FBN April 2019

APRIL 2019

Farm Bureau News The Voice of Virginia’s Agricultural Producers

The Very Best of Virginia

Have an ‘egg-cellent’ spring!

Farm Bureau News

Volume 78, Number 2 April 2019

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Features

“If they tell me about something they’re

5 Farm Bureau to honor entrepreneur in Women’s Monument

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has made a significant donation to honor Laura Copenhaver of Smyth County with a statue in the Virginia Women’s Monument.

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Days-long downpour didn’t deter Young Farmers

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Don’t wait! Prepare for hurricanes, storms now

Three solid days of rain failed to dampen the

enthusiasm of Young Farmers Winter Expo participants.

Hurricane season is more than two months away, and there are tasks you can address now to prepare your home or business.

Departments 6 22

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Save the Date For Your Benefit Heart of the Home Marketplace

concerned about, I’ll talk to legislators on the agriculture committee.”

— DEL. JAY JONES, D-NORFOLK, on his interactions with Krystal Harris (shown) and her husband, Bob, through the VFBF Adopt an Urban Legislator program. See page 13.

CORRECTION

The RFD-TV series Corn Warriors was incorrectly identified in a recent Virginia Farm Bureau News article.

WE’RE SOCIAL!

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Producer members will receive their next issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News in September. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/virginiafarmbureau.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

ON THE COVER Moses Allen’s family sells eggs, produce, beef and flowers from Fresh Branch Farm in Chesterfield County. Moses is 4 (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

KELLY ROBERTS

Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017763) (ISSN 1525-528X) is published four times a year. January, April, September, November. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.31 (included in membership dues).

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau News, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261-7552; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Members — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information.

All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Staff Writer/Assistant Editor Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President

Board of Directors DIRECTOR

DISTRICT COUNTY

Emily Edmondson 1 Tazewell Richard L. Sutherland 2 Grayson Bruce N. Stanger 3 Montgomery Gordon R. Metz 4 Henry Russell L. Williams II 5 Rockbridge Peter A. Truban 6 Shenandoah Thomas E. Graves 7 Orange Leigh H. Pemberton 8 Hanover William F. Osl Jr. 9 Cumberland Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 Pittsylvania J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 Lunenburg W. Ellis Walton 12 Middlesex M. L. Everett Jr. 13 Southampton David L. Hickman 14 Accomack Faye Hundley * Essex S. Kyle Sturgis ** Northampton *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

REAL VIRGINIA, WATCH US!

Top membership counties for 2019

>> VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU WEEKLY TV PROGRAM

This month on Real Virginia:

as of March 15

Preparing to plant, and teaching science with an ag emphasis

County Farm Bureau

Members

Washington 2,379

Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Virginia farmers have a specific—and soggy—set of challenges for planting season.

• A state tax credit is available to farmers who donate produce to food banks.

• Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s Teacher of the Year tends chickens and teaches aquaculture and hydroponics at a Fairfax County middle school.

• See how producers in Culpeper County are gearing up for spring.

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk.

Watch Real Virginia anytime online at vafb.com.

CC-JC-NK-Y 2,079 Hanover 2,060 Franklin 2,030 Smyth 1,939 Augusta 1,784 Bedford 1,776 Tazewell 1,698 Russell 1,676 Rockingham 1,635 County Farm Bureau

Percentage of goal

Rappahannock 81.26% Greensville 78.84% Charlotte 78.52% Fluvanna 78.40% Smyth 78.00% Southampton 77.39% Shenandoah 76.89%

HURRICANES

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Number of named storms in the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season; eight were hurricanes, and two of those were a category 3, 4 or 5.

See Page 19 to learn storm preparation steps you can take now, in advance of the 2019 season’s start on June 1.

Accomack 76.64% Frederick 76.39% Lunenburg 76.38% County Farm Bureau

Member retention rate

Rappahannock 79.60% Greensville 77.78% Charlotte 76.78% Southampton 76.05% Fluvanna 75.91% Lunenburg 75.66% Smyth 75.65% Giles 75.00% Accomack 74.51% Albemarle 74.39%

vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Farm Bureau supported production of safety video

VIRGINIA CAPITOL FOUNDATION

This artist’s depiction represents the completed monument in Capitol Square.

Farm Bureau to honor ag entrepreneur in Va. Women’s Monument

V

irginia Farm Bureau Federation has made a significant donation to honor an agricultural entrepreneur in the Virginia Women’s Monument.

Farm Bureau donated $100,000 to the Virginia Capitol Foundation in February to support installation of a statue of Laura Lu Scherer Copenhaver of Smyth County. About a fifth of the donation came from county Farm Bureaus.

The monument, titled Voices from the Garden, is being installed in stages at Capitol Square in Richmond and is the first of its kind nationwide. It recognizes a wide range of women’s achievements with a dozen life-size bronze statues in a landscaped plaza.

Copenhaver, who died in 1940 at age 72, was an early member of the Farm Bureau federation and served as its director of information. A proponent of cooperative marketing strategies, she coordinated the production of textiles out of her home, Rosemont, and hired women to craft home goods such as coverlets and rugs using local wool. Rosemont’s textiles, which were sold through a mail-order catalog, attracted customers throughout the U.S. and in Asia, Europe and South America.

