Ballentine Farm is run by
          3 generations of farmers...

Farmer Mike

Debbie Ballentine (right) with
daughter-in-law Liza Ballentine

Sarah Ballentine

Jeremy Ballentine (right)

Travis Guyton

Farmer Mike (father to Debbie, grandfather to Sarah and Jeremy) was raised on a dairy farm in the Catskill mountains of New York. True to his Portuguese heritage, the Costa family farm was completely self-sufficient. They raised dairy cows, draft horses, chickens, and pigs. The family grew all of their own vegetables and fruits, including grapes, which they used to make wine. They also made their own maple syrup, a family tradition that is continued to this day by the Costa family in New York.

 After graduating highschool, farmer Mike was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers to play in the minor leagues.  He played for a season until his knees were in need of replacement surgery. Mike's father did not think that baseball was a credible career in the 1950's, so Mike couldn't justify paying for his knee surgery to play. Instead, Mike enlisted in the army and fought in the Korean War, spending time in Korea, Japan and Okinowa. Later, while he was stationed in Camp Morganfield, Kentucky, he met his wife. They married in 1954.

   Following the war, Mike became a foreman for Lane Construction, where he would work his way up to become a Project Manager. He retired in 1996. His last job was the Dulles Greenway. 

 Today, Farmer Mike enjoys helping on the farm and being with his family.  He now gets to re-live his childhood farming days with a sensational view of the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Debbie Ballentine has been an educator for over 30 years. She first began teaching at Our Lady of Victory located in Washington, D.C., following her graduation from Hood College.  After taking five years off while having her children, she returned to teaching and became an educator for Fairfax County Public Schools. Debbie was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2003, during her time at Cub Run Elementary School in Centreville. Her last four years of teaching were spent in a Title 1 setting at McNair Elementary in Herndon, VA. Debbie met the challenge of engaging learners of all different cultures and backgrounds by encouraging as much hands-on education as possible.  She realized how much more her students were able to retain when their learning was conducted by memorable, real life learning experiences. 

  In 2008, Debbie decided to put this theory into action as she boldly broke ground at her home in Waterford, VA and established Ballentine Farm Education Center.  Her mission is to offer the same hands-on, meaningful learning experience to learners of all ages, making education relevant and significant with a focus on rural farming life and programs that are aligned with the Standards of Learning on Virginia assessments.

Sarah Ballentine wears many hats these days... 6th grade teacher by day and riding instructor by night, it's all in a day's work on the farm, and there's never a dull moment! 

   True to form, Sarah took the road less traveled from an early age by becoming the first family member to enter the equestrian arena.  Persistence finally wore her parents down, and they lovingly allowed her to pursue her passion at the age of 6, which continued throughout highschool competitively in hunter jumpers.

   Sarah took a break from riding as she survived four different VA colleges. After graduating from Bridgewater College, Sarah did her student teaching at Banneker Elementary for Loudoun County Public Schools. She spent time teaching kindergarten and even dabbled in government work as a subcontractor for a year as she attempted to procure a full-time teaching position. 

   She then began teaching second grade at McNair Elementary School in Herndon, VA.  Dedicated to her work and inspired by some amazing teachers, Sarah continues to share the same vision of the beauty and benefit that hands-on instruction holds for all learners.

  During the school year, Sarah teaches sixth grade at McNair Elementary in Herdon, VA, but during the summer she helps to run our Summer Camp program here on the farm.

 Today, Sarah counts herself lucky to have found jobs that allow her to combine all of her true passions: teaching, horses & art!

Jeremy Ballentine works year-round to keep the Farm running smoothly. He's a man of many talents, but those who know him best understand that his greatest talent lies in working with children. From field trips to After School to Summer Camp, Jeremy is always finding new ways to engage the kids in meaningful learning.

  Virginia has always been home for Jeremy. He attended Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, VA before going on to attend Blue Ridge Community College in scenic Weyers Cave, VA. 

  Like his grandfather, Jeremy had an interest in baseball from the beginning. He's worked as an umpire for the Upper Loudoun Little League, and he's also coached a local youth basketball team. It should come as no surprise that Jeremy is always the kids' first pick when we invite counselors to play at After School and Summer Camp.

  Whether he's tending the gardens, caring for animals, or maintaining the property, Jeremy looks after the Farm and all who come here in a way that makes this facility and what we do here special.

 His endless patience, kindness, and love of fun make him an asset to every program we run here on the Farm.

Travis Guyton is another year-round fixture on the Farm. Like Jeremy, he helps run Field Trips, After School, and Summer Camp. Travis is also a musician; he's played the guitar since he was 6 years old, and it shows. Nowadays, he sings and plays guitar for the kids, and every time he grabs his case the kids grow quiet as mice.

 Travis first found the farm through the grapevine. Growing up in this area, he attended both Loudoun Valley and Woodgrove High Schools before moving on to Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. There, he obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology along with a minor in Spanish.

 Throughout his years of schooling, Travis returned to the Farm every Summer for camp. In Spring 2017, he finally joined us as a full-time member of the team.

 In addition to his experience working here on the Farm, Travis has volunteered with children of many ages, from preschoolers in the local Head Start program to elementary school students at the Richmond Outreach Center.

 Travis has grown up with this program, and he continues to learn and grow with us every day. As he says, "Working with the kids reminds me that I still have things to learn, too. I don't ever want to stop learning."