July 18, 1864 the Battle of Cool Spring involved 13,000 Union and Confederate troops and took place along the Shenandoah River in Clarke County. There are three interpretive signs along the walking paths explaining the battle, but you can find a lot more detailed information online. For more history about Cool Spring Battle and to download a very informative PDF self-guided tour and audio tour app, visit the Shenandoah University’s website.

Bluebells at Cool Spring Battlefield

Cool Spring Battlefield is also a fantastic place to see the Virginia bluebells each spring without all the visitors that flock to the more popular hiking trails in Northern Virginia. In this case, the Southern Loop is the better trail to walk along and photograph them. L

Jacki Dyrholm lives in Warrenton with her family and a menagerie of animals. Follow her travels at jackigoesplaces.com and on Facebook.

STUDENT NEWS BEAT

Serving With a Purpose

BY ALLY HUMPHRIES

Reporter for The Chronicle: The student news site of Kettle Run High School

What if you could change the world, one act of service at a time? At Kettle Run High School, Interact Club is about making a difference in our community and allowing students to demonstrate key life skills. This club is sponsored by the organization Rotary International and from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Nepal, and India there are almost 15,000 Interact clubs from all over the world. Interact allows students to grow, learn, and make a real difference no matter where they’re from. Whether it’s organizing a courtyard clean up, a food drive, or making cards for the elderly, our Interact club is dedicated to creating a sense of community and allowing its members to lead with a purpose.

Interact has been at Kettle Run since the school was established in 2008, but it has continued to grow and become a larger part of our community. Each year, the club attracts more dedicated members who are excited to give back and develop a sense of leadership. Chad Wright, history teacher and club sponsor says the club is all about “building up the five C’s of communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship.”By teaching these important life skills at an early age it can help students become well-rounded and prepare for future challenges in their personal and professional lives.

Through involvement in various service projects, members of the Kettle Run Interact are not only making a difference in Fauquier County but also in our school community. A recent project they have taken on is the courtyard clean up, which is a way to transform an unused area into something functional everyone can enjoy. This project not only will improve the physical appearance of our school but also strengthen the sense of community by creating yet another place for students to eat lunch, study, or relax. Amon Alipio, interact club president stated “Interact affects our entire community, we run fundraisers and drives that may not be seen or heard but have a big impact.”

“Inspiring others can make the world a better place, one act of service at a time.

“

These efforts, although they aren’t always acknowledged, continue to strengthen our school community and create lasting change

As the club continues to evolve members are also trying to expand their focus to activities outside of school. Vika Barrett, Interact Vice President explained “We’re trying to expand and do more outside of school activities.” By taking their efforts beyond Kettle Run they aim to make a difference not just in the local community but throughout the county. With the commitment to the motto “Service Above Self” there is no doubt these dedicated members will continue to inspire

others and make a positive change.

The Kettle Run Interact club not only plans to broaden its reach in the future but also engage more students in these service opportunities. By continuing to help others within school and outside they demonstrate that even small acts of kindness can make a difference. Inspiring others can make the world a better place, one act of service at a time. Through their efforts, these students are not only helping to shape their futures but the future of their community as well.

krhsnews.com

Celebrating Pollinator Month in the Piedmont

Here’s how you can help them thrive

BY AIMEE O’GRADY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CLIFTON INSTITUTE

Virginia is home to more than 400 species of native pollinators, not to mention other crucial pollinators like butterflies, birds, and bats, which play a key role in pollinating night-blooming plants and certain crops.

These pollinators are essential to the health of our ecosystems. Not only do they enable the reproduction of flowering plants, but they also help sustain wild plant communities that, in turn, provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife. And it all begins with a small pollinator visiting a flower bloom.

We Need Bees

The We Need Bees Committee, established in 2022, is dedicated to enhancing pollinator habitats and promoting native plant awareness to support pollinators. Their impactful work inspired an integrated pest management plan for the Parks and Recreation Department. Comprised of passionate members from diverse environmental organizations, the committee combines extensive knowledge and collaborative efforts to create a greener, healthier future for pollinators and the ecosystems that depend on them. Learn more:

Among Virginia native bees are carpenter bees, rusty-patched bumble bees, and mason bees. Unlike non-native honeybees, these species are uniquely suited to the local environment and are often more effective at pollination.

While honeybees are widely recognized as pollinators, they come with some ecological drawbacks. Gary Rzepecki, director of Fauquier County Parks and Recre -

ation, explained: “They can spread pathogens to native bees through shared resources like flowers and nectar and through direct contact.”

Bert Harris, executive director of the Clifton Institute, recommends that honeybees be considered more like livestock. “They are not native, they are farmed, and they don’t benefit the ecosystem. Yes, they help pollinate crops, but most of those crops aren’t native either.”

He added that in addition to spreading disease, they compete with native bees. With only so much pollen and nectar to go around, this competition is one reason many native bee species are declining.

That said, Harris acknowledged that honeybees have a place in honey production, but he remains concerned about the risk they pose to native bee populations.

Homeowners can support native pollinators by removing invasive plants and replacing them with native flowers, shrubs, and trees; reducing pesticide use; and creating pollinator-friendly gardens.

One common invasive plant in Piedmont properties is the Autumn Olive. “Autumn Olives displace native trees and plants. Native bee life cycles are synchronized with the bloom times of native flowers. Autumn Olive leads to monocultures instead of the diversity needed to support bees throughout the season,” said Rzepecki.

Harris agreed, “When Autumn Olive takes over fields to the exclusion of key genera like Solidago (goldenrods), Helianthus (sunflowers), and Symphyotrichum (asters), it’s a problem.”

He also noted that caterpillars can’t feed on non-native plants, which means birds living in these areas may struggle to find enough food for their young.

For those unfamiliar with invasive species, Harris recommends using the iNaturalist app. “iNaturalist uses AI to offer an initial identification, like other apps, but also includes an observation feature so that humans—often experts from around the world—can confirm or adjust the identification,” he explained. L

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Fauquier County, a designated Bee City USA, has several events planned throughout the month to educate residents on the importance of native pollinators:

JUNE 23, 6 - 8 P.M.

All Ages – Bats are Pollinators Too Scavenger Hunt and Build a Bat House at Crockett Park

JUNE 25, 9:30 - 11:30 A.M.

School Age – Bring on the Pollinators, with crafts and a monarch migration relay at Schoolhouse #18 in Marshall

JUNE 26, 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.

All Ages – Pollinator Scavenger Hunt at Northern Fauquier Park

To learn more and register, visit recreation. fauquiercounty.gov.

