THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509260114
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Jody R. Snider
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
DURING HARVEST TIME, farmers don't leave their fields for anyone or anything.
Usually.
When Brian Carroll gets a call for help from the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad, he parks his tractor and races to assist.
Carroll has been the squad's president for the past three years. He began volunteering in 1988, when he was a junior in high school.
``I just have a real interest in helping people,'' he says. ``This is something you do because you want to do it. You don't expect anything in return.''
But the community does give back to the squad.
Each spring and fall, the squad holds a fund-raiser that finances 65 percent of its operating budget. And it's the community that gives its dollars to make sure the wheels can roll when a call for help arrives.
The fall fund-raiser, set for the second week of October, usually raises between $15,000 and $20,000 for the volunteer squad, Carroll says. The squad brings a photographer to its South Church Street station to take family portraits, and families are asked to make a donation then. In return, they receive one photograph, and they can buy additional photos from the photographer.
``We've done this for six years,'' Carroll says, ``and it works well.''
The fund-raiser ends in November.
Carroll farms 350 acres of peanuts and 560 acres of cotton with his father.
``With years like this, you got to love farming. I don't know what makes a farmer farm - but we do it anyway.''
Name: Brian Carroll
What brought you to Isle of Wight County? I was born here.
Birthdate/hometown: Sept. 1, 1971/Smithfield
What's your fondest childhood memory? Riding the tractors around the farm with my grandfather.
Marital status: Single and available
Pets: A dog named Reggie
What was your first job/worst job? Farming/farming in a dry, hot year.
Occupation: Farming
If you had a choice, what other type of work would you be doing today? There is no greater occupation than farming.
What's your favorite hangout? On my boat anywhere.
Favorite night out on the town? Anywhere with my friends.
Favorite food/drink: Seafood/iced tea
What's your idea of a perfect vacation? A week snow skiing out West.
I can't resist: To take a day from work and go hunting or fishing.
Few people know that . . . I enjoy a nice quiet night out on the town.
If you won the lottery, what would you do? Pay my bills, share with my friends and family and continue to farm. I just wouldn't worry about the bad weather as much.
What is the best advice you've ever been given? You only live once. Live life to its fullest.
What is the best thing about yourself? Finding the time to give to the community by serving as president of the Isle of Wight Rescue Squad.
If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would it be? I wouldn't trade with anyone.
Of what achievements are you most proud? Being president of the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad and helping to provide for the future of America through farming. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by
JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Brian Carroll, president of the Isle of Wight Rescue Squad for three
years, is also a farmer who's currently hard at work harvesting 300
acres of peanuts on his farm in Ivor.
Brian Carroll, president of the Isle of Wight Rescue Squad for three
years, is also a farmer who's currently hard at work harvesting 300
acres of peanuts on his farm in Ivor.
by CNB