Earlier this month, Gloucester resident Josh Clark found himself on the main stage at the Virginia State Fair. He was one of three people being honored for two distinct achievements: service to our country and a profound commitment to agriculture.
Josh, who served in the Navy, won the Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition Award: a new prize sponsored by the State Fair of Virginia and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. According to the State Fair website, the award highlights “the invaluable contributions of veterans who have transitioned into farming or paused and returned to farming after serving in the military.”
Josh and his family are the epitome of service to country. Their links to the armed forces go back three generations. Like Josh, his grandfather was in the Navy. Grace, Josh’s wife, also comes from a military family. All her parents and grandparents served. Moreover, Josh and Grace’s eldest son Ian is a special operations helicopter crew chief in the U.S. Army.
Josh came to Virginia through his military service. After his enlistment ended, he and Grace wanted to find a piece of land to farm. Their search led them to Gloucester County. That was 22 years ago. During that time, Josh and Grace have established themselves as a part of the local farming community while raising their three children.
Josh is a first-generation farmer. His father was a steel salesman. His mother was a homemaker. As such, Josh’s farming skills are the result of various mentorships of local farmers. He is especially appreciative of Buck Richardson of Richardson’s Farms and Matt Wilson of Dutton. Aaron and Brannen Black of N.S. Farms/CLR Systems in Charles City have also been a great source of support. As Josh explains, “they always pick up the phone” when he calls with a question.
Despite not coming from a farming family, Josh has a lifelong connection to the industry. He is originally from a small town in Ohio. As a child, he fondly recalls traveling to various state fairs in the Ohio area, partaking in tractor shows. Furthermore, Josh’s aunt and uncle owned a tobacco farm in nearby Kentucky. So, in many ways, Josh has been surrounded by farming his entire life.
Over the years, Josh has been involved in various aspects of agriculture. One of his first endeavors was raising feeder pigs. After that, he moved into beef/cattle before pivoting into growing hay. Nowadays, his operation specializes in row crop—a mixture of corn, beans and small grains.
Josh believes much of his success as a farmer comes from the support of his wife, Grace. She is a registered nurse who previously worked at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Cumberland Hospital. Now, she works at a facility in Yorktown. Josh says having a partner that understands your vision is key. For instance, Josh recalls the times when the harvest conflicted with a school event or sports match. When that happened, Grace was always there for the family, balancing out schedules to make sure their children had what they needed.
Josh’s operation is unique for several reasons. He uses his own equipment, which he maintains and services himself. Josh also practices “no till” farming (a form of conservation farming). This “no till” method involves planting directly into the undisturbed soil. This holds the soil together and keeps its nutrients intact. After harvesting, Josh plants a cover crop, which decreases the amount of herbicides needed the following year.
When speaking about farming, Josh’s passion comes through. Not only does he have a deep interest in its technical side, he is also attuned to its therapeutic nature. Josh, who tragically lost his twin brother to addiction in 2017, believes that working with soil and making things grow can help people with substance abuse issues. According to Josh, farming can be helpful for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as well. As he puts it, working with soil can, “reduce the pace of life and bring what truly matters into focus.”
Josh embraces the philosophical side of farming. He says that, when done correctly, farming can teach you a lot about life. He asserts that there is something special about planting a seed, watching it grow, and harvesting it. It’s a process that has a beginning and an end—the cycle of life. Josh feels that his children have learned invaluable lessons from growing up around agriculture; one of them being the importance of “finishing what you start.”
If you’re interested in working with Josh, he is always open to meeting new people. He is quick to mention that his farming operation has predominantly grown through personal relationships. Josh finds that, in Gloucester, a friendly question can lead to a tractor trade, a deal on feed, or an opportunity to farm an old plot of family land. If you are interested in working with Josh or learning more about his farms, he encourages you to get in touch via email at clarksmarineSVC@gmail.com.
Nowadays, Josh and Grace are on the verge of an empty nest. Ian is bravely serving in the Army. Their eldest daughter, McKayla, is a freshman field hockey player at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland. Their youngest, Emily Anne, remains at home. She’s an eighth grader at Page Middle School.
Nonetheless, Josh and Grace are not slowing down. Josh wants to continue farming, meeting new people, and finding new opportunities in surrounding counties. Between Josh’s farming abilities and Grace’s medical background, they have so much to offer.
Congratulations to Josh and his family for the Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition Award, or, as we should say to all veterans, “thank you for your service.”