Robo winners, and the kids behind them

Three local robotics clubs designed robots to compete in international competition

BY ROBIN EARL

Six hundred robotics teams from around the world — and one from Fauquier County — gathered at the end of April in Houston to make some waves. The international competition was three days of organized chaos as robots zoomed around the playing fields, cheered on by the teenagers who built them.

The 2025 season’s tournaments were all sponsored by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a global nonprofit organization that supports team-based robotics programs for ages 4 to 18. Thirty-seven hundred robots worldwide

competed in the Reefscape challenge.

Here’s the deal with Reefscape: Robots weighing 100 pounds or more placed pieces of “coral” (lengths of PVC pipe) onto “reefs” (a multi-tiered purple construction with places to thread the pieces of pipe). Robots harvested “algae” (threw balls into a trough above the competition field). Robots also hung from the “barge” at the end of the game to earn extra points. Two human “drivers” controlled each robot.

After the last coral had been collected and the final algae was harvested, Team 1731 — Fresta Valley’s Robotics Club — had earned

the rank of 258th in the world. Lead driver and director of engineering Ian Faxlanger, 16, said, “It was the first competition where everything worked. Our robot was performing at its best.”

Team 1731 has 15 members from Warrenton and nearby; all are between 13 and 18 years old. Members are divided into sub-teams according to their talents and interests, and handle different aspects of competing — programming, design, electrical engineering, social media or fundraising, for instance.

Tim Stevic of Orlean is one of Team 1731’s 10 mentors. He said that this year’s squad has fewer experienced members, so adult leaders were very involved throughout the season. Lead mentor Brent Leppke hosted the team at his farm in Midland.

Team CEO Andy Desmedt, 18, said, “We work out of a corncrib that was converted to a shop. We use the barn to drive the robot. In the early part of the season, we meet about three times a week, but as we get further along, it becomes every day.”

Desmedt said that accuracy was the name of the game this year. Their robot, MacDyver, excelled. “Last year, it was all about speed; this year the challenge

A peek at Team 1731’s button panel.

Team 1731 members are declared winners at Glen Allen, Virginia, the team’s first competition of the 2025 season.

focused more on accuracy. Our accuracy was incredible.”

Teams only have a few weeks to build their robots after they learn about the challenge. Referring to one piece designed for the robot’s cage, Stevic said, “Andy dreamed up the design, Ian cut it with a saw. That stabilized it so it wouldn’t rotate; that was a game changer. When the lead mentor gets a smile on his face, you know it’s good.”

Team 1731 used an Oculus Quest virtual reality device on its robot. “It tells the robot where it is in the space,” Ian said.

He remembered with a laugh the qualifying rounds of a district meet in Bethesda, Maryland, when Team 1731 was having technical problems with the Oculus. MacDyver fell over twice, taking it out completely. Ian said, “That first day, we were 23rd out of 29; then we placed third the next day, and we ended up winning the competition. It’s a testament to the resilience of the team. We continued to work, everyone was keeping each other up. It’s easy to get down when things aren’t working well.”

Team RoboHawk

Team 1731 spent some time leading up to districts practicing alongside the RoboHawks, Highland School’s FIRST Challenge Robotics team. Twenty-five students in grades 8 to 12 were the brains behind their robot, Juice Box.

The RoboHawks did not progress to the season finale in Houston, but did qualify for the invitation-only competition in Marlboro, Maryland. The team also won the “Innovation in Control” award for its button panel at a March 15 district meet, according to co-sponsor Elisabeth Carver of Amissville, the school’s pre-engineering certificate coordinator.

Drive-team captains Zach Popik and Christopher Zhao noted that, “When the judges presented the award, they said, ‘This team makes precision maneuvers look as easy as a button press. Their mission to achieve precision led to a custom control board that impressed the judges while operating with the focus of a hawk.’”

Highland offers a Robotics Systems class, so students have time during the

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Clockwise from left: Team RoboHawk with the Innovation in Control award trophy and plaque; RoboHawks mentors for the 2025 team included Wil Vargas, Chris Wright, Russ Heller, Jay Hubbard and Ed Peters; Highland School’s robot Juice Box at a robotics pep rally with drive team members Zach Popik, Calum Wright and Trace Brown.

school day to work on the robot. Sometimes the hours need to be extended, especially leading up to an event.

Co-sponsor Cassin Bertke of Marshall, assistant head of school, said, “We also have created a preseason in the fall, which allows us to teach new students how to use the equipment safely in the lab, develop new skills, and build interest leading up to a new season in January.”

Popik said that the captain’s role “is not just leading the team and making key decisions. It’s also about mentoring younger students and modeling commitment and dedication.”

When team members were asked what they love about the RoboHawks, Zhao said, “It’s fun! I like being surrounded by a bunch of incredibly smart people who have good ideas and feedback. I like bouncing ideas off of each other, making a plan, and then seeing your ideas come together.”

“I’ve learned everything I know about machining, tools, and building robots. I enjoy my time in the lab and know that it’s helping me prepare for a career in engineer-

ing,” said Bunmi Desalu.

Calum Wright summed it up, “My favorite part of the team is collaborating with other smart people and brainstorming ideas. I like that we’re all focused on solving the same problem. The feeling when we’ve come up with a design that works is really satisfying. There’s nothing else like it!”

The FROGbots

FROGbots (FIRST Robotics of Gainesville) operates out of a basement lab in Broad Run; about a third of the team lives in Fauquier County. Like Team 1731, it’s a community team that includes homeschool and public school students. Second-year competitor Josiah Moses, 15, said the FROGbots showed solid improvement throughout the 2024-2025 season.

The afternoon before a regional meet in Maryland, nearly all 14 members of the FROGbots gathered in their lab to practice on a scaled-down robotics field. Students running the controls maneuvered their robot, Kerminator 15.

At the match the next day, the team had

About a third of the members of the FIRST Robotics of Gainesville team are from Fauquier County.

mixed success. Head coach Tracy Gisselquist of Broad Run said that during one of the early matches, the robot got stuck, but the software team tweaked the program and the robot scored more consistently through the day.

Team member Joel Moses said, “It was a good opportunity to look at other robots competing and learn from them, to see what other teams did to solve the challenge.”

Assistant coach Lisa Heilenman of Culpeper said the FROGbots are a very closeknit group. In one of the qualifying rounds the FROGbots won the Inspire Award, given to the team that displays the values of the FIRST organization: friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement.

The team learned about the importance of sticking to a schedule, said Gisselquist. “The initial hardware build went over schedule before the first competition. This left the software team only one week to program and test the robot. The lift then broke multiple times a day throughout that week. We

actually showed up at our first qualifier with a broken lift and a robot that was only 25% capable. By the end of the day, though, the team had gotten the robot fully capable, and made it all the way to the semi-final match.” She said the team also learned the importance of using CAD (computer aided design) for creating custom parts.

