Twelve years ago this month, Harold, Elaine and Jason packed up their farm in Powhatan and moved to southern Brunswick County. It was a brave pioneering adventure, as they were moving to a farming area with no family, friends or Mennonite church. This past week as we sat at their kitchen table and talked, I became aware of how deeply rooted and a part of the Brunswick community the Alderfers have become.

Harold and Elaine attend James Square Baptist Church; however, they say they are still members here at Powhatan! Elaine is leader of the Girls Club, chairman of the Flower Committee and in charge of the baby and toddler nurseries. Harold serves on the Yard Committee and is Coordinator of the Church Activities committee, helping to plan social events such as the annual hayride and picnic. He also enjoys the monthly Men’s Sunday Morning Prayer Breakfast.

The Alderfers, along with Elaine’s sister Lorraine, work together as a team on the 189-acre dairy farm. Elaine does the morning milking and calves, Lorraine the afternoons, and Harold the chores and crops. They have developed deep friendships with their neighbors and say it is amazing how they just show up to lend a helping hand when there is extra farmwork to be done.

   Elaine is known for her love of flowers, and her numerous gardens are a blaze of fragrant blossoms. She says her hobbies are arranging flowers, gardening and listening to books on tape as she works in her kitchen.

  When we drove in the driveway, we couldn’t help but notice Harold’s pride and joy, his John Deere tractors lined in a row at the edge of the yard. One of Harold’s missions is to help farmers. As a result, he has gotten involved in local politics related to farming. He was elected to serve his third term as chairman of the Brunswick/Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation Service. He is also a member of the local Ruritan Club, a group of men from the community and church who meet monthly. Even though the club is mostly social, members also do service projects such as provide Christmas baskets to the local shut-ins.

Jason graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg in 2000 with a major in Computer Science. He and Kristin Beachy, granddaughter of Morris and Janet Yoder in Newport News, are planning to marry December 20. They will be living in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Kristin will be teaching and pursing her masters degree in creative writing.

The Alderfers treasure their friendships with the Powhatan fellowship. Harold moved to Powhatan from Newport News just after high school in 1964 and lived with Wally and Dorcas Schaefer, his sister. Harold and Elaine met while she was in voluntary service in Norfolk. After their marriage on September 9, 1972, they farmed with Wally and Dorcas until 1977 when they moved to Elaine’s homeplace in Frazee, MN, for a thirteen-month farming stint.

After moving back to the Powhatan area, they farmed in partnership with Wally until they moved to their farm in Brodnax, Virginia. Even though the Alderfers have found a real sense of belonging in their community, Harold says, "The people at Powhatan are still my people and my roots." They extend a warm welcome to "Come see us!"

Harold and Elaine Alderfer, 434-577-2280

246 Browns Creek Rd. Brodnax, VA 23920-3112

email: alderfer@meckcom.net