Young Farmers reboot at — 2022 WINTER EXPO —
BY NICOLE ZEMA
E
ven farmers whose work sustains humankind need to reboot sometimes. About 120 young farmers met at the water’s edge for the 2022 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Winter Expo. Themed “Reboot on the Beach,” it was held Feb. 18-20 at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The expo kicked off with a “Farm Financials and Business Growth” session with Dr. Alex White of Virginia Tech. His interactive presentation covered personal and operational finances, farm transition planning, goal and budget setting, tax issues, credit and investments. VFBF Young Farmers, FFA state officers, college students and Farm 14
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
Bureau staff watched the crashing waves during a sunset networking reception, followed by a seafood dinner. Young farmers contest participants were recognized, and Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award 2021 winner Kyle Sturgis and 2020 winner Jonathan Grimes shared their competition presentations. Past her due date for child No. 2, Young Farmers Committee Chair Lindy Tucker Fimon welcomed attendees via video message. “One of the greatest takeaways from Young Farmers events is the networking,” she said. “It’s a chance to spend time with people doing similar, or very different, things across the state, who understand the challenges you’re facing as a young
agriculturalist.” At the opening breakfast, Virginia's Young Farmers Podcast hosts Sturgis and Austin McNett recorded a brief episode. Featured on the podcast were VFBF Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom fundraising specialist Matt Nuckols and 9-year-old Charlotte Allen, whose family raises beef cattle, laying hens and rabbits in Chesterfield County. Sturgis welcomed guest of honor Del. Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, thanking him for supporting Farm Bureau’s policy positions, and for helping organize last summer’s roundtable discussions with urban legislators and candidates. Scott discussed the tremendous economic impact of Virginia agriculture, and he challenged young
