Westover Farmers Market and the Westover Library are pleased to sponsor a book signing this Sunday, July 14, by Forrest Pritchard, Northern Virginia farmer, farmers market vendor, and author. He recently published Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm. Copies of his book will be available for sale at the market, and Mr. Pritchard will be there to sign them from 9 a.m. till noon. The signing station will likely be in front of the Westover Library.

From the book flyer: “Gaining Ground” is Pritchard’s humorous, poetic, heartwarming – and very timely – memoir of his efforts to save his family’s farm, Smith Meadows. What ensues—through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters—is a crash course in sustainable agriculture. Pritchard’s biggest ally is his renegade father, who initially questions his son’s career choice and eschews organic foods for sugary mainstream fare. But just when the farm starts to turn heads at local markets, his father’s health takes a turn for the worse. “Gaining Ground” has been named a Top Ten Book for Summer 2013 by Publishers Weekly

Forrest Pritchard is a professional farmer, writer and public speaker. He has been published in national magazines (Mid American Review, New Delta Review, Acres USA, etc.), and his farm, Smith Meadows, has been featured on NPR and the Washington Post. One of the first “grass finished” farms in the country, Smith Meadows has sold at leading farmers’ markets in Washington DC for fifteen years.

So come down Sunday morning, support your local vendors, and meet and greet Forrest Pritchard.