Lunenburg County grain producer and former tobacco grower J.M. Jenkins of Blackstone was elected Nov. 29 to a 16^th three-year term on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

Elections of officers and directors were held at the VFBF 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

As a board member, Jenkins will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Brunswick, Charlotte, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg counties.

He chairs the VFBF Flue-Cured Tobacco Advisory Committee and is a member of the Soybean & Feed Grain & Grain Marketing Advisory Committee. He also is a past president of Lunenburg County Farm Bureau.

In addition to his Farm Bureau involvement, Jenkins is a former member of Virginia’s Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

Before he began farming in 1963, Jenkins worked as a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Gloucester County and as a teacher in Brunswick and Nottoway counties. He also served as a supervisor of tobacco production in Venezuela for British American Tobacco Co.

Autry O.V. “Pete” DeBusk of Lee County was honored Nov. 28 with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award during the VFBF 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

DeBusk is chairman of DeRoyal Industries of Powell, Tenn. A gifted salesman and business leader, he started his medical products company in 1973 and built it into an industry powerhouse. Along the way he continued to give back to the Appalachian communities where his businesses thrived.

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American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal said “unprecedented access” to the Trump administration has led to some successes for U.S. farmers this year.

“It’s been an exciting year for Farm Bureau and agriculture on the policy front, and I have a lot of good news to share,” VanderWal told farm leaders Nov. 28 at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

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Jesse Martin of Rockingham County took top honors Nov. 28 in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Young Farmers Discussion Meet.

The competition was held at the organization’s 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

First runner-up was Sarah Rudolph of Wythe County. Other finalists were Jonathan Grimes of Wythe County and Rebekah Slabach of Halifax County.

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The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation had a successful year in 2018, achieving membership growth and financial gains, said Wayne F. Pryor, VFBF president. But there are plenty of political challenges ahead, and it’s time for Farm Bureau members to step up their contacts with legislators, Pryor added.

“For the first time in many years it appears that folks in Washington are actually listening to the needs of farmers,” he told delegates to the 2018 VFBF Annual Convention. “Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval have the president’s ear, and we’re seeing real policy changes. We’re making progress on amending the EPA’s over-reaching Waters of the U.S. regulation. We now have a proposal for year-round E15 ethanol blends in gasoline. And there’s a new dairy revenue protection program.”

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Farm Bureaus in Albemarle, Bland, Campbell, Prince William-Fairfax and Washington were recognized Nov. 27 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 and community activities, the five organizations received Best in State and New Horizon awards at the 2018 VFBF Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

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John and Lydia Shepherd of Nottoway County have been named the 2018 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers of the Year Achievement Award winners.

The Shepherds were recognized Nov. 28 at the VFBF 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

The Achievement Award honors young farmers who are successful in production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm. The Shepherds serve on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee and raise wheat, rapeseed, corn and soybeans on their farm near Blackstone.

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Virginia Farm Bureau county leaders heard local political success stories and learned from each other Nov. 27 during the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2018 Annual Convention in Hot Springs. A workshop titled “Taking It On Locally” featured a panel of county Farm Bureau leaders who shared how their organizations have built relationships with their elected officials and addressed local issues that had adverse effects on agriculture.

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The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee has recognized Clay and Maryanne Francis of Richmond with their 2018 Warren Beach Award for their outstanding contributions to the VFBF Young Farmers Program.

Clay Francis is VFBF vice president of membership and field services. He and his wife are known for being generous with their time to help young leaders through the Young Farmers Program.

“They were chosen because this couple has supported Young Farmers, especially contestants practicing for agriculture leadership competitions, and have given incredible feedback through the years,” said Mindy McCroskey, chairman of the Young Farmers Committee. “Mr. and Mrs. Francis have been tremendous supporters, serving as judges for competitions both at the state and national levels. They have attended all of our Young Farmers Expos over the years and have been pivotal mentors for the program.”

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Early in her keynote remarks at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2018 Annual Convention, author Michele Payn asked 700 farmers for a show of hands.

“How many people in this room are willing to admit they hate social media?”

Assessing a fair number of raised hands, Payn nodded. “OK, good. Get over it.”

Social media, she explained, is one place that vocal, organized critics of modern agriculture have been building their voices—and audiences—for years. And American farmers, she added, need to be speaking up as well.

All those cell phone photos of healthy animals, well-tended farmland and members of farm families? “Take them off your phone, and put them on Instagram. … It takes less than 10 minutes” and gives an accurate depiction of the nation’s farms and food production.

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