Congressman Morgan Griffith, 9th District of the U. S. House, visited Windy Hill Orchards in Ararat, VA (Patrick County) on a rainy evening of October 19, 2011

Rep. Griffith made this stop in behalf of Sen. Bill Stanley, who is campaigning against Sen. Roscoe Reynolds and Del. Charles Poindexter, who is opposing Del. Ward Armstrong. It was local cider, coffee, cookies and fried apple pies at the orchard owned by Debbe and Jay Noonkester. The locals braved a heavy downpour standing in the orchard pack house. Rain and darkness arrived when Mr. Griffith arrived. On hand for this occasion were, Karl Weiss, Board of Supervisors, Blue Ridge District, Roger Hayden, Board of Supervisors, Dan River District, and Jonathan Large, former Board of Supervisors from Dan River. Also, Tom Bishop, Executive Director of the Patrick County Chamber was on hand. It seems the folks from Richmond, Salem and other parts of Virginia are continuing to come to Patrick County to support the Republican candidates. The race between, Armstrong and Poindexter, and Reynolds and Stanley, illustrate the struggle to take control of the Virginia Legislature by both parties. Much has been said about this tight race in Southwest and Southern Virginia on nationwide radio talk shows such as Hannity.