In the summer of 1973, Shep and Verona Oliver purchased a 33-acre parcel of property located in Fairfax County, Virginia, and started a horse boarding operation. At the time, Shep was a prospering Real Estate Agent for a local firm and his wife, Verona was employed by a defense contracting firm. Their goal was to take their two sons out of the sub-division environment and raise them in the country, preferably Fairfax County. When this property became available, they decided to take on a new line of business -- boarding horses. Their sons went to Fairfax County schools, graduated from George Mason University, moved away and began their own careers. Shep and Verona continued to operate Oliver Stables and now their sons and families have returned to build homes on the property and will continue the horse boarding operation.