Gisselquist said all members of the FROGbots are expected to return next year. “We will be splitting into two teams to maximize the learning opportunities for each member and to allow us to bring in some new members. We expect to have two teams of about 10 members each.” Another coach, Steven Ballas of Nokesville, was recruited to mentor the new squad.

With an eye toward the future, Gisselquist said the FROGbots have started 10 other teams to introduce students — from Pre-K to middle school — to STEM. Outreach events have included Warrenton’s First Fridays, summer reading programs, STEM camps, Trail Life meetings, and homeschool fairs and conventions. L

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The Warrenton Artist and Makers Market

Community and

creativity

coming together to make you smile

BY JENNIFER WALDERA

The Warrenton Farmers Market is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. But it is also embracing a brandnew partnership with the Warrenton Arts Commission, bringing local artisans to the weekly Saturday morning market.

Local art lovers will be able to find art ranging from pottery and paintings to jewelry, fabric arts, stained glass and more. And in keeping with the agricultural nature of the market, there are also textiles, like fleece made by alpaca farmers and yarns that have been locally milled and dyed, as well as a flower bar where visitors can create their own bouquets. Meanwhile, the Warrenton Arts Commission’s table features a table with supplies for children to make art on the spot.

“Warrenton Arts Commission was forming its 501(c)(3). We thought this would be an opportunity for them to showcase their affiliate artists,” said Natalie Ortiz, economic development coordinator for Experience Old Town Warrenton and manager of the Farmers Market. “Our goal is to help them gain visibility in the organization. We wanted to give them a space.”

The Artist and Maker’s Market is located indoors at 18 Court Street in Old Town,

The wide variety of art from different artists using varying materials and techniques ensures that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

just a hop, skip and a jump from the Farmers Market’s new location at Parking Lot A on Lee Street. It is open during the same hours as the Warrenton Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. The location can house 10-15 vendors, which vary and rotate each week.

At just under two years old, the Warrenton Arts Commission’s mission is to invest in art in the community and unite local artists. Jess Beach, president of the organization, is enthusiastic about partnering with the market.

“There are so many artists in our com-

Piedmont

Artisans

Beads by Becka

Lavender Bee

munity that we don’t know and that don’t know about us. This [the Artist and Maker’s Market] is a new avenue, so we can all unite together,” Beach said. “The lovely thing is that it’s art from many different materials. All of it makes the commission stronger, and there are many different points of view.”

The artists who have joined the new Artists and Makers Market come from a variety of backgrounds. But all are dedicated to their craft.

“Their art is very personal,” Ortiz said. “They’re putting their personal passion into this.”

“We have artists and makers who join us or started their business for a number of reasons,” Ortiz said. “Some are looking for a creative outlet, some started to generate extra income. And one donates all of their proceeds to the Fauquier Community Food Bank.”

Joe Meegan of Wee Dram Knives and his wife Kristin of Spyglass Stained Glass have

Journey Scent and Skin is one of the vendors who will be at the Artist and Makers Market in June, and the fresh flowers are always popular.

been drop-in vendors at the Warrenton Farmers Market since 2020. When Ortiz approached them about joining the Artist and Makers Market, they were enthusiastic.

“We were very happy to be selected to be included,” Joe said. “It’s going very well with a nice flow of people coming in.”

One of the benefits of the Artist and Makers Market is the relationships they are developing with other artists.

“It’s a very connected community [of artists],” he said. “And it’s great for the community to have access to a variety of types of art.”

Beach said that in the first few weeks, she has been impressed with the art that she has seen at the market. And with the partnership in its infancy, there are spaces available for more artists to get involved. “We’re hoping for some new vendors that have not vended before. Hopefully, some new, different arts that we haven’t seen before,” she said. “As summer goes on, hopefully it will get bigger and bigger.” L

Follow the Warrenton Arts Commission on Facebook and Instagram at @warrenton_arts_ commission or visit them at the Market on Saturdays. Interested artists are encouraged to reach out and become involved.

Follow the Warrenton Artist and Makers Market on Facebook. Artists interested in becoming vendors should reach out to Natalie Ortiz.

An Artist with the Needle

Warrenton resident Dennis Yeatts is an award-winning cross stitch expert

BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENNIS YEATTS

“Doing counted cross-stitch is a whole lot better than watching football,” said Warrenton resident Dennis Yeatts, 73. “It’s more productive and you can only watch so many television soap operas.”

Yeatts, a devoted, award-winning cross-stitcher, took up the needlework hobby while confined at home recuperating from a serious injury: he suffered severe burns on his body from a five-gallon tub of hot restaurant grease in 1976 at age 25.

The craft took his mind off his discomfort and tapped his creative streak. He

chose counted cross stitch, which is done on a blank fabric with the placement of the stitches guided by counting spaces across and down following a pattern, over stamped cross stitch where the pattern is printed on the fabric. Counted cross stitch offers more flexibility in customization of fabrics, colors and stitch types.

Yeatts has done this intricate needlework in two stints, from 1976 to 1989 and then from 2018 to the present, all the while honing his skills. “You can’t stitch eight to 12 hours a day without getting good,” he said.

Today, he has arthritis and aching hands, but he said, “I can stitch, and it relieves the pain in my hands. It’s one of the most rewarding, relaxing things I’ve found to do.”

The creative process

He not only stitches the works of art, but he also designs them as well. He starts

Clockwise from top left: “A Study in Gray,” 1st place at Woodlawn, 2025; “Kokopelli,” 1st place at Woodlawn, 2019; “A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies,” 1st place and Outstanding Original at Woodlawn, 2024

by choosing a photograph or making a drawing which he turns into a pdf file on his computer. Using a software program called PCStitch, he converts the photograph or drawing into a pattern. While the software recommends colors, Yeatts often adjusts the colors’ shades, as he did for his piece depicting an arch in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park.

As for topics, he chooses whatever interests him, he said, for example, a butterfly, a stained glass window, and a giraffe after he saw one in Zambia. One of his pieces relates the gospel of Jesus and is displayed at Spiritual Care Support Ministries in Warrenton. His pieces can take seven to eight months of needling. One took 15 months. “I challenge myself,” he said, with complex designs and the number of stitches required.

Recognition

Yeatts entered his first Woodlawn Needlework Show, the largest and longest running needlework show in the country which takes place in eastern Fairfax County, in 1981 at age 29 and has won awards every

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year he has entered. In the last six years, he has received a first-place award every year.

