Building Ditchley Cider Works: How Cathy Calhoun Turned 162 Acres into a Legacy
Release Date: 11/18/2025
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info_outlineIn this powerful and inspiring episode of Fanatical DreamHer, host April Kemp visits Ditchley Cider Works to sit down with the extraordinary Cathy Calhoun—engineer, Naval Academy graduate, former Navy officer, global consultant, problem-solver, farmer, builder, and visionary behind one of Virginia’s oldest continually operating farms.
Cathy shares her story of transforming 162 acres of historic land into a thriving, diversified agricultural business producing heritage hard apple cider, pork, beef, poultry, custom sausages, catering, weddings, tours, and educational programs. From her upbringing on a Texas ranch to her Type-A drive, discipline, and relentless optimism, Cathy embodies what it means to take on challenges larger than life—and win.
Her story is bold, brilliant, and deeply rooted in legacy. This episode will inspire you to dream big, think outside the box, and pursue your passion with full force.
Key Discussion Points (with time stamps):
- (01:01) Overview of Ditchley: 162-acre peninsula farm with centuries of history
- (01:47) How Cathy and her husband stumbled on the property at the perfect time
- (02:12) Choosing between becoming ski bums or taking on a massive project
- (03:10) Creating a business plan and selecting hard apple cider as the core focus
- (04:51) Building a full-system farm ecosystem (cider → pomace → pigs → meat → products)
- (06:37) How farmers markets helped Ditchley grow beyond expectations
- (07:30) Expansion into commercial kitchens, catering, weddings, and on-farm sales
- (08:47) Cathy's lifelong passion for nature, antiques, and building things
- (09:40) Turning a Type-A personality and military discipline into business success
- (10:48) Facing personal weaknesses—organization, follow-up, and communication
- (11:25) Milestone moment: Hosting 217 guests during a hurricane for their first major event
- (14:13) Emotional moment of triumph: restoring all 38 historic windows by hand
- (15:55) Major obstacles: Mother nature’s unpredictability
- (17:27) Cathy’s self-talk during tough times: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”
- (18:28) Mindset advice for young listeners—look over the hill, not down it
- (19:15) First-day memories and seeing others react with “deer in the headlights” shock
- (19:51) Five-year vision: continued growth and new products (like apple cider vinegar)
- (21:07) Teaching future generations: farm tours, sustainable gardening, and lost skills
- (23:28) The people who supported her most—her father and her husband
- (24:25) Thinking outside the box and evaluating dreams realistically
- (26:27) Advice for women wanting to pursue agriculture or land-based passions
Notable Quotes:
- “Sleep is highly overrated.” – Cathy Calhoun
- “If you’re Type A, don’t fight it—join it.”
- “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”
- “Look over the hill, not down the hill.”
- “If something looks like a downer, look for the upside. There always is one.”
- “If you’re going to do it, do it. If you’re not—get out of the business.”
- “It’s not about me. It takes a team.”
Takeaways:
- A strong business plan is essential when taking on massive dreams.
- Creativity, innovation, and systems thinking can turn a single idea into an ecosystem.
- Perseverance, optimism, and humor can carry you through storms (literal and figurative).
- Legacy work—teaching, preserving land, and giving back—matters deeply.
- You don’t need to know how to do everything; you need to be willing to learn.
- Look for upside in every challenge—there is always opportunity hiding in adversity.
- Big dreams require big teams. Lean on your support system.
Connect with Guest:
• Website: https://www.ditchleyciderworks.com/
• Instagram: @ditchleyciderworks
Connect with Us:
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• Email April: april@fanaticaldreamher.com
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