This month, Agri of Virginia, Inc is celebrating an anniversary.
Derwood Runion and his wife Nancy started Agri out of their home on
North Mountain Road in 1972.
Nancy and Derwood both graduated from Broadway High School- Der-
wood in 1958, Nancy in 1962, and were married in 1964. Derwood
began working for Broadway’s Riverdale Hatchery, then Beacon Feeds.
He was later working for Anderson Box Co, a poultry equipment busi-
ness as a salesman.
When Anderson got out of the poultry business, Derwood decid-
ed he would start out on his own. As Nancy said, “I thought we would
starve to death!” Nancy had worked at a bank before they had children
– but then they had Michael and Julie. Somehow, they managed. Now,
they have 4 grandsons!!
The business outgrew their home, and in 1974, the couple
moved it to an office and warehouse at the intersection of Mayland and
Springbrook in Broadway. They dealt mainly in poultry house equipment
and construction.
On April 1st, 1980, Agri moved to its present location at 401
Broadway Avenue. They now carry lumber, building supplies, tools,
electrical supplies, windows, doors, and make greenhouse benches for
local schools and greenhouses.
The Runions wanted everyone to know “Agri of Virginia thanks
the town of Broadway, plus all past, present, and future customers. Last
but not least, thank you to all past and current employees. Employees
are the backbone of any business. We have the best of the best! With-
out them, there would be no Agri. Thanks for the memories! “
The Customer Appreciation Day being held this month (see ad
for details) is to both celebrate their customers and to celebrate and
remember Agri’s founder, Derwood Runion, who passed away in March,
at the age of 83.
