Andrew lived his life as a private humble man, always with great love and compassion for those in need. He was also a member of the Forks of Johns Creek Christian Church. He is preceded in death by parents Walter and Harriet Snodgrass and sister Katherine Snodgrass.

Survivors include his loving wife of 44 years, Arlene Deal Snodgrass; sister-in-law Elsie Wren, nieces Cleo Dalson and Cynthia Fleming, cousin Ella Ross, special friends Wayne King, Maxie Doss, Donald Caldwell, Roger Huffman, Kenneth and Carole Myers, Bill Frazier, and Leon Miller.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Paitsel Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Frazier officiating. Interment will follow at Snodgrass Family Cemetery with military rites by VFW post No. 4491. A special thank you to Carillon Hospice, including Kitty and Donna.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Forks of Johns Creek Christian Church, 84 Dicks Creek Rd., New Castle, VA 24127. Arrangements by Paitsel Funeral Home. www.paitselfh.com

In what’s become an annual effort, the center– which assists dozens of senior citizens and struggling families– needs funds to remain open beyond November of this year.

Right now, Director Robyn Dobyns said the center has enough money to remain open into the fall, but is again dependent on the community to keep operating.

“This month, the BRC is asking you to join a growing list of volunteers who have donated resources through time and money, keeping the Botetourt Resource Center in operation,” Dobyns said. “Please consider supporting the Botetourt Resource Center today by donating $12. That represents a donation of $1 a month to help keep the BRC open for the 12th year.

“Your donation helps us in our efforts to assist families, the elderly and the economically disadvantaged throughout the county. Keeping the lights on at the Botetourt Resource Center helps us to keep a helpful light shining in the lives of those who are struggling,” she said.

Since its opening, the BRC has operated under the auspices of a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit agency, so all donations written to the BRC are tax deductible.

The BRC has had a busy year. Since July a year ago, the BRC has done everything from facilitate nearly $38,000 of in-kind services to help needy individuals and families in the county to repair 20 homes of senior citizens in partnership with Rebuilding Together of Roanoke.

The list of accomplishments during the 12 months between July 2010 and June 2011 Dobyns would like to see continued include:

•  Launching the first non-profit and countywide crisis fund in Botetourt County called the Botetourt Resource Center Interfaith Crisis Fund under the non-profit status of Mill Creek Baptist Church and in partnership with 20+ churches. Since the fund began on December 21, 2010, $8,360+ has been raised and $8,157+ has been spent on 156 individuals in 58 households. It also coordinated funds for BAMA totaling $470.

• Providing the Senior Prescription Assistance Program through grant funds from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley and donations. The BRC spent  $2,768.50 to help 21 low-income seniors with ongoing prescription co-payments.

• Distributing free wood (60 loads) to 11 seniors and needy families through the winter in partnership with and by Mill Creek Baptist Church volunteers

• Providing weatherization on eight senior homes.

• Coordinating Christmas gift adoptions for 32 children and nine seniors worth over $3,700.

• Continuing monthly Senior Parties in Buchanan where 10 parties were held with more than 80 seniors (through a FFRV grant) and Senior Parties in Eagle Rock at the Eagle Rock Library that were started in June

• Making repairs to 10 senior homes with BRC staff and in partnership with Rebuilding Together of Roanoke. This was done with $1,874.55 in funds from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley Senior Belonging Grant. The BRC built four ramps, replaced a roof, repaired a roof, rebuilt a railing and inside wall at a home, repaired doors on two homes and repaired a bathroom floor.

• Providing $60 shoe vouchers each to 35 needy seniors in partnership with Super Shoe and funded by The Foundation for Roanoke Valley Belonging Initiative Grant totaling $2,100.

• Sponsoring a free flu clinic in partnership with the Botetourt Health Department.

• Sponsoring free mammograms in partnership with Project Access of the Roanoke Valley and UVA Hospital.

• Sponsoring a free Car Fit program for seniors to improve safety and comfort of driving in partnership with Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Carilion.

• Facilitating Basic Needs Assistance to seniors through home repair, bill assistance, home supplies, recreation, medical assistance, etc. with a $24,226.81 grant from FFRV Belonging Grant.

Also, during this 2010-2011 fiscal year, the BRC case managed more than 66 individuals and another 112 families in Botetourt County.

In addition, the BRC coordinates a countywide recycling network that provides appliances, clothes, furniture, medical equipment, etc. to families and seniors. The BRC also operates a Clothes Closet and Pantry, a Brain Fitness Program for seniors, recreational activities, helps with back-to-school supplies and has a medical equipment loan program.

