Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

The LOVEwork sign in Chincoteague is representative of the Virginia is For Lovers campaign. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Virginia is a diverse state with all sorts of unique and surprising attributes. From an embrace of history to a taste for Brunswick stew, Virginia stereotypes continue to ring true. 

Our top picks:

• Virginia is for what? Lovers, of course. The slogan dates back to 1969, when Virginia Tourism was trying to attract young tourists, as the commonwealth was favored by older travelers at the time. Despite the concept seeming edgy at the time, a single ad in a bridal magazine touting Virginia lovers—like George and Martha Washington—started the campaign. 

• Our commonwealth is a hiker’s paradise. Did you know that Virginia is home to 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail—more than any other state? One of the most iconic hikes along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia is McAfee Knob, located in the Roanoke Valley.
• If we had a state seafood … Virginians love slurping oysters so much that an entire trail was dedicated to the scrumptious seafood staple. The Virginia Oyster Trail is a celebration of Virginia’s title as the oyster capital of the East Coast. In fact, the commonwealth sells more than 40 million oysters each year. 

There’s more to discover. We’ve rounded up eight iconic this is surely Virginia stereotypes at the link below.

Preschool teacher Tinhinane Meziane, center, instructs her students at the ACCA Child Development Center, Sept. 19, 2024, in Annandale, Va. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

By Jonny Lupsha

During his last week in office, Gov. Glenn Youngkin gave wealthy taxpayers and private school families a big gift by making Virginia the first state to officially opt into President Donald Trump’s federal school voucher program. 

The Educational Choice for Children Act gives taxpayers dollar-for-dollar tax credits in exchange for donating to approved “scholarship granting organizations,” which in turn award scholarships to pay for private school tuition.

That means tax dollars that would ordinarily go to the state can now be diverted into subsidizing private education, worsening an existing issue.

“Every state has the problem of not having the funding that they need to do a good job in schools,” Marianne Burke, Ph.D., Co-Founder of 4 Public Education, said. “We’re assuming that because there will be fewer kids in a public school and most public schools get state funding based on the number of students in their school, that they would get less funding.”

Sean Dietrich signed chapter seven of his book, “Kinfolk.” (Kody Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

Minnie just woke up in the hospital, Emily just got bad news from the doctor, and I asked Sean Dietrich, as he signed the beginning of chapter seven, not to give me any spoilers. 

Just in case you skimmed that, I’m going to reiterate: after several years of clinging on to every word author, columnist, and musician Sean of the South put out into the ether (that is, the internet), I finally got to meet him over the weekend. 

And boy, was I nervous. Which is especially interesting since I rarely get nervous. Thankfully, I had my husband, a couple good friends, and some brand new buddies (hi, Kim and Florence) to chat with leading up to the first hello. It was nearly 10 p.m., and we were next in line. 

“Gentle hugs, gentle hugs,” Sean reminded person after person as they approached. From what I’ve gathered, he loves hugs—but gentle ones are best when you’ve got three broken ribs and just performed a one-man show for over two hours. And after a gentle hug, I got to tell him what I’ve wanted to for years. Out of every writer to ever live, he’s my favorite. 

In true Sean Dietrich fashion, he humbly deflected, “Something’s wrong with you.” Keep in mind, this is the same person who told me “you suck” on Facebook two years ago, and over 4,000 people liked it. Thankfully, we both fancy a healthy dose of self-deprecation, so I know what he really means is “thanks,” and maybe even “it’s cool that you write, too.” Nevertheless, my favorite writer continues to flatter me. 

We talked for a few minutes about writing and living in old houses and life, and when it was time to sign “Kinfolk,” I asked if he’d do it where I’d stopped reading last. I thought it was such a cool request. Unique. Memorable. I got a signature and a smiley face. Very nifty.

Then, my husband, who hasn’t read a word of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” hopped onto the unique request bandwagon. He asked Sean to pick his favorite part of the book to sign. Sean did so with a signature, personal greeting, and three hearts.

I’m not saying I’m jealous, but if Sean starts inviting Kody for Thanksgiving, I’d like the record to reflect that I was here first. Yet, I suppose that’s the SDE, the Sean Dietrich Effect: having a way of making everyone feel like an old friend—whether you’re on chapter seven or chapter one.

Thanks, Sean. For the stories, for the signatures, and for the gentle hugs.

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