CHESAPEAKE, VA, July 6, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ --A veteran of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Margaret Turner - affectionately referred to by most as 'Betty' - recently sat down for a one-on-one interview with Cambridge Who's Who to talk about a fruitful 34-year career in the field of agricultural administration. "I started out as a secretary, mostly doing the certifications," she said. "The supervisor asked me if I would help in the laboratory when business got so big that we didn't have enough laboratory technicians working in there...That's when I started working [with] grain and was able to get my license to inspect corn, soybeans and mixed grain."

Pioneering the field as the industry's first female grain inspector, Ms. Turner flourished professionally in an era predating the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Equal Rights Amendment. She noted, "There [were] no rules and regulations, so I did break the boundary [and it] was a great accomplishment." Ingrained in her a steadfast dedication to her responsibilities as an office manager and inspector, Ms. Turner earned the respect of her male counterparts in the grain program. She worked closely with various agencies and inspection departments, as well as the USDA, shipping agents and stevedores, who readied ships for grain export. "I was dedicated [to] what I did," she commented. "I enjoyed the challenge and there was always a challenge in the [agricultural division] because of economics, the weather and, of course, politics. The demands were there all the time and I did enjoy the challenge." One of the most trying points in her career occurred during the 1970s when a massive fraud scandal caused the federal government to audit all exporting businesses and request documents to verify honorable accounting practices. Ms. Turner worked in conjunction with undercover agents to produce documents for the general accounting office, which maintained her department's integrity and reputation. After retiring, Ms. Turner continued to work part-time with the department, assisting with advancements in grain packaging with containers and training new employees on inspection techniques.

Primed by a background in secretarial and administrative work, Ms. Turner was noted for her accuracy and diligence throughout her tenure with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Also distinguishable by her strict code of personal and professional ethics, Ms. Turner is a staunch advocate for patience in the workplace and its importance in an industry in which, well, some people work against the grain. "You have to deal not only with the demands of your job, but also with people, [because] as we all know personalities do clash. I learned over time that patience is really, truly a virtue...[It] is one of the things that I think everyone needs," she said.

Despite her retirement, Ms. Turner currently dedicates her time to a number of community service initiatives, particularly a local battered women and children's homeless shelter through the Norview Ladies' Alumni Association. She also volunteers her time to nursing home residents - escorting them to doctor's appointments and taking them out to dinner. Ms. Turner formerly served as a committee chairwoman for the Business and Professional Women's Foundation and was a charter member of the Pilot Club of Chesapeake. In recognition of demonstrated excellence in her field, Ms. Turner was named Professional of the Year by Cambridge Who's Who for the 2008/2009 year and was selected for inclusion in "Cambridge Publishing's Top 101 Industry Experts" book, an honor reserved for the registry's most accomplished and dedicated members.

To learn more about the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, please visit http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov. Ms. Turner is available for contact via Email at [email protected].

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