Grayson LandCare created a Business Challenge this year to help support a new or existing business in Grayson County. Starting or sustaining a business is a daunting enterprise and this grant is designed to lend a helping hand in the form of a $1,500 grant. We had 4 entries and we are pleased to announce that Conrad and Vanessa Austin of CW Farm are our winners.
My first question to everyone I meet is: “How did you end up in Grayson County?” The Austins enjoy the outdoors and casually looked for a place to retire as they vacationed all over the country. They really enjoyed the time spent camping in Grayson Highlands and liked the small towns in the area and purchased property in 2012 and continued to vacation here. Covid convinced them to make the move to Grayson County full time with their 2 children Casey and Wyatt. They moved from Virginia Beach where they were both Firefighters. Vanessa served in the Navy during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Conrad served in the Marines during operation Desert storm. Originally planning a gradual development of the farm while Vanessa continued to work an outside job, they decided to take the plunge to full time farming this year.
CW Farm is in the early stages of development with small flocks of chickens and ducks and the beginnings of an orchard. They hope to join the Independence Farmers Market later this season.