Farm Bureaus in the counties of Greene, Loudoun, Orange and Chesterfield were recognized Nov. 30 by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation for their work in educating the public and promoting agriculture and Farm Bureau.
As a result of their cultivation and retention of members, and their promotional activities, the four organizations received Best in State Awards at the 2011 VFBF Annual Convention in Norfolk.
Greene County Farm Bureau, led by President Joanne Burkholder, won in the category for membership acquisition with its Health & Wellness Fair for All Ages. The community event offered free blood pressure checks and diabetes screenings and included a blood drive. More than 20 vendors provided information on life insurance; finances; physical therapy; social services; chiropractic, dental, geriatric and optical care; emergency assistance; affordable housing; fitness; and massage therapy.
Loudoun County Farm Bureau, led by President Will Cockerill, won in the member involvement and retention category for its roundtable discussion titled “Exploring a Local Foods Marketing Distribution System.” The event showcased existing successful distribution systems and focused on providing connections for farmers interested in raising food for large-scale institutions.
Orange County Farm Bureau, led by President Jim Miller, captured honors for agriculture promotion or education targeting the public with a summer enrichment class at the Boys & Girls Club of Orange. The program had as its mission teaching the importance of agriculture through activities that support Virginia Standards of Learning. Orange Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members met with participants twice a week, and the county Farm Bureau donated agriculture-related books and other resources to the Boys & Girls Club. Children in the program explored how organic material decomposes and visited dairy and pumpkin farms. The program culminated with an Ag Day that featured a livestock petting zoo and an exhibit of local crops.
Chesterfield County Farm Bureau was recognized for its governmental relations program. Led by President Howard Nester Jr., the county Farm Bureau set out to educate candidates for local office about issues important to Chesterfield’s agriculture and forestry community and to encourage them to make farmer-friendly policy decisions. The organization developed an “Ag Vision” brochure to explain six Farm Bureau-supported policy issues in detail. Candidates who chose to endorse the Ag Vision were recognized in a local newspaper ad and on the county Farm Bureau website.
With more than 150,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to protecting Virginia’s farms and ensuring a safe, fresh and locally grown food supply