On the last weekend in May, most Stafford families were abuzz with the excitement of summer’s arrival. The Allwine family was abuzz with excitement over the annual AA Farm Honey harvest.

AA Farm Honey Co., founded by Kenny Allwine, is in its third year of honey farming. Allwine, who works in software technology, started with two hives, which grew to 15 the next year, and jumped up to 25 this year. Allwine, a Stafford resident, got into beekeeping because he was curious. He reached out to local beekeeping groups to learn more, taking classes and working with a mentor from King George’s Gateway Beekeepers Association. Allwine said the classes are a valuable resource, and having a great mentor is the key to success.

Allwine keeps hives at his father’s farm in King George, just over the Stafford County line, where the colorful boxes line the gravel driveway beneath the trees. Allwine’s son and nephew have enjoyed helping paint the boxes over the years: one is inspired by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while another boasts the blue and grey of the University of Mary Washington (UMW).  Allwine, his wife Stephanie, and his brother Kyle are all UMW alumni; Allwine also serves as an adjunct professor at the campus. Kyle was Stafford’s Economic Development Director before taking a role at Northern Neck Cooperative.

Allwine visits the hives every week, checking whether they need new layers of boxes to keep growing and making sure they seem healthy. Some of his hives have come from calls for honeybee relocation, and some just showed up on his father’s farm, swarming on nearby trees.  Honeybees can travel up to five miles to visit flowers, their main food source.

After monitoring the bees throughout the year, adding sugar water during leaner months when nectar is scarce, the annual honey harvest is the biggest event for the farm.

On harvest weekend, three generations pitch in: Allwine’s father and son, both named Kenny; and his brother Kyle with his own son, also named Kyle. After removing frames of honey from the hives, the group spends the weekend in Kenny Senior’s workshop slicing the thick wax coating off of the honeycombs before inserting the comb trays into a centrifuge. The machine spins out the honey, which then flows out of a spigot at the bottom like liquid gold.

The honey is then filtered several times before being jarred. This year, they harvested 250 pounds of honey; last year, they pulled 60 pounds. Allwine sells the honey online, notifying subscribers by email when they are available for purchase. Last year’s offering sold out in days.

Allwine’s father, Kenny Senior, said the bees have not attracted any bears so far, but they are popular with the local skunks. He said the skunks will “knock” on the house to make bees fly out, then catch the bees for a quick snack.

Allwine said the most rewarding part of beekeeping has been spending time outside sharing the buzz with his kids — and passing down a love of nature, one hive at a time.

For the first time, Stafford County will host a Relay for Life event, bringing the community together for a day of remembrance, celebration, and action in the fight against cancer.

The May 10 event is the result of months of work by organizer Tracey Phillips, a longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society. Phillips was inspired to bring Relay for Life to Stafford after years of participating in events in neighboring counties, including an unforgettable first experience in 2009 in Loudoun County.

“It was such an overwhelmingly awesome experience,” Phillips said. “I made a commitment then that I’d always be a part of Relay. It’s become one of my family’s favorite things to do together.”

Phillips has a deep personal connection to the cause. She honors the memory of her uncle, who passed away from cancer 20 years ago. More recently, her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer last fall. These personal experiences, combined with a desire to raise awareness and strengthen community ties, pushed her to bring a Relay event to Stafford.

“There’s never really been a Stafford Relay—at least not in the last 30 years,” she said. “So we wanted to start something here to bring people together and let survivors and families know they’re not alone.”

The event, titled “Night of Hope,” will take a scaled-down approach to the traditional 12–18-hour Relay model but will carry the same spirit: honoring survivors, supporting caregivers, remembering those lost, and raising money for cancer research. The goal this year is to raise $15,000 and draw around 200 participants, with plans to grow the event annually.

Highlights of the evening will include:

• A Survivor Lap and Survivor Dinner to celebrate those who have battled cancer

• A Luminaria Ceremony, where the track will be lit by donated luminary bags in memory and honor of loved ones;

• Family-friendly entertainment, including music, a silent auction, and demonstrations by the Stafford Sheriff’s Department, McGruff the Crime Dog, a drone team, K-9 unit, and local taekwondo and gymnastics teams;

• Activities for kids, photo opportunities, and lap-tracking beads to help participants beat their own records year over year; and

• Food Trucks like Taco Tuesday and The Dog House.

Planning officially began in late April, and as with many new grassroots efforts, the road hasn’t been without obstacles. “Funding’s not guaranteed when you’re just starting out,” Phillips said. “But we’ve got 12 teams so far and incredible support from the sheriff’s office and local businesses.” Stafford businesses like Paddy’s Public House, The Bearded Monkey, Jersey Mike’s (Windsor Road location), Cinnaholic, and more all hosted fundraising events for the new relay.

The Relay for Life of Stafford is part of the American Cancer Society’s 40th anniversary of Relay events nationwide. The goal is not only to raise money, but also to ignite a new tradition in Stafford that brings together families, schools, businesses, and service members in a shared mission.

Anyone interested in participating—whether as part of a team, as an individual, or as a volunteer—can find registration links and donation information through the event’s Facebook page or by contacting the organizing team via email.

“We’re hoping this is just the beginning,” Phillips said. “This is a chance for Stafford to stand together for hope, for healing, and for the future.”

Stafford’s Relay for Life will be help Saturday, May 10 at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary, 150 Duffey Drive. The 12-hour event begins at noon.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our exclusive five-part series, "A Conversation with the Superintendent," featuring an in-depth interview with Dr. Daniel W. Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. In this series, we explore Dr. Smith’s vision, challenges, and priorities—from fixing school transportation to addressing equity gaps, funding shortages, and the future of education in Stafford County. New articles are published weekly.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of our exclusive five-part series, "A Conversation with the Superintendent," featuring an in-depth interview with Dr. Daniel W. Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. In this series, we explore Dr. Smith’s vision, challenges, and priorities—from addressing school transportation issues to tackling equity gaps, funding shortages, and the future of education in Stafford County. New articles are published weekly.

Part 2: Fixing the Bus Problem — New Plans for Transportation in Stafford

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STAFFORD, Va. – The Ferry Farm neighborhood will host its first "Furry Friends of Ferry Farm" guided walking tour on June 7, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. The 1.3-mile loop will showcase pets from the neighborhood and encourage donations for the Stafford County Animal Shelter. The event is free and will start and end at Ferry Farm Elementary School.

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Prince William County

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Prince William County

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