Loudoun students will enjoy another All-Star roster of farmer trading cards this spring, thanks to a strong collaboration between Loudoun Economic Development and the Loudoun County Public Schools’ Nutrition Services office.

The award-winning initiative, now in its sixth year, has become a favorite among students and farmers alike. This year, in addition to the physical cards, students will receive video messages from each of the featured farmers, showing them an educational aspect of farming. Hear from Farmer Jim of Mountain View Farm:

Farmer Jim, Mountain View Farm

Years in farming: 1 year.
Produces/Grows: Pasture-raised broiler chickens, eggs, and vegetables.
Where to find your products: My farm stand.
Why did you choose this product: My goal is to create a number of farm enterprises that work together. These products offer a low-cost entry that nearly anybody can do.
What is fun about farming: Everything – it forces you to use your body and mind to solve problems and allows you to be creative.
What inspired you to start: I’ve had a variety of different jobs over time, from the Marine Corps to office work, and farming was the first thing I’ve found that combined those skills into truly productive work.