Legislative Year In Review

Legislative advocacy is quite possibly the most important membership benefit that you don’t really even know about. As a year in review, we will share a few of the many things our board and members do throughout the year to promote our industry and advocate on those issues that impact us daily. These issues are ever-evolving and do not just stop at H-2A and H-2B labor, transportation, invasive species and noxious weeds, pollinator protection, research funding, regulation and deregulation of licensing, state and local ordinances impacting water quality and usage, land use, taxes, groundwater and rainwater harvesting and now even solar farms. It seems that our volunteers are working yearround to help protect the interests of our members.

From the late evening of the VAC Legislative Appreciation Banquet to the early morning bill reviews during the General Assembly, Legislative Advocacy begins when most of us kick off our year, at MANTS. In fact, our legislative volunteers go back and forth from Baltimore to Richmond and often back again that week. Part of our advocacy is not only to educate but to thank our legislators who we often turn to in our efforts to incite change. In 2019, we were fortunate to have State Senator Ryan McDougle join us for a portion of the Banquet, which is said to be the highlight of the General Assembly. Former Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden also joined us and is all too familiar with what impacts our industry. Over the summer, we were honored to have Delegate Rob Bloxom attend our Field Day at Eastern Shore of Virginia Nursery, which is in his district.

It is not all banquets and photo ops, though. Board and member volunteers log thousands of miles throughout the year, making trips to Richmond and Capitol Hill to represent our industry in fly-ins, State and National Policy Meetings and are often turned to with important decisions on how to rewrite a bill to protect our members. Our Legislative Policy Committee, chaired by Seana Ankers of Meadows Farms, includes board members, as well as passionate members of our association who see the importance of taking time to help educate members of the state and local government on the true impact of policies, especially ones having to do with our industry’s largest concern — labor.

While Seana Ankers represents us throughout the entire year in all areas, this is a committee that truly cannot function as a committee of one. In order to make a difference, we need the individual stories that members share with our legislators and knowledgeable representation at various working groups. Cecelia Palmer of Shade Tree Farms and West Winds Nursery often participates in fly-ins and has represented us in the Pollinator Protection Strategy Meeting. Our President, Brent Hunsinger, is the previous committee chair and still attends various committee meetings and working groups. He and Seana have represented us at the Virginia Solar Stakeholder Meetings, as well as an Invasive Species Stakeholder Workshop. Jeff Howe of Windridge Landscaping and Hardscaping represents us at Workforce Summits throughout the year and has big plans in that area.

While engaging our board in these areas continues to be a focus, we truly value the dedication from our members who reach out on local, state and national levels for our industry. We also rely on state and national organizations to be a sounding board for our concerns and to alert and advise us when something comes up. Though there are countless others, the main organizations we rely on are the Virginia Agribusiness Council, AmericanHort and Mission H2O. As a direct result of some of these, we are included in working groups, policy and stakeholder meetings and have a voice even when we are not present. While we had to miss the VAC Summer Fly-in this year, a few of our members were in attendance and really felt they had a voice in Washington.

March 2019 Virginia Agribusiness Council National Policy Meeting: Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA Legislative Policy Chair, Meadows Farms; Kyle Shreve, VAC Executive Director; Danny Shreckhise, Shreckhise Nursery; Beck Stanley, VAC Director of Government Affairs; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Doug Phillips, Phillips and Turman Tree Farm.

AmericanHort Impact Washington September 16–18, 2019

Most recently, several members attended AmericanHort’s Impact Washington Summit, September 16–18. Top notch speakers, such as Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and so many others, left attendees with a feeling of inclusion and understanding. It was the heartfelt story of the Libre Initiative’s Daniel Garza that left members truly touched and inspired. For this three-day event, Seana led the group from Virginia, with the help of Jim Saunders of Saunders Brothers. They were joined by Julie Zeijlmaker of Battlefield Farms, Art Parkerson of Lancaster Farms and Kerry Scott of Mas Labor, as they met with staff from both Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine’s offices. In addition, they met with or dropped information off to Congressional staff for nearly every district in the state. They had the honor to meet directly with both Congressman Denver Riggleman and Congressman Ben Cline, who both seem knowledgeable and dedicated to making a difference for our industry.

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA Legislative Chair, Meadows Farms; Art Parkerson, Lancaster Farms; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Evan McWalters, Legislative Assistant to US Senator Tim Kaine D VA; James Wheeler, Legislative Correspondent to US Senator Tim Kaine; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Valeria Sandoval, LegislativeCorrespondent to U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D VA; Art Parkerson,Lancaster Farms; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers (Photo courtesy ofAmericanHort)

Left to Right: Brian Wriston, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Don McEachin, D VA 4th District; Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; ArtParkerson, Lancaster Farms

Left to Right: Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Congressman Denver Riggleman R, VA Dist. 5; Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Kerry Scott,Mas Labor

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Brent Robinson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Rob Wittman, R VA Dist. 1; Jim Saunders,Saunders Brothers; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor

Left to Right: Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Congressman Ben Cline R VA Dist. 6; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms

Left to Right: Seana Ankers VNLA, Meadows Farms; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Bonnie Krenz, Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger D VA 7th Dist.; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers

As the year comes to a close and another begins, we look at all of those who have been there along the way and are inspired to think of those who will help carry this advocacy on. It is ever-changing and often an uphill battle, but if we do nothing, then who will? From quick phone calls and emails to fly-ins and policy meetings, we encourage you to continue telling your stories to those who will listen. Do not get discouraged, as you never know when the right person will be touched by your experiences. We are truly a community, and we can be most effective when we come together as one. Thank you to all those who have joined us and to those who may be inspired to help us in the future. Everyone’s voice is important. That includes YOU!