Month: August 2013

From the Field: Award Time Begins Way Before Convention

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Dana Fisher, a young farmer from Shenandoah County, won
 the 2013 American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award
at the AFBF Annual Meeting in Nashville. 
From the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.

Even though Farm Bureau conventions, state and national, are in the winter months, now is the time for county Farm Bureaus to apply for awards that are presented at those conventions.  I know from experience that any activities that you have conducted within Farm Bureau have had a main purpose to educate the public about agriculture or share your knowledge of Farm Bureau and encourage people to become members.  The awards are a way we can show recognition and appreciation for all of your hard work.  Plus everyone likes to share ideas and learn about new successful activities.
The Best in State Award is presented to one county Farm Bureau that had the best activity in one of four categories.  The categories are membership acquisition, member involvement and/or retention, ag promotion or education aimed at the general public, and government relations.  Winners of this award receive $1,000 in credit to the VFB Company Store, special recognition at the Virginia Farm Bureau (VFB) Convention, and recognition in the Farm Bureau News- January issue.  If your county doesn’t win the Best in State, they can still qualify for best in district, which comes with a $100 credit to the VFB Company Store. 

The Women’s Program also has some awards to recognize outstanding activities.  These awards are presented at the State Women’s Conference in March.  Most of the Young Farmer awards are focused toward individual and family agriculture accomplishments.  But remember, all of these committees fall under the county Farm Bureau structure.  So an activity that a county Farm Bureau women’s committee conducted could qualify for both awards programs.  Ron Saacke, Director of women and Young Farmers Programs and Agriculture in the Classroom, said that the Farm Woman of the Year and VFB Ambassador applications are due by mid October.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has a neat award that county Farm Bureaus can apply for.  It is called the County Activities of Excellence (CAE).  “The CAE showcases up to 24 of the top county Farm Bureau programs in the nation. These county Farm Bureaus and their award-winning programs serve as models of innovation for local program development, and display the amazing ability of local Farm Bureau volunteers working together to strengthen the lives of rural Americans and build strong, prosperous agricultural communities”.
If selected as a winner, your prize includes showcasing your activity or event in the exhibit hall at the AFBF Convention, four free registrations to the AFBF Convention and a $2,500 stipend to offset travel and exhibition expenses.  Oh, did I mention that the AFBF Convention is in San Antonio, TX?  San Antonio, The River Walk, and the Alamo.  Sound appealing?  We have had some Virginia counties that have won in previous years.  The deadline is August 30th.
I know that I have listed a lot of awards and you are probably thinking it is just too much to keep up with.  Don’t worry.  Your District Field Services Director (DFSD) can assist you and your county Farm Bureau.  We can even help guide you for those awards that have a more individual focus.  Furthermore, these awards are equal opportunity.  You don’t have to be a large county Farm Bureau to win.  I have seen some small county Farm Bureaus with some energetic volunteers do some amazing projects and win at the state and national levels.  So if you have an activity or an individual award that you want to apply for, just let your DFSD know.  We don’t mind reminders either.
Until next time,

Mark

Virginia Farm Bureau Members Appointed to VDACS Board of Directors

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Governor McDonnell has announced the following appointments to the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
  • Shelley S. Butler Barlow of Suffolk, Assistant Farm Manager of Cotton Plains Farm, Inc.
  • L. Wayne Kirby of Mechanicsville, self-employed Grain Producer
  • John R. Marker of Winchester, Orchardist at Marker-Miller Orchards
  • Mark A. McCann of Newport, Professor of Animal and Poultry Sciences at Virginia Tech
  • Robert J. Mills, Jr.* of Callands, Managing Partner of M-C Cattle Company
  • Steve W. Sturgis* of Eastville, Farmer and Owner of Tri-S Farms, Inc.
  • Luther Kirk Wiles, III* of Clifton, Founder and Owner of Paradise Springs Winery

* denotes reappointment

All of the above are Virginia Farm Bureau Federation members.

The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services has fifteen members. The Board consists of one member from each of the 11 congressional district, at least eight of whom are currently working farmers, and two at-large members, one of whom is a structural commercial applicator of pesticides and one of whom is engaged in the commercial sale or application of agricultural pesticides. The presidents of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia State University or their designees are ex officio members of the Board with voting privileges. A full term of appointment is four years. Except for those who are initially appointed to fill an un-expired term, each citizen member is eligible to serve no more than two successive terms. In addition to its other duties, the Board now promulgates regulations to certify pesticide applicators, register pesticide products and issue pesticide business licenses in order to protect individuals and the environment through the safe and effective control of pests that adversely affect health, crops, structures and domestic animals.
The Board:
  • Promotes the agricultural interest of Virginia,
  • Has the power to receive and hold in trust donations made for the advancement of agricultural interests and to administer such trusts,
  • Advises the governor on the state of the industry of agriculture and offers the governor recommendations on actions to be taken to promote the industry’s development,
  • Works with members of the agricultural community and with federal and state agencies to develop and implement programs that will provide for a strong and viable Virginia agriculture,
  • Receives annual reports from the state’s commodity boards concerning their progress in promoting the industry,
  • Has the authority to prescribe, adopt and promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer and enforce laws relating to agriculture, commerce and the consumer,
  • Is called upon by the commissioner from time to time to give advice and support concerning the development of new agency programs, organizational changes and other administrative matters,
  • Represents the broad interests of the public for the development of a strong industry of agriculture and efficient and responsive programs for serving and protecting the consumer.

The board holds four to five regular business meetings a year. With the exception of the July meeting, which is usually held in a different area of the state each year, the board meetings are conducted in the Richmond offices of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Additional meetings required for public hearings, planning, and new member orientation are held as needed. Public hearings are normally held in conjunction with regular business meetings. (Please note that you must select Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on the Commonwealth Regulatory Town Hall in order to view Board meeting notices and minutes on that web site. See meetings for schedules and locations).