Employee Spotlight: Sarah Gibson

Job Title: Loan Support Specialist
Location: Harrisonburg Branch
Tenure: 20 years
Briefly describe your involvement in FFA. I was a member of FFA in middle and high school – including participation in local hay & grain show, fruit sales and fundraisers.
Briefly describe your involvement in agriculture. I grew up on our family farm - a farrow to finish hog operation, and in addition we raised row crops, hay and sold straw locally. My family farm is currently a row crop operation that also operates a feed business that my husband and I run for my parents. My husband and I also raise small grain and sell straw locally and supply our local ACE Hardware with straw to retail. Our sons are the fourth generation on the farm and they raise butcher hogs to sell each fall.

Are you involved in any other clubs or organizations? I am involved with a number of organizations, including the Bridgewater College Alumni Association, the parent-teacher organizations at each of my son’s schools and Rockingham County Farm Bureau. I am also a licensed EMT.
Tell us about your family. My husband, Dickie, and I have two boys. Caleb is 12 and Connor is almost 10. My husband manages his family's local health food store. In our "free time" we grind and bag actual tons of feed each week for my parents’ feed business that's run off of the family farm – my husband and I assumed this responsibility when my dad became an above-knee amputee in 2021. We, along with my younger brother, help operate the family farm which consists of row crops and the feed business.

What is your favorite childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory is each day at lunch I would beg/annoy/ask my Uncle Wayne to take me to the farrowing barn to see the new piglets. And rain or shine, no matter how busy he and my dad were on the farm, I always got to go see the piglets!
What is your favorite personal mantra or motto? "It's always something!" My Mema (my mom's mom) said this regularly and I remember thinking as a child that it was annoying and kind of lame. But, as I have gotten older I have realized how correct my Mema was. It's always something! And everyone is always experiencing something – good or bad. It's a great reminder to always give ourselves and others grace!
What is your favorite app and why? My favorite app is Map My Walk – I love to walk for fitness and stress relief, and I love to see my distance and time!
What is your favorite season? Fall – I love the cool mornings and warm days. I love harvest, getting to reap what you sow. I also love the fall colors! And I got married in the fall!

Tell us about your hobbies. I love to garden and can/preserve veggies from my garden. I enjoy spending time on the farm and doing any outdoor activities with my family. I also love to cook and bake then share those goodies with people I love!
Have you ever collected anything? I collect glass milk bottles. I have a full collection of each style of milk bottle from the local Shenandoah’s Pride – those are my favorite in my collection!
What was your first job? My first off-the-farm job was Captain D's Seafood. I smelled like fish fry and malt vinegar daily! LOL
What is the most interesting or favorite aspect of your job? I enjoy visiting our borrowers’ farm operations and getting better insight into their world. I love farm constructions – or even home constructions – and watching the progression of our borrowers’ dreams come to life.
What are your favorite weekend activities? Working in my garden, exploring new things with my husband and boys, spending time around our fire pit and cooking.
What is one random fact you'd like to share? My Harrisonburg teammates know this, but I was attacked by a rabid raccoon on our farm and had to get the series of rabies shots. Fun times!
Who is your hero? My dad is my hero. He has faced SO much adversity in his life, and most recently in 2021, became an above-knee amputee. He lost his leg in December of 2021, and he climbed onto a tractor in April/May of 2022 and planted his own corn that spring.