In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Andrea Weeks, Professor of Botany at George Mason University and Director of the Ted R. Bradley Herbarium. Dr. Weeks shares how her own research led her to the story of a remarkable Valley native.

Highlights of this episode:

• The Trailblazing Lena Artz: Originally a Valley school teacher in the 1930s, Lena Artz followed her passion to become a professional botanist. We explore her life as an independent woman who navigated significant gender-related barriers to make vital scientific discoveries in the Massanutten Mountains.
• Cyrus McCormick – Inventor or Innovator?: A look at the man behind the mechanical reaper. Was his true genius in the invention itself, or in the business innovations that changed agriculture forever?

Join us as we bridge the gap between 20th-century botanical history and the industrial innovations that shaped the Shenandoah Valley.