This year, the Woodlawn show had 600 pieces featuring different types of needlework from over 300 entrants from 33 states and three countries. He won the senior category for “A Study in Gray,” a piece with 22 shades of gray depicting Confederate Civil War Colonel John Mosby and a map of Mosby’s Virginia environs. He started with a photo of Mosby taken in 1865 which is in the public domain.

“Mosby was the greatest guerilla fighter in the world and [the United States Military Academy at] West Point still teaches his tactics,” he said.

Yeatts has already completed his entry for the 2026 Woodlawn show, a piece with 505 different colors to honor the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. It has an American flag background shaped like a map of the United States and in the foreground a silhouette of the Statue of Liberty that resembles a patchwork quilt.

Multiple Missions

Yeatts grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, enlisted in the Air Force in 1970 and served four years maintaining electronic equipment for Minuteman II missiles in places

BY GLENDA BOOTH

“Why We Go,” depicting a young child in a village in Zambia from a mission trip in 2017, 1st place and Outstanding Senior at Woodlawn, 2023

“Mongolian Archer,” needlepoint, 1st place in Needlepoint Wall Hanging at Woodlawn, 1981.

like Montana. After his military service, he moved back to Roanoke, then nearby Vinton where he bought and managed the Dairy Queen. He has one son in Vinton and a daughter in Crewe, Virginia.

Today, in most years, he goes to Zambia on a two-week mission trip with a South Carolina-based organization, Come Go with Us, which he said, “spreads the Christian gospel.” This summer he’ll make his fourth trip to Zambia. “I fell in love with the country and the people,” he said. He especially enjoys working with children.

Fringe benefits

Counted cross-stitch not only helped Yeatts heal from his injury, it has also brought romance. A year after his wife’s death, he tried the online dating site, Christian Mingle, and posted one of his pieces which depicted Kokopelli, a fertility deity in some U.S. southwest Indigenous cultures. Many images of Kokopelli show him humpbacked and playing a flute. A Warrenton resident also on the site responded to his post: “Nice flute.” Romance blossomed. He chose to move to Warrenton and he and Vicky have been a happily married pair since 2019. L

“Atlas,” 1st place and Best in Show for Men at Woodlawn, 1984

“When I was a student at FHS, every Friday when the weather was nice we’d sit on the grass by the Falcon Rock and they’d hold a pep rally.”

As a young teacher, David Smith got some wisdom from a mentor: “The students will really care about you if you really care for the students.”

So he did — and so did his students. For five decades.

“I taught through ten administrations, from Gerald Ford through Donald Trump,” Smith said, looking back over his 50 years of teaching at Fauquier High School. “I have taught world geography, world history, U.S. history, economics, U.S. government, and now I’m teaching AP government.”

Now, he is retiring this year after impacting hundreds of students’ lives.

made an impact Mr. Smith

After five decades, a legendary Fauquier High School teacher is retiring

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

Aaron Carter, former student of Smith’s who now teaches World History II and VA/U.S. at FHS, said, “Mr. Smith was my primary inspiration for becoming a history/social studies teacher. That’s how much he influenced my life. And, I feel honored to be teaching alongside a legend of Fauquier County Public Schools. I will miss him greatly.”

Smith is truly rooted in Fauquier County. His family has been local for generations and he’s never strayed far from home. He was born right here in Warrenton, in the hospital when it was located in what is now the John Marshall Office Building at 32 Waterloo Street in Old Town. He attended local public schools, from Warrenton Elementary to Warrenton Junior High to Fauquier High School.

“I started FHS in 1966 when it housed grades 8-12, a year before the schools were integrated,” he said. From law school to educator

Smith had never really thought of becoming a teacher. His original plan was to pursue the law. After graduating from FHS in 1971, Smith studied pre-law at the University of Mary Washington. But his father passed away and Smith returned to Warrenton to supervise the family business, an auto service station on the bypass. He

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had enough college credits to become a teacher, so he pursued certification in all the avenues of social studies related curriculum, his area of interest since it was related to the law.

So Smith headed right to his alma mater. He finished his year of student teaching in 1974 and began as a full-time teacher in 1975 with world history and world geography.

Smith’s original mentor at FHS was Jim Wilson, one of the first Black teachers at the school. Wilson took him under his wing and showed him the basics like how to work the mimeograph machine and so much more.

“He instilled his love of students in me,” Smith said. “[Wilson] said, ‘the students will really care about you if you really care for the students. You really have to get involved in the school. You can’t just sit back.’ It made sense to me.”

Within that first year of teaching, Smith was hooked. “I realized [teaching] was what I really wanted to do. I never wanted to do anything else.”

And he never wanted to go anywhere else either. Although he could have taught in another county for a higher salary, he never considered it.

“This was like home,” he said.

Engaging students

Smith’s teaching style transcends the presentation of facts; he strives to help students understand the world around them and how to analyze things for themselves.

Carter recalled Smith beginning each class with “news notes,” or current events.

Smith (far right) with student members of the Youth Town Council at the U.S. Capitol in 2018 for the recognition ceremony upon their completion of the YTC charter.

Smith teaching remotely during COVID.

Left: Flyer promoting the Youth Town Council program which unfortunately ended during COVID. Right: A 2016 student-created lighthearted poster promoting his teacher as an alternative for the next election

“This made the somewhat abstract concepts about government become relevant to our teenage lives. It’s for this reason that I’ve incorporated current affairs in my class, as well as focus on the “big picture” and interrelatedness of the topics we study. He also was able to subjectively explain happenings so that all students could understand.”

Sarah Wines, an AP Government student of Smith’s who graduated in 2017, recalled his class being “very chill” and open to conversation and questions as well as lectures. “We were at the age we were old enough to vote, and he explained the issues we would be voting on,” she said.

Over the years, Smith has used many projects and techniques to make the subjects he taught relevant and come alive.

Economics can be a dry subject, but not in Mr. Smith’s class in the late 70s with the stock market game. Each student would get $100,000 in theoretical money which they “invested.” They learned to follow the market and its trends, and about the government impact and the necessity of diversifying to protect your position. Even back then, some students were “investing” in tech stocks such as Apple and Microsoft. “It would be amazing to see how much they would have made with real investments,” said Smith.

In the early 80s, he would hold his Law Day program, which simulated a student-led Youth Board of Supervisors where they would tackle things like balancing the town budget. He acted as school sponsor for the Youth Town Council, a program started in 2017 by Sean Polster that enabled students to become involved and receive mentoring from town and school officials. They had the opportunity to attend real town council meetings and present concepts that were important to young constituents.

