4 minute read
By the Numbers
Virginia Farm Festival returns this May
The Virginia Farm Festival returns for a second year at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The family-friendly event will be held May 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
This event focuses on spring planting season in Virginia, which culminates in the harvest season celebrated during the State Fair of Virginia. During the farm festival, visitors can enjoy a day in the countryside, see farm animals, explore the garden, play in an AGtivity zone, savor some fair food favorites, shop at a farmers-artisan market and watch live entertainment.
Attendees also will have the chance to explore the inter-connectedness of agriculture and lifestyle through food demonstrations and family fitness classes.
Tickets are $7 for all ages and will be available for purchase online at StateFairVa.org.
Golf tournament will benefit AITC
The 25th Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Charity Golf Tournament will be held May 2 at The Dominion Club in Glen Allen.
The event benefits Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, and sponsorship opportunities and teams of four will be able to register for the tournament through April 22. The tournament will offer two shotgun starts with awards following each round of play. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/3JPCO1T or contact Angela Buchanan at angela.buchanan@vafb. com or 804-687-4463.
State Fair countdown
As of April 1, there are exactly 175 days until the 2022 State Fair of Virginia opening on Sept. 23. Fair fact:
The 2021 State Fair hosted more than 2,000 exhibitors and drew over 5,000 entries in competitions for livestock, vocational skills, visual and culinary arts, horticulture and more.
If you’d like to participate in any of the fair competitions this fall, now is the perfect time to start planning what you’d like to grow, raise, cook or craft! You’ll find the fair’s 2022 competition guidelines available this summer at StateFairVa.org.
The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Conference will be held Aug. 26-28 at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg.
Details are still being developed. For more information, visit the Women’s Leadership Program website bit.ly/3HsZCnb, or contact Samantha Beard at 804-290-1031 or samantha. beard@vafb.com.
Annual Convention to be held in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
The 2022 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention will take place Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The annual event will include speakers, policy discussion, award presentations and informative workshops.
Registration is expected to open in late summer or early fall. The convention is open to county Farm Bureau members, voting delegates and others interested in learning more about Virginia agriculture.
Nine-year-old Charlotte Allen discussed her family's Chesterfield County farm during a special podcast recorded during the Young Farmers Expo with hosts Austin McNett, left, and Kyle Sturgis.
Virginia’s Young Farmers Podcast presents ag issues in a conversational style BY NICOLE ZEMA
Wedged between meat freezers at McNett Angus Beef farm store in Augusta County last summer, two young farmers from differing agricultural backgrounds huddled over microphones and a laptop to record the pilot episode of Virginia’s Young Farmers Podcast.
Fifth-generation aquaculture, hydroponics and row crop famer Kyle Sturgis of Northampton County, and first-generation cattleman Austin McNett of Augusta offer their unique perspectives and farm experiences as they host discussions on agricultural topics in an accessible, conversational format.
“I find I’m often working by myself, so to pass the time, I enjoy listening to podcasts for information, updates and entertainment,” Sturgis said. “I noticed there was a need for more communication across the Young Farmers platform. After talking to Virginia Farm Bureau leaders, I set out to create my own podcast. It has been a wild and amazing ride!”
Eight episodes and an array of special guests cover a range of agricultural topics aimed at farmers and the non-farming public alike. The podcast team hopes listeners will gain insight on the challenges and issues facing young farmers in Virginia, learn about the latest farmer resources, and catch a few laughs along the way.
“The biggest thing we want to consider is how we can educate more people about agriculture and where their food comes from,” McNett said in the first episode. “That’s why I’m sitting in this seat—to be an advocate for agriculture and to give maybe a brash opinion on what farming really is. It’s not all sunshine and roses!”
Listeners in 15 states and one Canadian province have tuned in so far, Sturgis said. New episodes are released once or twice a month.
High school 4-H and FFA members and other agriculturalists are invited to discuss agricultural challenges at the annual Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Youth Discussion Meet. This contest helps individuals and groups build the necessary skills to create action plans for the betterment of the agriculture industry. Winners compete for cash prizes contributed by contest sponsors.
Any high school-age student interested in agriculture, membership organization improvement or public policy are eligible to compete. Past state winners are ineligible.
Entry details will be posted in May at vafb.com/membership-at-work/ farmers-in-action/young-farmers or the VAFB Young Farmers Facebook page.
Contact ron.saacke@vafb.com for more information.
