On June 26, members of IR-4’s headquarters team joined EPA and USDA colleagues for a specialty crop tour through the rolling hills of the Northeast Region. A favorite tradition running 20 years strong, this annual tour is hosted by IR-4 in the spirit of connecting regulators to the realities of specialty crop growers’ livelihoods and pest challenges. Each year follows a different itinerary, showcasing a variety of specialty crops important to the region, and including both commercial operations and land-grant research farms.
Crucial to the success of these tours has been Van Starner, retired Assistant Director for IR-4 and currently assisting IR-4 in a part-time capacity. Known for his leadership in many areas of IR-4’s work, Van is especially known for guiding two decades worth of crop tours. As Van transitions to full retirement, he decided to lead this one final tour. It was one for the books, as Van guided attendees from Maryland to Pennsylvania, focusing on Adams County, PA where he was born and raised. Van’s roots run deep in the region, and he gave attendees a truly personal tour experience—we passed the home where he was born, the farms of countless family members, the fields where he spent childhood summers, and where he eventually conducted research as a Pennsylvania State University student.
Ensuring that these tours run smoothly takes monumental effort and months of planning. Van’s passion and dedication have always ensured that the itinerary flows well, that the bus can navigate rural roads, and that the hosts at each stop are ready for the group. While challenges tend to arise during events like these, Van has expertly managed unforeseen issues over the years and kept them under the radar. Thanks to Van’s diligent attention to detail, attendees have been able to relax and enjoy the ride.
While Executive Director Jerry Baron was unable to join this tour, he chimed in via a recorded message for Van played for attendees on the bus:
“Van puts his heart and soul into running a fun, informative experience. This last tour is additionally special as we are visiting Van’s home area. I’m sure you’ll hear about his relatives and they’ve farmed this area for nearly a century. You’ll get to know Van better and by the end of this tour you’ll agree that Van is one of the best people ever.”
Tour attendees indeed gained a unique perspective on what it’s like to grow up in a farming community, and how deeply personal this field of work can be. It was also a meaningful moment for IR-4 team members who have benefited from working alongside Van for years. As Van more fully embraces his retirement, touring his stomping grounds was a perfect opportunity to celebrate his storied career and wish him well. While every tour has been exceptional, this one was especially so—many thanks to Van for inviting us all to see Adams County through his eyes. It is an idyllic part of the country—verdant, rolling hills dotted with apple and peach orchards, grazing animals and historic homesteads. Here we’ll share highlights from each stop.
HART HEMP COMPANY
Before heading to Adams County, we stopped in Adamstown, Maryland for a glimpse at a crop that was less familiar to most in attendance: industrial hemp. At Hart Hemp, we learned from Andy Bennett and Dan Ramsdell about the unique opportunities and challenges with industrial hemp production. Industrial hemp has bright potential as a sustainable textile, plastic substitute, building material, animal bedding and more. While sipping coffee by a mountain of hemp bales, walking through fields of towering plants, and examining custom harvesting equipment, we enjoyed a pragmatic and thoughtful discussion on what it might take to successfully grow and scale this emerging specialty crop.
With past regulation and changing policies directly impacting America’s nascent fiber hemp industry, it was an invaluable opportunity for our hosts to connect with regulatory experts, and vice versa, in a candid conversation. Thank you, Hart Hemp, for this memorable first stop (and the coffee and pastries that helped fuel our day)! We look forward to seeing this crop gain the support it needs through scientifically sound regulation and land-grant research, as well as the processing facilities and distribution channels needed to enable U.S. markets.
 |
 |
Left: Tour hosts Dan Rasmdell and Andy Bennett. Right: rows of industrial hemp flank a cover crop mix.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY FRUIT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER (FREC)
Next, we were off to Van’s home turf. As Pennsylvania is fourth in the nation in both apple as well as peach and nectarine production, fruit is a focus of the state’s agricultural research. Penn State FREC was an enlightening second stop, where we were honored to hear welcome remarks from PA Secretary of Agriculture Russel Redding (pictured left), who has been a visionary leader in many ways, including guiding Pennsylvania to be the first (and currently the only) state with its own Farm Bill.
Noting our 60th anniversary in 2023, Secretary Redding emphasized that the need for IR-4 “is magnified today by the disease pressures, the pest pressures, by international trade considerations, by consumer-driven preferences. All of that is inside the work that you’re doing, so the partnership with the IR-4 program and the state…the work that you’re doing for specialty crops is really critical.”