Mr. Smith’s mock trials in government class were one of his most popular activities. Students would act as lawyers

BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

and defendants in simulated trials for things like murders, armed robbery and lawsuits. To date, he has held more than 400 trials and to this day, students who graduated decades ago tell him, “I should have won that trial!”

Some students ultimately won and lost real trials. “So far, I’ve had not quite two dozen students that have become lawyers, and I had probably double that have gone into law enforcement,” Smith said.

“[We had to] think critically to reach a verdict or answer questions on the stand,” said former student Aaron Carter, who explained why he found the mock trial experience valuable, even though he didn’t go into the law. “You’re thinking on your toes. Keen

observation is necessary to crack a case, and that’s what I was able to do as a lawyer [in the mock trial]. In the end, I didn’t pursue that career, but the experience taught me invaluable skills that have transcended his class and Fauquier High School. He did that for all of his students for a half-century. Talk about an impact! [He] was my primary inspiration for becoming a history/social studies teacher. That’s how much he influenced my life.”

Welcome to Smitty City

For over 30 years, Smith has been maintaining smittycity.org, his extracurricular website exploring things he thinks are interesting and would interest others. Smith’s students used to call his trailer classroom Smitty City. The name stuck, and he used it for his url.

“It started off as a cooking site, because I love to eat. And then it just kept getting bigger and bigger,” Smith said.

Currently, there are 15-some “rooms” on smittycity.org that provide interesting information on the law, history, government, outer space, current events, conspiracy theories (with a whole room dedicated to the Kennedy assassination, a particular interest of Smith’s), sports,

free access to worldwide newspapers, philosophy and urban legends. And, of course, food.

The site also offers a link to Smith’s self-published young adult historical fiction book “The Alluring Path,” a mystery set in the Shenandoah Valley during the Great Depression.

What’s next?

“I’ve been told by others that have retired, the first year, just take it easy. And then do whatever you want to do, but take a year to figure it out,” Smith said.

It remains to be seen if the dedicated teacher will have the patience to do that.

“I have a feeling that when August or September comes, when school starts again, I’m going to feel like, ‘why did I do this?’” he admitted.

One thing on the list is to be more active in the community through service with his church. Doing some homebound instruction through the school system is a possibility. Perhaps continuing to maintain smittycity.org, perhaps writing another book. Doing some substitute teaching isn’t off the list either.

But it would be at FHS.

“This is my home, I can’t imagine going somewhere else.” L

BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

Serving those who serve others

How the Bridge Community Church’s Canteen Unit stepped up to help Fauquier’s lifesavers

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

When the Fauquier County 911 dispatchers receive a report of an emergency, it’s Go Time. They dispatch volunteer fire companies, EMS, sheriff's deputies, and other critical services.

But then they have one more call to make. It’s to Dave Cooper, team leader of the Canteen Unit, an outreach of The Bridge Community Church in Warrenton, which provides a unique service that supports those that serve the community: our first responders.

To understand the need you have to peek inside the lives of our first responders and firefighters on the job. Some days it’s a long, difficult job and they may spend extended hours in the field. They need food and water to keep their energy up and to keep going. Often, they rely on a haphazard system of friends and family dropping off sandwiches or one of them making a food run. The Bridge’s Canteen Unit works to fill that void, and more.

A need fulfilled

As it happens, in 2019, The Bridge Community Church, known for being heavily involved

in the community, was looking for new outreach opportunities, “We looked at the community and asked ourselves, ‘What can we do?’” said Lead Pastor Dr. Greg Hackett.

Dr. Danielle Dean, next generation pastor at The Bridge who had an existing relationship with local law enforcement, reached out to Fauquier County Sheriff Bob Moser and asked him what the church could do to support Fauquier’s first responders. Immediately Moser mentioned the lack of canteen services.

Dean brought the concept of forming a mobile canteen unit back to the church community, and Hackett threw his support behind the project. As the father of a law enforcement officer, the idea piqued his interest. And it was a new concept, it hadn’t really been done before.

“We wanted to be creative,” he said. “And

this is really creative.”

The first to jump on board was parishioner and retired firefighter Dave Cooper, who had 32 years of firefighting experience. His firsthand knowledge of the needs of first responders would prove to be invaluable.

Implementing the canteen concept

The initial plan for the unit was simply to bring food and water to emergency sites. They intended to use an old, rusted, circa 1970, van owned by the church, and bring stocked coolers and thermoses of coffee. But as plans progressed, the Remington Fire Department got wind of the idea and offered to sell them an older model ambulance for a reasonable price.

It was a big upgrade. A step up from the van, they purchased it with a grant from the PATH Foundation, and it was adapted, stocked with supplies and put into use. The Canteen Unit served its first emergency on July 16, 2019, at a fire in Marshall.

All went well. But they wanted to

The Bridge Community Church Canteen Ministry Team with their “host family” who gave them a place to stay while serving in Asheville, North Carolina, October 2024.

L-R Janet Monroe, Emily Cooper, Dave Cooper, Ty Thompson, Tina DuBrule, Debbie Rayl, and hosts Katheryn and Michael Rayl.

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expand — to do more.

To the parishioners, their work with the Canteen Unit is a proclamation of their faith and an expression of gratitude to God. Hackett said, “We are driven by our belief system. Our work is worship, and our ability to deliver excellence is critical.”

“We watch and listen closely to the first responders to see what is needed,” Hackett said. They weren’t sure how much support would come from the community that would enable them to expand. A lot, as it turned out, in the form of financial donations, grants, donations of supplies and time and talent.

Using creativity and a “try it and see what needs to improve” methodology, they continued improving and adding services. ‘Then one thing led to another’

Cooper recognized the need for rest room facilities, especially for the female first responders. Within a few days, a local business donated a new port-a-john which they pulled on a trailer with the ambulance to emergency sites.

“It was a huge blessing,” said Cooper. Again, could they do more? A port-a-john served its purpose, but wouldn’t a nice enclosed, heated rest room trailer with hot and cold running water be even better?

The purchase of a new one was unrealistic, but adapting a basic trailer was doable. Again, community support factored in. A donation from Zoar Baptist Church in honor of a late parishioner who was a first responder provided the funds, and donations of time and talent from parishioners and community members completed the job.

But the new bathroom trailer added weight, and the ambulance was struggling to pull it.

Then a private citizen donated a brand

Canteen team members Gary Amos and Jenna Cooper set up at an incident, serving our first responders.

new black 4-wheel-drive Ford F250 crew cab with a bed cap. The crew cab enabled them to transport more volunteers, the bed cap increased space for supplies, and the truck was much better than the ambulance at pulling the rest room trailer.

