Savannah Goodwin, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s summer intern, represents the future of agriculture. Raised on a beef cattle farm in Louisa County, Goodwin’s roots in rural Virginia run deep, with experiences in cattle farming, hay production and horseback riding.

“This internship at Virginia Farm Bureau has allowed me the opportunity to learn and advocate especially as it relates to preserving the field of agriculture for future generations,” says Goodwin. “The position stuck out to me as a way to pursue these passions while gaining a broader understanding of a variety of topics which will be valuable as I decide on my career path.”

FFA has been instrumental in shaping Goodwin’s path. Her involvement led to roles as a state officer and national officer candidate. In 2023, she won a proficiency award in equine entrepreneurship, highlighting her dedication to the field.

Now a junior at Virginia Tech, Goodwin is majoring in International Trade and Development with a minor in Political Science. This academic focus reflects her understanding of agriculture’s global impact. Outside the classroom, she’s active in various agricultural and equestrian organizations, including Virginia Tech Young Farmers, National Agri-Marketing Association, Virginia Tech Equestrian Team and Sigma Alpha.

Goodwin considers her FFA accomplishments, particularly the equine entrepreneurship award, as her proudest achievement to date. It represents years of hard work on her Supervised Agriculture Experience project.

In 2023, she served her community as the Louisa County Agricultural Fair Queen. In her spare time, Goodwin enjoys spending time with her horse, Easter Bunny, who has transitioned from a competition partner to a beloved companion and lesson horse.

We sat down with Goodwin to talk about her internship experience, food and farming. Here’s a few of the highlights:

What’s the most interesting or unique fact you’ve learned about agriculture so far?

The most interesting agriculture fact I have discovered so far is that chewing gum is a wheat-based product. On the Wheat Tour one farmer shared that if you were to decide to chew on the seeds of a wheat stalk, it would have a similar consistency as chewing gum.

What’s your favorite recipe or dish with a Virginia-grown ingredient?

While it’s not really a dish, homegrown tomato sandwiches are always a summertime staple at my house. My grandparents always have tomatoes in their garden and it’s a great excuse to have dinner as a family when they’re ripe.

What’s something most people don’t know about the agriculture industry that you think they should know?

I wish that people understood more the day-to-day impact that they can choose to have on the agricultural industry. Whether wheeling a cart in the grocery store, following a tractor along the road, or just picking out your outfit in the morning. Agriculture is all around and we have the ability to impact the industry in numerous ways throughout our day.

What’s your favorite book and why?

My favorite book is called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It’s a short story about a journey between friends that has some really important life lessons within.