After Copenhaver’s death, the business was incorporated as Laura Copenhaver Industries. It operated until 2012.

Copenhaver carried on a family tradition of service to the Lutheran Church, and her advocacy inspired the Women’s Missionary Society of the United Lutheran Church in America to found the Konnarock Training School to provide elementarylevel education for children in Smyth County who did not have access to other public schools.

Other women to be honored with statues in the monument are Jamestown colonist Anne Burras Laydon; Pamunkey chief Cockacoeske; frontierswoman Mary Draper Ingles; first lady Martha Washington; Colonial printer Clementina Rind; seamstress and author Elizabeth Keckly; Civil War hospital administrator Sally L. Tompkins; entrepreneur and civil rights leader Maggie L. Walker; physician Sarah G. Jones; educator Virginia E. Randolph; and suffragist and artist Adele Clark.

Some, but not all, of the statues will be in place when the monument is dedicated in October. The names of Copenhaver’s mother and daughter are included on a glass wall at the monument that currently honors more than 230 Virginia women for their accomplishments.

Information about the monument is available at womensmonumentcom. virginia.gov.

A new video created to help reduce traffic accidents involving slow-moving vehicles will be incorporated into driver education training across the commonwealth.

The video was conceptualized and produced by Drive Smart Virginia with support from Virginia Farm Bureau and the Virginia Department of Transportation, and funded with a Department of Motor Vehicles safety grant.

“We recognize the need to deliver traffic safety programs to rural Virginia and appreciate the Virginia Farm Bureau’s partnership in our efforts to reach those communities,” said Janet Brooking, Drive Smart Virginia’s executive director. “We expect this video to reach thousands of Virginians.”

Vanessa Wigand, coordinator for driver education for the Virginia Department of Education, added that “creating this instructional tool will help Virginia’s driver educators address essential skills needed to safely interact with slow-moving vehicles.”

Farmer and Farm Bureau member Wallick Harding of Amelia County is featured in the video, recounting a 2018 tractor accident that came close to ending his life.

Harding said moving equipment on public roads has become more dangerous for farmers. While slowmoving vehicle awareness is part of Virginia’s Standards of Learning for driver education, he’s not convinced students are getting the message. “And everybody’s distracted and in a hurry.”

The National Safety Council reports that approximately 15,000 farm vehicles are involved in highway crashes annually. Studies show that 90 percent of collisions between slow moving vehicles and motor vehicles occur on dry roads during daylight hours, and two-thirds are rear-end collisions.

When a fatality occurs, the victim is usually the tractor operator.

The video is accessible online at bit.ly_VA_smv_19, or search YouTube. com for “Drive Smart Virginia.” vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

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Save the Date!

Virginia Horse Festival set for Kentucky Derby weekend The annual Virginia Horse Festival will take place May 3-5 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and will coincide with the May 4 running of the Kentucky Derby.

The festival will host a wide variety of equine clinics, demonstrations and competitions. The JTO Trail Challenge will be open to competitors from across the state. Participants in the trail obstacle course will compete on Friday and Saturday, and the finale will be held Sunday. Entertainment will include Aurora: An Equestrian Circus, and the Canine Stars, a performing troupe that features rescue dogs.

The Meadow is the birthplace of Secretariat, and the festival will honor the Triple Crown winner with a special ticketed Kentucky Derby party in Meadow Hall. The event includes mint julep tours of the historic house and barns; a visit with Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat owner Penny Chenery; and a Derby hat contest.

Children 12 and under will be admitted at no cost, but a ticket is still required.

The festival will include free activities for kids throughout the weekend.

For details and ticket information, visit VirginiaHorseFestival.com.

Annual Convention to be held in Norfolk

OPENING SEPT. 27!

The 2019 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention will take place Dec. 2-5 at The Hilton Main in Norfolk. The annual event will include feature speakers, policy discussion, awards presentations and informative workshops.

Registration will open in early fall. The convention is open to county Farm Bureau delegates and other interested Farm Bureau members.

State Fair countdown As of April 1, there are exactly 179 days until the 2019 State Fair opening on Sept. 27.

Fair fact:

The 2018 State Fair drew more than 3,500 entries in competitions for visual and culinary arts, horticulture and more.

If you’d like to participate in fair competitions this fall, you’ve got all spring and summer to perfect that special recipe or move your handcrafted project toward completion. You’ll find the fair’s 2019 competition guidelines at StateFairVa.org this summer.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

New program extends leadership training beyond Young Farmers Previously, some Young Farmers ‘just disappeared’ when they aged out of that program at 35

BY KATHY DIXON

A

lthough Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Growing Leaders Program lasts only one year, participants say the leadership skills they have gained will be used for many years.

“This training teaches us to be better leaders and helps spread our reach into the community,” shared Bob Harris, a Pittsylvania farmer and graduate of the first Growing Leaders class. Harris and his wife, Kristal, were active in the VFBF Young Farmers Program before aging out at 35. They wanted to continue serving in Farm Bureau and with other agricultural groups, and Growing Leaders has helped them do that.