More and more the community helped. Just as they were searching for a reasonably priced large refrigerator to replace the smaller one they had, a local volunteer fire department donated (and delivered) an almost new four-door commercial fridge that was no longer needed. An anonymous benefactor’s significant purchase from the canteen’s Amazon wish list yielded a number of items that enabled them to serve hot food more efficiently.

Recognizing the effect of the weather on the first responders led to the addition of portable tents. Firefighters are wearing heavy protective clothing and carrying 80 pounds of gear. The tents, equipped with industrial fans, give them a place to cool down so they don’t overheat in the summer, and provide a warm respite with heaters in the winter, and a place for them to take a break and get something to eat in other inclement weather.

Expanding services and scope

Today, when Cooper receives news of

Canteen team member Dave Cooper serving our first responders at a house fire outside of Warrenton in December 2025; it was 21 degrees that morning.

an emergency, he puts out a call to their 40 volunteers and he, with his other team leaders Ty Thompson and Don Johnson, organize those that are available for the first shift, switching out every six hours thereafter. They head out in the pickup truck stocked with supplies and pulling the rest room trailer, bringing the stocked ambulance as well for bigger emergencies. A far cry from the days of snacks, water and thermoses of coffee, they now have grills, skillets and crock pots to cook on site when full hot meals are needed.

The plan was originally to provide these

services to Fauquier County, but they now regularly cover Clarke, Warren, Rappahannock and Madison counties as well. But it doesn’t end there. The unit served firefighters from all over the country who hadn’t had a hot meal in a week or a hot cup of coffee in two weeks during the wildfires in Shenandoah National Park. The area wasn’t prepared for the sheer number of firefighters they would need or the length of time they would have to stay in the field. Since the fire moved rapidly through the area, they had to chase the fire, moving camps frequently to keep up.

“Dave had to find them, find out where they were on any given day. His determination was impressive,” said Hackett.

In the aftermath of the flooding in Asheville, N.C., the Canteen Unit made two trips to the area with all their equipment. The

Find the Canteen Unit on the Web:

Connect with the Canteen Unit on Facebook:

Canteen Unit Amazon Wish List:

Canteen team members on site with local community members Mary and Debbie in Swannanoa, NC in October, 2024 where they cooked 7000 meals in 5 days. L-R Tina Dubrule, Janet Monroe, Mary Knight, Debbie Rayl, Ty Thompson, Emily Cooper, Dave Cooper.

first crew consisted of Cooper, Dean, Ty Thompson, and Clark Mallan. They returned to regroup and went back with a new crew that included Emily Cooper, Cooper’s 15-year-old daughter.

Cooper said, “Some maybe wouldn’t agree, but I took her out of school for a week. I told her that she’d never remember what she did in school that week, but she would remember forever what she did in North Carolina.”

Emily received a lot of compliments that week. She cooked a lot of hamburgers and hot dogs, and worked at distributing blankets, carrying the heavy bundles by herself.

“She showed them all up that week,” said Cooper.

The Canteen Unit, assisted by parishioner and pilot Bill Rogers, who flew supplies down in his own plane multiple times, served 7,000 meals in Asheville.

The Canteen Unit has grown, and continues to grow perhaps more than anyone ever envisioned at the start. It takes a lot of work and management to run smoothly.

“This all hinges with boots on the ground, and that’s Dave,” said Hackett. L

The Bridge Community Church Canteen Ministry was the 2024 recipient of funds raised in an annual “friendly” charity softball tournament between the Fauquier County Sheriffs Office, Fauquier County Professional Firefighters, Warrenton Town Police and Virginia State Police.

Happy Vibes

ON THE FARM

Fauquier Education Farm’s incubator program supports first-time farmers

BY JAMES JARVIS

Swathi Gaddam and Bala Thangamani of Broad Run started their Happy Vibes Farm in 2022 with very little farming experience beyond growing small vegetable gardens. Some of their education came from trial and error, but they soon realized they needed a lot more information.

Similarly, Claudia and Aldo Sessarego found themselves in need of guidance as they explored agriculture during the pandemic.

Both families found it at the Fauquier Education Farm in nearby Warrenton when they joined the nonprofit organization’s New Farmer Incubator Program which helps people with no background in agriculture gain the skills to launch their own commercial operations.

“It [the incubator program] was initially put together with collaboration from the Virginia Cooperative Extension,” said Jim Hankins, executive director of the FEF.

Located just outside Warrenton, the FEF leases small plots on the property to the beginning farmers and provides irrigation, initial ground prep and mentorship while participants bring their own seeds and tools. And they learn to farm.

“We allow the folks in the program three years, and the idea is that they can go through those first couple years where you're really kind of on training wheels, but to get their feet under themselves, as far as production,” Hankin said.

But the goal of the incubator isn’t just to produce vegetables — it’s to give people space to try farming before making a major financial leap. Not everyone sticks with it, and that’s fine by Hankins.

“Hopefully, we’ve saved them from buying property before they’re ready,” he said. “Our incubator program helps some folks experiment a little bit before making a huge leap.”

HAPPY VIBES FARM

Gaddam came to farming after 15 years in the tech industry, most recently as an application development lead.

She and Thangamani, also in technology, lived and worked in Ashburn for over a decade. After her second child was born, Gaddam wanted a change.

“I didn’t want to work in technology because, yes, I was good at it, but… I wanted to work towards sustainability and other things like maybe farming or composting facilities—something sustainable, environmental, like closing the waste of food,” she said.

She also wanted more quality time with her family.

Gaddam and Thangamani bought 10 acres in Broad Run near Haymarket in 2020 and began experimenting with fruit trees and vegetables. But when the soil proved challenging, she reached out to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS staff referred her to the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District, which pointed her to Fauquier Education Farm.

After attending the Northern Piedmont Beginning Farmer course at FEF the couple was accepted into the Incubator Program.

“I had to go back to kindergarten,” Gaddam said. “I was open with anybody who wanted to share information. It wasn’t just the land [at the FEF], but their mentorship, guidance, the ability to access equipment, greenhouses, and just seeing in person how experts grow, is invaluable.”

Swathi Gaddam and Bala Thangamani’s children, 15-year-old Manu and 9-year-old Chansy Thangamani, help a lot with the farming. Gaddam is pleased that the experience has exposed them to not only the educational aspects of agriculture and learning how food is grown, but also the small business angle and the strong, supportive community.

PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTPHER

Two years later, Gaddam and Thangamani are refining their growing practices and selling at the Warrenton Farmers Market and the Archwood Green Barns market. While Gaddam grows a wide variety of produce between her plot at FEF and her own farm, she specializes in Indian and Asian vegetables — food that she grew up with and knows very well.

She also started a CSA and delivers to Ashburn and other locations in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia. She takes pride in providing the community with local, freshly grown food.

