A Life-Saving Investment in Rural Hampshire County: Cady CPR Solutions Presents AED Cabinet to Powder Keg Farms
This afternoon at Powder Keg Farms in High View, community members gathered for something that may seem simple at first glance — the placement of an AED and cabinet — but the impact could one day be life-saving.
Cady CPR Solutions, led by Marsha Riibner-Cady, presented the equipment to Powder Keg Farms as part of an effort to make emergency response resources more accessible in rural areas of Hampshire County.
Powder Keg Farms welcomes more than 5,000 visitors each year, with that number continuing to grow through farm activities, educational programs, workshops, volunteers and other community involvement. In an area where emergency services may have farther to travel, having an AED readily accessible can make an important difference during a sudden cardiac emergency.
An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is designed to assist someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The device analyzes a person's heart rhythm and, when necessary, can deliver a shock while providing step-by-step instructions to the person assisting. Cady CPR Solutions emphasizes that CPR training, calling 911 and having access to an AED together provide the strongest response when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest.
Turning an Award Into an Investment in the Community
Today's AED placement was made possible in large part through Marsha's success in the Hampshire on the Horizon program earlier this year.
During the program's spring finale, Cady CPR Solutions received the Bungee Ascend Award. Rather than allowing that opportunity to stop with her own business, Marsha chose to put those resources back into the community by helping make an AED available at Powder Keg Farms.
Jon Todd Hott of the Hampshire County Development Authority attended today's presentation and thanked Marsha for using her award in such a meaningful way.
The Hampshire on the Horizon program has become an important resource for entrepreneurs and existing businesses in Hampshire County. The free program includes a series of classes designed to strengthen business knowledge and prepare participants for a finale that brings a "Shark Tank"-style element to the experience.
Applications for the 2027 Hampshire on the Horizon class will be opening soon. This will mark the program's fourth year, and we have already seen businesses across the county benefit from the education, connections, confidence and opportunities it provides.
Anyone interested in participating in the next class should contact the Hampshire County Development Authority and follow the HCDA on social media for upcoming application announcements.
Cady CPR Solutions: Helping Businesses Prepare Before an Emergency Happens
As an Executive Partner of the Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce, Cady CPR Solutions plays an important role in helping local businesses, organizations and families become better prepared for emergencies.
Cady CPR Solutions provides CPR and First Aid training and certification, with classes available at a customer's location for groups of up to 10 people. Training can be customized to fit different needs and budgets and may be offered virtually, in blended formats or in person. The business also provides BLS skills testing, babysitting training, wilderness survival training, choking-rescue-device training and other safety education.
Marsha also helps businesses and organizations purchase AEDs and determine what equipment may be best for their particular location. Cady CPR Solutions sells AED equipment and supplies for both businesses and homes and can help organizations better understand the options available to them.
For businesses and organizations that are willing and able to make this kind of investment, we encourage you to consider not only your own facility, but also the broader needs of Hampshire County.
Our county includes many rural communities, gathering spaces, farms, venues and businesses where large numbers of people may visit throughout the year. Strategically placing AEDs in locations with regular foot traffic can help build a stronger network of emergency preparedness throughout the county.
If your business is considering purchasing an AED, Marsha can help you understand the equipment, placement and training that may be appropriate for your location.
Learn more about Cady CPR Solutions at cadycprsolutions.com or call/text 252-423-0819.
More Than a Farm: The Work Happening at Powder Keg Farms
Today's event also gave us another opportunity to shine a light on the remarkable work happening at Powder Keg Farms right here in Hampshire County.
Powder Keg Farms was created in 2018 by Virginia "Gini" LaMaster after she expanded on years of growing herbs, produce and eggs for the local community. What began around the gardens of the family's historic 1700s homestead has grown to include greenhouses, a propagation house, a modern wash station and expanded growing areas. Over the years, the farm has supplied produce to schools, served restaurants, supported communities with limited access to nutritious food and operated a long-running four-season CSA program.
Today, the farm continues its emphasis on naturally and sustainably raised food. Powder Keg Farms is Certified Naturally Grown and focuses on farming without harmful chemicals or GMOs, while producing fruits, vegetables, poultry and eggs using practices centered on soil health, stewardship and respect for the land.
But the farm's impact extends far beyond the food it produces.
Powder Keg Outreach, Inc., the nonprofit organization behind the farm, works to equip schools, churches, community groups and both local and international missions with knowledge and tools for sustainable, Bible-based agriculture. The farm serves as a living classroom and demonstration site in High View.
As of January 2024, Powder Keg Farms became the first and only model demonstration farm in the United States for Farming God's Way. The approach combines biblical principles, practical farm management and agricultural techniques aimed at restoring land, improving food production and strengthening communities.
The farm also works with Eukarya Christian Academy in Stephens City, Virginia, teaching students and faculty the principles of Farming God's Way. Their broader mission reaches beyond Hampshire County by helping share agricultural methods intended to improve food security, restore soil, increase yields and equip communities with sustainable practices.
Powder Keg Farms regularly welcomes community involvement as well. Those interested in volunteering or learning more about the farm's programs can visit powderkegfarms.com for information on ways to get involved.
Supporting, Informing and Connecting Hampshire County
This afternoon was a strong example of why the Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce exists.
The Chamber's role is not simply to promote individual businesses. It is to help create connections between businesses, organizations, community leaders and resources that can strengthen Hampshire County as a whole.
In one afternoon, we were able to see the impact of several pieces of our local business ecosystem working together: an entrepreneur who participated in a local business-development program, an award that created an opportunity for growth, a business owner who chose to reinvest that opportunity into the community, a Development Authority supporting entrepreneurs, a farm whose mission reaches far beyond its property line, and a Chamber helping share those stories and connections with the public.
That is what community development looks like in practice.
Sometimes it happens through a new business opening. Sometimes it happens through a class, a partnership, a volunteer opportunity or a connection made between two organizations.
And sometimes, it looks like an AED being placed at a rural farm where thousands of people gather every year — with the hope that it may never need to be used, but the comfort of knowing it is there if the moment ever comes.
We are proud to support businesses and organizations like Cady CPR Solutions and Powder Keg Farms, and we look forward to continuing to help support, inform and connect the people who are investing their time, talent and resources into Hampshire County.
Photos by Jenna Gelow Designs
Article by Jenna Gelow, Marketing Board Member, Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce
Comments