Andy Hankins was the first person I ran into on my first day of work in late November of 2010. I reported to the L. Douglas Wilder building just before 8 am as directed by the letter from HR. The building was very quiet. I saw no one. Walking to the Ag suite, I started to wonder if it was still the weekend and I came a day early. Once in the Ag Suite, I heard an intermittent pecking sound coming from an open office in the rear. Moving toward it, I saw Andy sitting at his computer typing, no - pecking away. It the first of many such times I would see this over the next 2 years. Andy got up and flashed his big smile and introduced himself. I said I was the new technician and it was my first day. Andy made me feel welcome and settled me in. He chuckled at my thinking I came on the wrong day. Sometimes I think it is what one doesn’t see about someone that makes him or her special. Three months into my new job I attended the Virginia Biological Farmer’s Conference in Danville. I had not made many contacts yet in the greater VSU Extension circle, so I noticed when I saw someone familiar in a crowd like that. I passed Andy on the steps. Fully aware of his major role in the VBFC, I was struck by how unpretentious and humble he looked as he made his way downstairs. There was no fuss about him, no entourage, yet everyone there knew him. I was intrigued as I learned about Andy’s work in promoting community gardens, particularly with African-American churches. When I brought it up, Andy said something like, ”David, we have an opportunity here to serve people not historically always well-served by extension.” That was it for the commentary. It explained a lot about the direction his work took him. Andy planted seed, literally and figuratively all over Virginia and found good ground at these churches. Where he found good ground, Andy planted more seed. “David, we have an opportunity here to serve…” That was Andy 100%. Andy not only planted seed in the ground, he planted seed among VSU and other students he encountered. Last summer, I had the privilege of serving on the panel of judges with Andy at the FFA horticulture competition at the Virginia state fair. I tended to let the students off easy with my follow-up questions (I was getting hungry.), but not Andy. He seemed to know they were capable of a lot and challenged them in his questions to them. Of course everyone there seemed to know him. One of the certified organic growers we worked with fell on hard times. I told Andy about them on a number of occasions, relating their agrarian lifestyle and wonderful 5 children. I wanted to recruit Andy to come along sometime to meet them. He was too busy as it were, but he provided enough organic vegetable seed last spring to get feed that family, and then some. They were so grateful to this man they had never met. Andy was taken from us suddenly. That is part of the shock for me personally. Yet I am reminded of the words of Jesus to His disciples, “Are not 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” I thank God for the time I had with Andy. Let us remember him by serving as he did to his last day on earth.