Virginia Stone was born in Philadelphia to a family that moved a lot due to work transfers, finally coming to Iowa via Alabama in 1993. She got interested in biking and married an Iowan she met on the Raccoon River bike trail between Adel and Redfield. The couple has completed 6 full Ragbrai's, along with 2 Ride the Rockies, and rides in Nova Scotia, Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin. Her husband, Irving Stone, has family roots in Des Moines extending back over 100 years.
Virginia has a Master's degree in vocal performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and at one time, was a corporate pilot. She is the only qualified female diesel engineer with the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. She’s completed the Mississippi State University Broadcast Meteorology program and just returned from 10 weeks in Bemidji, MN where she was the substitute Weather Anchor for Lakeland News through Lakeland Public Television, while their regular weathercaster was on maternity leave. This winter she also discovered she likes winter sports like cross country skiing and snow shoeing. She’s done radio reporting in Alabama and had an article published in Lighthouse Digest.
Since moving to Iowa, Virginia has turned into a "State Fair Junkie," to the extent that last year she became an official Fair information volunteer. She always enters the Photo competition and last year, had three photos on exhibit. Last year she also entered the Hog Calling, and Rubber Chicken Toss competitions, but did not win anything.
Virginia lives in Waukee with her husband and 2 cats, "Felony" and "Fuzz," who were adopted from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (they came with the names). Her husband has 2 adult daughters (one in Cedar Falls and one in Cedar Rapids) and five step grandchildren.
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