Center Director Jayson Harper also offered introductory remarks and led us on a walking tour of the orchards with plant pathologist Kari Peter and entomologist Greg Krawczyk. Next, we visited a garage on-site where biological engineer Long He researches emerging precision agriculture technologies such as AI and robotics. Attendees left with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of fruit production, the considerable amount of human intervention required (from fruit thinning to monitoring pests), and the exciting frontier of new technologies to yield healthier harvests.
As our bus wove its way out of the research farm, Van pointed out fields where he conducted research as an undergraduate and graduate student at Penn State—a full circle moment pointing to the fruitful career pathways that agriculture provides.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Top left: A FREC graduate student presents an insect trap being evaluated in the orchards. Top right: the group learns from FREC plant pathologist about apple management. Bottom left: the robotics and AI garage. Bottom right: Mature fruit trees at FREC.
GRIEST ORCHARDS
Griest Orchards—a sprawling, family-run commercial fruit and vegetable operation—is led by Brady and Conner Griest; the team also includes Van’s first cousin, Tonya (pictured left with Van). Here, we wandered through rows of cherry trees nestled under netted hoop houses for insect and bird protection (a unique production system), and ate our way through a blueberry field loaded with plump fruit.
Selling at several major farmers markets in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, the Griest operators are excellent marketers, supplying loyal customers with “every fruit and vegetable we can.” Their crop plan also incorporates unconventional fruits like the kiwi berry; after experimenting with a small planting and letting customers taste the fruit, it has become a favorite summer crop, grown row upon row.
We learned a great deal about the farm’s Integrated Pest Management practices, such as protecting pests’ predators in order to protect the fruit, and using traps to monitor pest populations. Alongside valuable lessons on diversification and crop rotation observed strolling the Griest fields, many of us will remember learning from Van that a zucchini stem can be sounded like a horn! We thank Brady, Connor and the entire Griest team for their hospitality, and Van for showing us a creative new use for a bumper crop of cucurbits.
 |
 |
Left: IR-4’s Cristina Marconi picks blueberries; Right: tour attendees explore Griest’s unique cherry production space under hoop houses.
KNOUSE FRUITLANDS AND THIRSTY FARMER BREW WORKS
A visit to Knouse Fruitlands and its on-site brewery, Thirsty Farmer Brew Works, was a satisfying conclusion to the day. Knouse is home to one of the last remaining historic round barns in Pennsylvania, built in 1914. In addition to running a productive commercial farm operation, the Knouse family operates an event venue and farm market out of the Historic Round Barn. Attendees enjoyed marveling at the barn’s architecture, and weaving down a narrow spiral staircase to the bottom level where cattle were once fed; the ground level now serves as the Farm Market where local produce, value-added foods and locally-made gifts are sold.
Together, we crossed the road to view the farm’s hop yard, where hops are grown for use in the brewery. Finally, we enjoyed cold beverages and a celebratory dinner. If you find yourself in Adams County, PA—don’t miss Thirsty Farmer. The farm, shop and brewery working in tandem are an excellent example of agri-tourism and the revival of storied agricultural properties. We applaud this fourth-generation family farm for their creativity and stewardship.
 |
 |
Left: the historic round barn at Knouse Fruitlands. Right: Attendees explore the hop yard neighboring Thirsty Farmer Brew Works.
THANK YOU, VAN STARNER
Van demonstrates the famous zucchini horn at Griest Orchards with Ed Messina, Director of EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs.
Over dinner at Thirsty Farmer, we took a moment to thank Van for his service to IR-4 and 20 years leading these specialty crop tours with EPA and USDA employees. IR-4 Associate Director for Regulatory Sciences and National Laboratory Director, Debbie Carpenter, shared funny memories of past tours, from uncooperative weather to rogue bus routes (which are more amusing in hindsight than in the moment); she also noted that this was not the first tour where Van blew a squash whistle (and that it’s always a highlight).
Nancy Fitz, Minor Use Team Leader at EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs and a longtime partner to IR-4, shared:
“I’m so glad we were able to go on this tour. People say it’s six degrees of separation…I think in Adams County it’s more like one degree of separation, maybe two! We want to express our sincere thanks and how much these tours have helped educate OPP employees. If you do the math, 40 people times 20 years—that’s a lot of people you’ve gotten out in the field and helped show us different kinds of agriculture.”
Echoing the sentiments shared among longtime friends and newcomers at dinner, we extend our thanks to Van for an educational, heartfelt and adventurous day. Thank you for being a teammate, a mentor, a leader, an exceptional tour guide, and a proud Adams County ambassador.