“For 11 years, the Botetourt Resource Center has been responsible for raising the entire budget each year,” Dobyns said. “As for most non-profit organizations, this is a daunting task. All of the services are given at no cost to residents, and funds for programs are also raised by the center. At this time the center desperately needs financial help to remain open in its 12th year of successful operation.”

Founded in October of 2000, the Botetourt Resource Center opened its doors in the old Buchanan High School cafeteria building at 33 Bedford Street in Buchanan.

The Botetourt Resource Center was initiated through a beginning venture grant from the United Way Program through the Council of Community Services as a way to help the community connect to needed resources.

The BRC has served the community through partnerships with churches, various civic organizations and agencies (such as the League of Older Americans, Agency on Aging, Project Access, and Blue Ridge Independent Living Center, etc.)  The BRC provides case-managed assistance through information, advocacy, referral and programs.

Since its establishment, the BRC has been recognized for its community service efforts through articles in The Fincastle Herald, The Roanoke Times and the Virginia Business Magazine. Because of its success, the center has been awarded program grants by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Foundation for Roanoke Valley, Presbytery of the Peaks, Wal-Mart Foundation and others.

Dobyns noted the BRC must raise all expenses for the total budget and programs through county, private and public donations, grants and fundraisers. The BRC is under the non-profit umbrella of the Council of Community Services and receives in-kind services from the council as well as from the Town of Buchanan.

“All donations are tax deductible and are greatly appreciated in continuing these valuable services,” Dobyns added.

Contributions can be sent to the Botetourt Resource Center, P.O. Box 153, Buchanan,  24066. For more information, call 254-1468.

Katelyn is the daughter of Anthony and Laura LePore of Troutville. She graduated from Lord Botetourt High School and plans to graduate from Roanoke College May 2012.

Katelyn Michelle LePore and Jeremy Wayne Mowles

Jeremy is the son of Rodney and Darlene Mowles of Salem. He graduated from Glenvar High School and is currently employed by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.

The wedding will take place at The Plantation on Sunnybrook in Roanoke.

The Sheriff’s Department reported he was last seen Monday morning around 8:30 a.m.

Indications are, the man was not injured when he was found.

The Sheriff’s Department initiated the county’s emergency notification system about the missing man not long before he was located. The system sends telephone calls, text messages and emails to county residents who sign up for the emergency notifications.

Friends of the Park is holding its fifth annual fund-raiser for Troutville Town Park Saturday, Sept. 11 from 2-6 p.m.

Because of the significance of that day, the park will display the red, white and blue colors to show strong support for both families who lost loved ones on 9-11 and for the soldiers who are still fighting every day for their country’s freedom.

The afternoon and evening will have inflatables for the kids to enjoy (along with the regular park playground), children’s crafts and face painting, plus kids are invited to decorate their bicycles and tricycles for the Bicycle Parade through the park (helmets and safety pads required). This year’s parade marshal in disguise will be Dan Naff from the Botetourt Chamber Commerce.

The Bike Parade follows the dedication of the new gazebo at 2 p.m.

The activities will also include the annual Cake Tasting Contest to select the 2010 Botetourt Baker Queen (bring your favorite 9×13 cake to compete) and a men’s horseshoe pitching contest next to the tennis courts. Winners receive gift certificates from the Pomegranate Restaurant.

The locally popular band Exit 162 will play in Shelter B from 4-6 p.m. (bring a lawn chair). There will be hot dogs and fixin’s and Happy Time Balloons’ ice cream truck.

Troutville’s fire and rescue vehicles will be on display, with demonstrations on fire education including a “Smoke House.”

Everything is included in the price of a ticket.

Tickets are $10 adults ($7 if purchased in advance) and $5 for children 3-12 ($3 if purchased in advance), and kids 2 and under are free.

Tickets are available at the Troutville Town Hall (992-4011).

For tickets or more information about any of the activities, the children’s bike parade, horseshoe competition or the bake-off contest, call Kathy at 915-3108 or read the “Troutville Tidbits” online at www.townoftroutville.com.

Coolers are welcome, but will be checked (No Alcoholic Beverages Allowed in the park).

The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 12.

While Friends of the Park will be setting up for Saturday’s Party in the Park, Troutville Farmers’ Market will still be open from 7 a.m.-12 noon in Town Park.

Chip Sullivan of Troutville will be featured on the Golf Channel. Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America

Marking its fifth consecutive year and hosted by CBS Sports announcer Bill Macatee, “The Road to the PGA Championship” also features the 43rd PGA Professional National Championship conducted in June, which was the springboard to a 20-player delegation that earned berths in the 92nd PGA Championship, Aug. 9-15, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.

