Neesey Payne

Roanoke

I'm an anchor on @WDBJ7Mornin. Spreading love and light wherever I go. My faith in Jesus keeps me going! Telling stories is a passion.

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Articles

Grown Here at Home: How florists ensure arrangements are long-lasting

2 weeks ago | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - At Green Designs in Roanoke, owner Jan Hendrickson explained what they do to make sure your flower arrangements last as long as possible. For instance, take chrysanthemums. When they get them at the shop they’re dry-packed and haven’t been in water since they were harvested in South America. “They’re placed in a temperature-controlled area and then shipped from Miami to here,” Hendrickson explained. Green Designs gets flowers every week; sometimes up to three times.
Grown Here at Home: Excitement stirring over first Virginia Flower Fest

1 month ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Neesey Payne

Share BLUE RIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) - Layman Family Farms is gearing up for its first Virginia Flower Fest. “We do this for the community and if it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be here,” said Eric Layman, owner of Layman Family Farms. Layman planted more than 45,000 tulips in December, and now they’re starting to see the light of day. “The tulips are coming up good and I think they’re going to be beautiful,” Layman said.
Grown Here at Home: Virginia Western launches new course on hydroponics

2 months ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Neesey Payne

Share ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia Western Community College is offering a new hands-on course on hydroponics. “We’re going to focus heavily on the systems that we use, water management, pests, diseases that you can have in these types of systems, and everything you would need to run these (systems) in your own home or giant commercial operation,” said Cody Thompson, course instructor.
Grown Here at Home: Franklin County High School is getting new welding equipment

Jul 22, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

FRANKLIN CO., Va. (WDBJ) - When students at Franklin County High School get to work on community projects, it helps them take what they’re learning in their books and put it into practice. Now, they’ll have another tool to help them learn how to get the job done. Sixteen school divisions across the Commonwealth received competitive grant money from the Virginia Department of Education to upgrade their CTE equipment. Five are from our hometowns. Each division will receive $37,500.
Good Samaritan Hospice opens regions first freestanding hospice house

Jun 7, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The region’s first freestanding hospice house is now open and ready to serve families. A grand opening celebration was held Friday, June 7, for the Sheila S. Strauss Hospice House. The house was a part of the original plans of Good Samaritan Hospice back in 1992, and 32 years later, it is now a reality.
Grown Here at Home: Veterinarian explains whether the spread of Avian Flu will impact food supply

Jun 2, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - With the spread of Avian Flu, concerns are growing from consumers about the disease contaminating the food supply. Dr. Charlie Broaddus is the state veterinarian for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). He says diseased birds do not go into the food supply. “We have one of the safest supply systems in the world. Part of that is due to inspections.
Grown Here at Home: Cicadas emerging in parts of Virginia; what’s the impact on farmers?

May 19, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

FRANKLIN CO., Va. (WDBJ) - There’s a lot of talk right now about the double-brood of cicadas emerging. The good news is these periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, won’t be showing up in any of our hometowns. However, Hanover County, just north of Richmond, and Brunswick County, at the southern border of the state, are getting an earful of Brood XIX. While their mating sound might be annoying, they won’t hurt anybody; but they will do damage to a farmer’s crop.
Grown Here at Home: Franklin County students taking part in Ag Literacy Week

Mar 17, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

FRANKLIN CO., Va. (WDBJ) - March 18-22 is Agriculture Literacy Week. Students will be reading Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s Book of the Year, “Logan’s Greenhouse.”“It’s about a kid who has his own little green house. So, it’s not necessarily on a farm type of thing, but I think it just teaches kids there’s just so much you can do with agriculture,” said Franklin County High School FFA President Katie Wells.
Grown Here at Home: Students learn about ag industry at 4-H Junior Hokie Showcase

Mar 10, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) -Hundreds of students took a field trip to Virginia Tech for the 4-H Junior Hokie Showcase. Fourth-graders learned all about Virginia agriculture, natural resources, and Virginia Tech. “All these different stations are choices of majors here that these kids can go into, and then potentially do that for a career,” said Chris Lichty, senior 4-H extension agent in Pulaski County.
Grown Here at Home: Tuck Farms in Moneta receives regional sustainability award

Feb 19, 2024 | wdbj7.com | Neesey Payne

MONETA, Va. (WDBJ) - Nestled in Moneta is Tuck Farms – a cow/calf operation that’s been in the Tuck family since 1962. The farm was announced as the Region 1 winner for the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award Program at CattleCon24 in Orlando, Florida. The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association nominates producers, like the Tuck family, who are doing all they can to preserve the land, for the award.