I am a nature lover and artist. I enjoy getting outdoors to hike and hunt, especially spring gobbler season. I was born and raised in Buchanan Va in Botetourt County. I attended Virginia Western Community College and graduated with an Applied Science degree in Communication Design. In 2007 following the birth of my first child I decided to leave the job I had and start my own business, Candace Monaghan Design, so I could keep her home and still provide to the family income. I pulled in clients from around the valley designing promotional pieces, logos, magazines, and working on fine art pieces like painting the Virginia Tech Hokie bird statues and hosting paint night parties around the area. I am blessed to still be working for myself with wonderful clients. In 2016 I went out on a limb and founded the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival on our family farm in Botetourt County. The festival consists of 21 acres of black oil sunflowers running two back to back weekends with events all throughout the week. We have over 120 handmade craft and food vendors, live music, children’s activities, dinner among the sunflowers, goat yoga and special days for senior citizens, preschoolers and special needs children and adults. We hand out scholarships to two deserving high schoolers in the county and to two non-profits in the county as well. Admission has grown to 20,000+ and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. For more information please visit  https://beaverdamsunflowers.com/about-beaver-dam-farm/