PGA Professional Sullivan, the pro at the Hanging Rock Golf Club in Roanoke County, will join a group of 19 other PGA Professionals who qualified for the 92nd PGA Championship, Aug. 9-15, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.

Sullivan, 45, will be competing in his fifth PGA Championship after finishing in the top 20 on June 30 at the 43rd PGA Professional National Championship at French Lick (Ind.) Resort.

Sullivan, a former pro at the Ashley Plantation in Botetourt County, was the 2007 PGA Professional National Champion. He made one of his four PGA Championship appearances in 2004 at Whistling Straits.

In late 2006, Sullivan contracted hemochromatosis (an overload of iron in his blood) and diabetes, before stabilizing himself through careful medical care and going on and winning a national championship. Last month, Sullivan recorded a hole-in-one at the National Championship in French Lick, Ind., a stroke that helped propel him to a return to Whistling Straits.

Small, the 44-year-old head men’s golf coach at the University of Illinois, captured a record-tying third National Championship on June 30 at the French Lick Resort, and preceded his victory by guiding the Fighting Illini to a second consecutive Big Ten Conference Championship.

Joining Small and Sullivan in the PGA Championship will be three featured PGA Professionals, who each share a compelling story reflecting their career and their quest for competing at Whistling Straits. Danny Balin of Greenwich, Conn., is a 28-year-old PGA assistant professional at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, who is a graduate of the PGA Golf Management University Program at Penn State University and is making his major debut.

Kyle Flinton, 44, of Oklahoma City, Okla., is the PGA head professional at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, and a three-time PGA Assistant Professional Champion. He returns to the PGA Championship for the second time in three years.

Bruce Smith, 43, of Frisco, Texas, the PGA director of instruction at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, makes an emotional return to Whistling Straits, where in 2004 he was coordinating a fundraising project for medical expenses to aid his daughter, Kennedy, who has undergone 10 lifetime surgeries for a rare birth defect – lymphatic malformation of the face. The campaign blossomed into the Kisses Fore Kennedy Foundation, benefiting families of children born with similar birth defects.

“The Road to the PGA Championship”  will be broadcast on the Golf Channel at the following times. All times are Eastern: Wednesday, August 4, 8-9 pm; Thursday, August 5, 11 am to noon; Sunday, August 8, 2-3 pm, and Tuesday, August 10, 5-6 pm.

CBS and Golf Channel are broadcasting partners of The PGA of America, which is one of the most extensively broadcast golf events. In 2009, the PGA Championship was broadcast worldwide to 185 countries/territories with a potential household reach of more than 560 million receiving live or delayed coverage. Golf Channel features an international reach of 123 million households, 82 million of which are in the United States.

Market vendors were providing some free samples of their products and produce during the Fiesta that was sponsored by Friends of the Park.

Lorna Van Ostrand dishes up some of her pasta salad to give to visitors at Saturday’s Farmers Market Fiesta at Troutville Park. Photo by Ed McCoy

Van Ostrand is opening a new bakery and catering business, Nick of Thyme, on Read Mountain Road in Cloverdale later this summer and was providing samples of some of the food she’ll have available.

Friends of the Park were providing food samples and smoothies, while other vendors had locally raised beef, vegetables, baked goods, soaps and lotions, crafts, jewelry and other items.

The market, which is in the corner of Troutville Town Park on US 11, is open each Saturday from set up at 7 a.m. until noon.

That’s how much money Allen stood to lose if he decided playing high school athletics was more important than picking up a check for 10 grand. Ginger, a rising sophomore at Lord Botetourt High School, won $10,000 when he shot a hole-in-one on the ninth hole at Ashley Plantation last Friday. The tournament was a fund-raiser for the LB golf team and, ironically enough, accepting the money will keep Allen from being on the team.

Don Sutliff (left) of Don Ho’s Restaurant presented Allen Ginger with $10,000 after Allen had a hole-in-one on the ninth at Ashley Plantation.

“If he takes the money, he can’t play high school sports, because he’ll lose his amateur status,” said Allen’s mother, Deborah.

Allen, a 15-year-old, used a nine iron to ace the 148-yard ninth at Ashley. He was playing with his dad, Billy Ginger, as well as Ken and Cory McKinney. The group finished third in the tournament with a score of 59.

The ninth hole prize was sponsored by Don Sutliff of Don Ho’s Restaurant and Lounge on Lee Highway in Hollins. Don had sponsored the hole for seven years of the tournament but no one had ever come close to a hole-in-one before Ginger.