For Gaddam, the FEF became more than just a place to grow food — it offered purpose, resilience and a supportive community. “I never lived in this area, right? I didn’t know anyone,” she said. “But that’s what I love about Fauquier County — the community is amazing. I don’t think I can find anybody like that in other communities.”

Gaddam and Thangamani are in their last year of the incubator program and then will be on their own at Happy Vibes Farm where they are currently preparing the farm infrastructure and implementing the knowledge gleaned at the FEF.

Swathi Gaddam and Bala Thangamani’s property spans 10 acres, but only about a half-acre is cleared and usable for farming. By planting multiple vegetables in beds together, Gaddam is able to produce a lot in quite a small space.

LLAMAZING BLESSED HOMESTEAD

Gaddam and Thangamani’s journey isn’t unique. Others have followed different paths to the farm, drawn by a desire for change and a more grounded life.

Claudia and Aldo Sessarego weren’t looking to become farmers. After the pandemic shut down their construction business, they just wanted to grow a few vegetables and feel productive. But a chance encounter with a workshop at the Fauquier Education Farm sparked something more — a hands-on opportunity to build a new life from the soil up.

They started with little more than a backyard garden and a desire to eat healthier food. What they lacked was experience — and land. The FEF’s incubator program

space — it’s completely different.”

More than land and tools, the program offered mentorship. “Jim is just an amazing person,” she said. “He was super calm, always had patience. He could explain everything… We didn’t know anything —

which they named Llamazing Blessed Homestead. They continue to participate in the Warrenton Farmers Market selling their produce, herbs and flowers, and products made with them.

In the end, the program offers far more than a quarter-acre plot. It can lead to a new livelihood, and a new sense of purpose.

Gaddam said, “My first year, with these resources I experimented growing more than 100 varieties and without fear. I learnt so much from my failures. I learnt to master growing certain crops, make efficiencies, learn about soil health, what crops work well for our climate, how things grow in different seasons, how much to grow, what crops community values, what not to grow and so much more. These would take years if I was not given this opportunity.” L

facebook.com/LlamazingBlessedHomestead happyvibesfarm.square.site

ABOUT THE FAUQUIER EDUCATION FARM

The Fauquier Education Farm is a learning resource for students, farmers, gardeners and anyone wanting to learn more about how food is grown. The FEF grows and shares produce, provides hands-on agricultural learning opportunities for all ages, and nurtures the next generation of farmers through education and support for sustainable success. Started in 2010, the registered nonprofit is based in Warrenton and regularly donates over 100,000 lbs. of food per year to local food banks. fauquiereducationfarm.org

The Sessaregos on their quarter-acre plot at the Fauquier Education Farm where they were able to experience and learn about commercial farming before purchasing their own property.

TOP 10 Fauquier’s

Top Sales

The ten highest-priced homes that sold between mid-April and mid-May, 2025 in Fauquier County. Data and photos from Zillow.com.

6416

$2,150,000

Sold: May 2

5,356

$1,335,000

$1,252,000

May 13

2725 CRENSHAW ROAD, MARSHALL

$1,200,000

The Big Picture

“The Greater Piedmont footprint saw a 16% decline in sales for the month of March. While sales were down, listings were up creating more inventory for buyers. Average days on market were down to 42 while the median price for the footprint rose to $629,950. Stay tuned to see whether or not the April market warms up!”

—Carrie Brown, 2025 Greater Piedmont REALTORS® President

The March Details for Fauquier County

Compared to March 2024

Median Sales Price: $706,000, up from $555,000

Sales Activity: 70, down from 75 Days on Market: 46, down from 48

Greater Piedmont REALTORS® is a trade association representing 650 REALTORS® in Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock, and Madison counties.

4558 GATES ROAD, WARRENTON

$1,150,000

Sold: May 8

bedrooms

wine&dine

Light and Lovely Spring Desserts

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA

While it may be that in the spring a young man’s fancy turns to love, my fancy turns to light and lovely desserts. Nothing too gooey or too heavy. Just sweet enough to tease my taste buds and tickle my fancy.

Blueberry Muffin Loaf Cake

DIRECTIONS

I really have to pace myself with this one. Tender and delicious with the fresh taste of lemon— divine. I thought about adding a drizzle of icing but by the time I decided that would be nice, I had eaten most of the loaf. Oh well.

MAKES 1 LOAF

EQUIPMENT: 1 (9 X 5“) LOAF PAN, BAKING PARCHMENT

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup sugar

Zest of 2 large lemons (2 to 3 Tablespoons)

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 ¼ cups fresh blueberries

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees. Line pan with 2 pieces of baking parchment as follows: 1 piece for the bottom width and both sides of the pan plus extra parchment overhang for easy removal of baked loaf. The other piece is the length of the pan and both shorter sides plus extra for overhang.

2. Remove the parchment from the pan. Grease the pan or coat with baking spray. Return the parchment to the pan pressing it to stick. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

4. Remove 1 Tablespoon flour mixture and toss with the blueberries to coat.

5. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, lemon zest, juice, oil, eggs and yogurt. Add to the flour mixture.

6. Put half the batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with ½ the blueberries.

7. Top blueberries with ½ the remaining batter. Sprinkle with remaining blueberries. Spread the last of the batter over the blueberries.

8. Bake until nicely browned and a toothpick comes out clean — 55 to 65 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes before removing.

9. With a table knife, cut around the loaf between the parchment and the pan. Using the overhanging parchment, lift the loaf out of the pan and onto a cooling rack. Gently pull the parchment down from the sides leaving parchment on the bottom. Cool completely before removing the parchment entirely.

We appreciate your votes!

Key Lime Yogurt Pie

Have you ever wished for a creamy, dreamy pie that didn’t leave you feeling guilty after you’ve had that second piece? This is it! The main ingredient is protein packed Greek yogurt. Healthy even if you splurge with a dollop of whipped cream.

MAKES 1 PIE

USES 1 (9”) GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST –PURCHASED OR HOMEMADE

Pistachio Party Cake

I usually don’t care for cake-mix cakes, but this one is the exception. A real make-ahead crowd pleaser.

SERVES 20 - 24

EQUIPMENT: 1 (9 X 13”) PAN, BAKING PARCHMENT

CAKE INGREDIENTS

1 (14.25 oz.) yellow cake mix

1 (3.4 oz.) package pistachio instant pudding

½ cup vegetables oil

3 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon almond extract

1 cup plain sparkling water (seltzer)

Baker’s tip: For 15.25 oz. cake mixes, add ¼ cup more sparkling water. Other ingredients and baking time remain the same.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

8 oz. nondairy whipped topping (thawed)

1 ½ cups coconut (divided)

1 cup chopped pistachios or pecans ¼ teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut baking parchment to fit pan bottom. Remove parchment from pan. Grease pan or coat with baking spray. Lightly press parchment onto pan bottom so it sticks. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake till a toothpick comes out clean – about 40 minutes.

