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Ag center progress on fast-forward
 | | Designers unveiled a conceptual drawing this week to show what the new ag center might look like after construction. The center has recently received a $40,000 grant to help in the design stage. (Rendering courtesy Architectural Design Services of Roanoke) |
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MONTEREY — In spite of initial concerns about the site and building for an agricultural center, one neighbor to the proposed facility, Katharine Windsor of Forks of the Water, is encouraged by the newly revealed drawing of the place. "I had nightmares about possible plans, and this rendition dispels all of my worst dreams," Windsor said this week.
Windsor will be the resident living closest to the center when it's built. She saw the color drawing for the first time Tuesday.
"I like the fact that it has a barn look to it, and the design and colors are complementary to the surrounding mountains and vegetation. It certainly does not look like what I was expecting," she said.
Those planning the building and site had visited Windsor's home to get a sense of how her view might be affected after construction, and the type and density of visual barriers that might be needed. "They are doing a good job of keeping me informed all the time," she said.
The ag center project is moving full steam ahead, having just recently secured a $40,000 grant for the design stage.
Aug. 20, engineers Dan Early and Jason Hartman of the ACS Design team and architect Dave Dollberg of Architectural Design Services met with four ag center steering committee members to review the initial site plan concept drawing. After clarifying programming for the facility, the group went on site at Forks of the Water, and met with Mike McCray of Spruce Hill Excavating.
It was that same day the committee heard from Chris Cook, enterprise development coordinator with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, about the $40,000 grant from Virginia FAIRS - Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability. The steering committee will provide a 25 percent match for the grant.
The mission of FAIRS is to assist rural Virginians with agricultural, economic and social interests. It coordinates technical and financial help develop these opportunities; develop value-added agricultural products; and address challenges facing farmers.
"This project is a great example of what can happen when organizations and people pull together to make things happen," said ag center coordinator Scott Smith.
Just two weeks ago, the board of the Highland-Bath Cattle Association met and agreed to individually co-sign on a loan with First & Citizens Bank so the group could order scales and pens for live animals. A fall cattle sale was set for Oct. 13, as well as take-up dates for VQA cattle later that week. The bank agreed to a slightly lower interest rate as their show of support for the project.
The facility design subcommittee talked with a number of manufacturers and with other handling facilities to determine the best equipment, and decided WW livestock equipment would be best. The design committee met last week with Mike Hilbert of Rockingham Cooperative, and the WW Equipment sales representative to finalize the design of the live animal marketing structures, and order the pens. These pens are heavy gauge steel, and will be anchored to the ground, though the exact placement can be changed if necessary in the future. An order was placed, and the committee has been guaranteed they will be on-site for set-up by the first week of October. Rockingham Coop lowering its prices to make this happen.
The first phase of the ag center is well under way, and the center will be able to market live animals this fall. The committee is moving ahead on the second phase - the abattoir— by securing investors, finalizing designs, and putting the project out to bid for construction.
Although the group acknowledges the timeline is aggressive, all concerned seem to think the pieces can be in place for excavating work on the live animal marketing infrastructure to be constructed to be completed by the end of September.
For more information and to view the facility design, and master site plan design, and a full listing of partners and supporters, visit the livestock barn during the fair this weekend.
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