“He came in the clubhouse and told me, somewhat matter-of-factly, that he just won $10,000,” said Deborah. “I thought he was kidding at first.”

Allen had to decide what was more important, playing high school sports or taking the money. It wasn’t a tough decision.

“He went out for the golf team last year and got cut,” said Deborah. “This year the coach couldn’t guarantee him he’d make the team, and even if he did he probably wouldn’t be in the top six or seven. He thought about going out for football, but apparently this will keep him from playing any sports.”

But it won’t keep him from buying a new car. Allen’s mom indicated he’s going to take the money and enjoy it.

“It’s his money,” said Deborah. “We suggested he might want to save a little of it, but it’s something totally unexpected and he can do what he wants. I think he’s going to buy a new car.”

Strangely, Deborah had a dream this was going to happen the night before it actually did.

“I dreamed that he had a hole-in-one, and that he gave me half,” she said with a laugh. “He told me that second part was just a nightmare.”

The bird sanctuary and popular bird-watching area has been placed under a conservation easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), according to an announcement Monday afternoon.

Teresa and Barry Kinzie when they were awarded the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Conservation Medal last year for their work to establish Woodpecker Ridge as a nature preserve. They have granted a conservation easement on the 106 acres just outside of Troutville, which will protect the property from development.

The 106-acre tract has been in Barry Kinzie’s family since before the Civil War, as part of the family’s farming and orchard business. Kinzie, who is 65 and retired, lives there with his wife Teresa.

In the 1990s, Kinzie and his friends from the Roanoke Valley Bird Club began improving bird habitat and blazing trails throughout the property.

They eventually added feeding stations, butterfly gardens, parking areas, and a hawk-watching platform.

For his efforts, Kinzie has received conservation awards from the Virginia Society of Ornithology and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Today, Woodpecker Ridge is open to the public free of charge and featured on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, attracting about 1,000 visitors annually.

Explaining why he protected the land with an easement, Kinzie said, “I have respect for what my father and grandfather did to keep this farm. I want to keep it in undeveloped condition for many in the future to use, view, enjoy, and learn from.”

Kinzie was encouraged to do the easement by Genevieve Goss, a longtime volunteer at Woodpecker Ridge and the Botetourt conservation steward for Valley Conservation Council, a nonprofit land trust.

After keeping Kinzie updated over the years on conservation easements and other voluntary tools for land conservation, Goss was delighted when he was able to move forward with the easement.

“Since Woodpecker Ridge is such a treasured spot both for the Kinzie family and the nature lovers of the area, it was my privilege to work with Barry to protect the land permanently,” she said.

The easement protects the property’s natural resources by restricting future development. The land can never be divided, there are limits on the number and size of new structures, and there is a special no-build area that protects scenic views of the property from the Appalachian Trail as well as a public drinking water supply at the base of the ridge.

The easement allows for managed expansion of facilities related to public use of the property, such as trail markers, benches and a public restroom.

“This part of Botetourt is experiencing a great deal of large-lot development pressure, and Mr. Kinzie could have easily sold the property for housing,” said VOF’s Laura Thurman, who managed the project. “Instead, he has shown tremendous generosity by not only opening his land to the public for bird-watching, but also by donating an easement that ensures the land will remain open for generations to come.”

VOF now manages 39 conservation easements in Botetourt County, protecting close to 15,000 acres. Statewide, VOF protects about 600,000 acres—three times more land than in Shenandoah National Park.

There’s a reason folks find it so tender, and it starts on RTS Farms on Gravel Hill Road between Troutville and Fincastle, and it ends there as well.

Ray Snyder at RTS Farms near Troutville. Photo by Ed McCoy

Ray and his wife Joanne decided earlier this year they were going full circle with their farm—from raising cattle to selling the final product.

They were taking control, something traditional beef cattle farming hadn’t really allowed them to do.

So, instead of just raising cattle, now the Snyders are spending their Saturday mornings at the Troutville Farmers Market where they’re selling their own brand of their personally raised beef.

As they hoped, they’re finding more people are becoming customers, and more customers are becoming repeat customers as they build on the idea that folks want quality food and they want to know where their food’s coming from.

Folks are also becoming more cognizant of what’s in the food they buy, too; or in the case of beef, more particularly they want to be sure what’s not in their food.

RTS Farms’ beef is all-natural. The cattle get no hormones, antibiotics or steroids. They’re free-roaming and primarily grass-fed—all in stark contrast to most of the beef sold in this country today.