4. Cool 10 minutes in pan then remove to a rack to finish cooling – top side up.

5. When cake is completely cool, cut it lengthwise through the middle using a serrated knife forming 2 layers.

6. For the frosting, mix the whipped topping, 1 cup coconut, nuts and salt. Spread ½ the frosting on the cut layer. Top with second layer. Ice top with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Lightly tent with plastic wrap. Chill overnight before serving.

Almond Flour Torte with Whipped Cream and Fresh Fruit

This is a rather nice, rather unusual, simple cake that’s easy to make. Only almond flour so it’s naturally gluten free but don’t let that scare you away. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or nondairy topping and fresh peaches or berries.

MAKES 1 SINGLE LAYER CAKE SERVING 6 TO 8

EQUIPMENT: 1 (8” ROUND) CAKE PAN, BAKING PARCHMENT

INGREDIENTS

1½ cups almond flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut a piece of baking parchment to fit the bottom of the baking pan. Remove parchment. Grease pan or coat with baking spray. Place cut parchment piece into the greased pan pressing it to stick. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl mix almond flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, eggs and vanilla for 2 minutes.

4. Whisk both bowls together till smooth. Pour into prepared pan.

5. Bake until nicely browned and set in the middle to a light touch – about 30 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing. Cool completely on a rack, top side up, before serving –about 2 hours. L

About the Home Economist: Karla Jones Seidita has cooked up a very tasty life. She has been a restaurant and a bakery owner, award-winning food writer, lifestyle radio host, cookbook author, country inn proprietor, and farm-to-table teacher. Currently she spends her days at her laptop and in the garden in Sumerduck. Find her at cheesecakefarms.com.

wine&dine

Sweet & Light

Rum and vodka cocktails delight in summer

BY DANIEL DUCA

By the time you’re reading this I’ll be sitting on my back porch in the humidity sipping a wine cooler pretending I’m on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean. In my dreaming I’ll continue with my sugary fascination with rum and vodka cocktails; I’m not usually one for bourbon in the summer. Honestly, I probably won’t even be on my back porch, I’ll just be on a recliner in the air conditioning. Point is, find your happy place to enjoy these creations. Cheers.

Beach

Bum

.75 oz. Vodka

.5 oz. Cointreau

.5 oz. Maraschino Liqueur

.25 oz. Pear Liqueur

1 dash Grenadine

Add all ingredients except Grenadine into a shaker tin with ice, shake well, then fine strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, add a dash of grenadine, and then garnish with a mint

DANIEL DUCA is the founder and head bartender at Duca Bar Company, a high-end private event bartending service in Fauquier County. W: ducabarcompany.com I: @ducabarcompany P: 540-729-7667

Rum Punch

1.25 oz. Light Rum

1.25 oz. Dark Rum

2 oz. Pineapple Juice

1 oz. Orange Juice

.75 oz. Lime Juice

.5 oz. Grenadine

Add all ingredients into a shaker tin with ice, shake well, then fine strain over fresh ice into a tall glass or a Hurricane glass, and then garnish with a maraschino cherry.

NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

A MONTHLY DOSE OF LOCAL HEADLINES BROUGHT TO YOU BY FAUQUIERNOW.COM

Eric Kelly named principal of P.B. Smith Elementary School

The Fauquier County School Board announced the appointment of Eric Kelly as the new principal of P.B. Smith Elementary School in Warrenton, effective July 1.

Kelly will succeed Linda Smith, who recently announced her retirement.

Kelly brings 28 years of experience in education, including a long-standing connection to Fauquier County Public Schools. He began his career in 1997 as a music teacher at Mary Walter Elementary School, where he served for 22 years. During that time, he also served as the FRESH wellness leader and contributed to music education as the assistant band director at Liberty High School.

In 2019, Kelly joined the P.B. Smith Elementary administrative team as assistant principal, a role he has held for the past six years.

“Eric has been a trusted partner and a steady presence at P.B. Smith,” Smith said in the release.

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“His dedication to our students, families and staff is unwavering. I leave knowing the school is in capable hands and that he will continue the work of supporting every child, every day.”

According to school officials, Kelly’s leadership style is grounded in a commitment to listening, being fair, concise, supportive and genuine.

Oak View National Bank celebrates new Warrenton headquarters

Community members, local officials and business leaders gathered in May to celebrate the grand opening of Oak View National Bank’s new Warrenton headquarters at 340 Waterloo St. with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce.

The 7,000-square-foot location, which officially opened to customers April 26, replaces the bank’s former Warrenton branch off Broadview Avenue. The new building nearly doubles the size of the former space. Construction began in January 2024.

Over $1.1 million raised in this year’s

Give Local Piedmont

It was a record-breaking year for the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation’s annual Give Local Piedmont event.

This year, the 24-hour online giving campaign raised nearly $1.14 million to support 214 local nonprofits. 3,175 unique donors participated in the event.

Organizations across Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock and Madison counties benefited from the daylong affair, which featured a variety of prize competitions and giving incentives.

“The outpouring of support is a testament to how deeply people care,” Jim LaGraffe, executive director of Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, said in a news release.

“At a time when nonprofits are navigating increased needs and limited resources, our community stepped up in a powerful way to ensure critical work can continue.”

“We’re thrilled not only by the dollars raised, but by the renewed sense of connection this event fosters year after year,” said foundation board Chair Eugene Triplett.

READ

“Give Local Piedmont is more than a fundraiser—it’s a celebration of the incredible impact local nonprofits make every day.”

Founded in Warrenton in 2009, Oak View National Bank has since expanded to operate branches in Marshall, Culpeper and Flint Hill, as well as a loan production office in Washington.

During the ceremony, Fauquier Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alec Burnett spoke on the broader significance of the occasion in his remarks.

“Today isn’t just about ribbon-cutting. It’s about recognizing growth, commitment and community investment,” Burnett said. “Oak View National Bank continues to uphold a strong reputation for delivering enthusiastic customer experiences, quality products and local commitment to providing quality service and most importantly, meaningful support in the communities that they serve.”

READ MORE:

(From left) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Michael Ewing, President & Chief Credit Officer Kevin Lee, Warrenton Branch Manager Christy Minor, Chief Financial Officer Tammy Frazier, Senior

President Sam Parker and Chief Operating Officer Colin Borgstrom.