From the time a calf’s feet hit the ground for the first time until it’s raised and ready for processing, it doesn’t leave their farm. After it’s processed, it’s back to the Snyders who started selling the hamburger, roasts and steaks themselves a couple of months ago.

It took a lot of thought and planning before Ray Snyder decided to change the way he operated RTS Farms, which is also the label for the packaged beef they sell.

It meant going from that traditional beef cattle farm where he bought and raised cattle then sold them at market auction for whatever price was paid. Someone else “finished” the cattle—most likely in feedlots in the Midwest—took care of processing and sold them through wholesalers to grocery chains or other food outlets before they reached a customer.

“There are just too many people between the farmer and the customer,” Snyder said.

There are other reasons, too, for making the move to directly market their own beef.

“You have more of a sense of accomplishment for what your product is when someone comes up to you and says, ‘That was a great steak. It was tender and tasted great,’” Snyder added.

“It creates pride in your product. What pride can you have in your product when you take (cattle) to market and you don’t know what happens to it after it goes off to a feed lot?”

There are no questions when he sells a package of RTS Farms’ beef.

“We track every animal from the day it hits the ground,” Snyder explained. It gets vaccinations against normal cattle diseases and dewormed. Other than that, the cattle on his farm live essentially stress-free.

They graze the pastures on his 120-acre farm and the 200-plus acres he rents or leases. They eat the hay he puts up, and to add just a little fat, they get a bit of grain as they reach their finished weight.

They don’t drink water from ponds or streams, instead they get fresh well water. They’re fed hay in feed bunkers recommended by Va. Tech. The bunkers are covered concrete troughs with a 6-inch step so the cows won’t back up to the trough and do what cows do. The same for the water troughs. That way neither their water nor their hay gets contaminated.

That stress-free environment also contributes to the quality of the beef. When cattle aren’t stressed, they don’t create the enzymes that race through the muscles which can toughen the final product.

Even when Snyder takes cattle to the small, USDA certified meat processing plant he uses in North Carolina, he takes two at a time to reduce the stress. The processor recommended that, Snyder said.

Snyder likes the small processing operation he uses. Most of the room at the facility is refrigerated storage where beef hangs to age. He said it’s designed so there’s a lot of air flow through the storage area.

Snyder likes his beef to age 14 to 21 days. That’s another component in how tender his cuts of beef are.

Since his cattle are grass-fed, and free roaming, they take longer to reach processing weight, and they have much less fat than cattle that are finished in a feedlot where they’re only grain fed so they gain weight quickly. Overall, his cows have only 10 percent fat, and he has to provide some grain to get to the 10 percent fat.

Snyder says his operation means the beef he produces is preservative free, high in amino acids, lower in calories than cattle finished in feedlots, rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and has just enough fat to make it “mouth-watering delicious but still healthy for you.”

The fact that more people are concerned about eating healthy and living healthy lifestyles is a component of marketing his beef.

Yes, the price per pound is higher than what you’ll find in a grocery store, but these days that’s the price of finding healthy food that you know where it came from and how it was raised and handled.

The final product—those steaks, roasts, strips and burgers—is vacuum sealed at the processing plant, frozen and labeled with the weight and cut of meat in a clear wrap. The label is coded, too, so Snyder knows exactly which cow it came from.

The Snyders decided to pursue the idea of marketing their own beef after he stopped at Baldwin Farm near Chapel Hill, N.C. They were returning home after Joanne’s father’s funeral. They’d passed the farm operation several times, and were curious about the operation where that family was already raising and selling their own charlette beef.

As Ray Snyder talked to the Baldwins about their cattle operation, a couple arrived—regular Baldwin customers.

Snyder chatted with the couple, and told them he was considering doing the same thing. Then he learned they were from Roanoke and drove to Baldwin Farm to buy beef. They told him they’d buy from him if he ever got started.

“It was like someone was talking to me, like a sign, that I should try this,” Snyder said.

In the process of developing their own brand of beef, the Sndyers earned the right to display the distinctive Virginia’s Finest logo.

Virginia’s Finest “checkmark” means the products has been deemed the best of the best.

Only Virginia products that meet or exceed quality standards are part of the Virginia’s Finest Program.  Under the program, specific industries recommend, create and update the quality standards.  All Virginia’s Finest products must be approved by the Virginia’s Finest Review Committee.  The committee reviews product packaging and labels to ensure products meet state and federal regulations.  The committee verifies that products meet or exceed the standards established by the industry.  In the case of many products, the company must be inspected by VDACS.

The Snyders are set up Saturday mornings at Troutville Farmers Market in Troutville Town Park and at RTS Farms by appointment, 992-1361 or 529-7786.