Kristal Harris now serves on the VFBF Women’s Committee, and Bob is president of Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau. Other members of the first Growing Leaders class are serving as county Farm Bureau officers and on local community boards.

Building skills, contacts Another inaugural member, Sarah Scyphers, recalled how, when she aged out of the Young Farmers Program, she wanted additional resources and networking opportunities to continue building leadership skills and expanding her network. Scyphers, who serves as a program specialist for the Farm Credit of the Virginias Knowledge Center, said Growing Leaders has helped her prepare for meetings with elected officials.

“I am taking groups of young producers to Richmond and Charleston, WV, to meet with elected officials and their legislators on agriculture issues,” she explained.

“With the information I gained in this class, I was able to better prepare them with topics, talking points and confidence to have candid discussions with those they encounter.”

No more disappearing acts In years past, Bob Harris explained, when some Young Farmers aged out of that program, they “just disappeared.”

The group of Young Farmers who helped formulate the Growing Leaders program didn’t want that to happen. “We want to prepare them to lead,” Harris noted. “This program is open to anyone who wants to be a more effective leader.”

In 2014, the VFBF Young Farmers Committee determined they wanted a program that would help train leaders beyond the Young Farmers Program.

VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor then established an ad hoc committee to develop recommendations. A cross section of Farm Bureau members hashed out details and formulated the basis of the program. The first class started in early 2018.

Each class adopts its program modules to best suit them. “They determine what they need, then actually get it set up as part of their leadership development,” noted Coley Drinkwater, chairman of the Growing Leaders ad hoc committee.

In the Harrises’ class, participants concentrated on four topics: influencing legislators and maximizing legislative involvement; running effective meetings with parliamentary procedure; social activism for agriculture; and effective

“This program is open to anyone who wants to be a more effective leader.”

Bob Harris, past chairman, VFBF Young Farmers Committee communications with media.

The Harrises said they learned something from each focus area that has helped them be more effective leaders. Bob recalled using techniques learned during the media communications module when he was interviewed by a local newspaper.

Scyphers also found that module useful. “It made me stop and think exactly how I want an interview to go,” she explained, “and that I, in essence, should have control over what is being asked and make sure the person interviewing me understands the issue they were sent to report on.”

She also gained a better understanding of how boards should work and of the purpose of grassroots efforts. Growing Leaders, “helps you gain understanding of the interworking of the legislative process within Farm Bureau. It is an invaluable experience that I am thankful for.”

The program is limited to 15 participants annually, and a refundable $200 deposit is required.

To apply, email your name, contact information and an overview of current leadership positions to ron.saacke@vafb.com. vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Trade conference highlights winter of discontent, hope for spring

Gov. Ralph Northam made brief luncheon remarks, reporting that, as of November 2018, Virginia farm and forestry exports for the year were valued at $2.7 billion, which represents a 16 percent increase over exports for all of 2017.

China was the second largest market for Virginia ag exports in 2017.

Ambassador Gregg Doud, chief U.S. agriculture negotiator, said, “It isn’t that we’re trying to impose our will on other countries” like China with tariffs, but “if we’re going to trade roughly the same amount of product back and forth, the tariff has to be the same” for both players.

He also said the Chinese market should be open to many more U.S. products at which China historically has balked. “Yes, they buy soybeans, but look at all the other things that we ought to be able to sell to China. …

They’re already importing it from other countries.”

“We need to get back to normal”

“You can’t put all your eggs in one basket”

BY PAM WILEY

Speakers’ remarks evoked a mix of hope and frustration at the 11th annual Virginia Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade. The event was held March 5 in Richmond and drew more than 300 participants, including representatives from 15 foreign embassies.

Exports’ value jumped in 2018

Zhu Hong, minister for commercial affairs at the Chinese embassy, expressed hope that trade tensions between the U.S. and China will be amicably resolved, emphasizing, “We need to get back to normal.”

He noted that China is not able to provide all the foods its citizens need or desire, because many parts of the country’s open land is not arable.

Growing demand for protein foods poses an additional challenge. On a basic level, Zhu said, “we are feeding one-fifth of the world population with only 7 percent of the world’s arable land.”

Chinese and U.S. negotiators are engaged in talks to end a trade war and retaliatory tariffs, and Zhu said he is “personally optimistic that the trade dispute will finally get resolved” and added that “Chinese people need Virginia pork products, Virginia poultry, Virginia corn, Virginia soybeans” and other commodities.

Updates on trade relations between the U.S. and the European Union, as well on the as the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement, were part of the conference agenda as well.

Assessing trade disruptions over the past year, two commodity association

Virginia pork has gained global appeal.

Soybeans are a major Virginia export.

officials said a second disrupted year will be even more trying for producers.

“It’s going to be a difficult year,” said Maria Zieba, director of international affairs for the National Pork Producers Council. She said that organization is focusing on broadening the global market for U.S. pork.

“We actually export more to the 20 countries with which we have a free trade agreement than to the rest of the world,” Zieba said.

Bret Davis, secretary of the American Soybean Association, told conference participants that every third row of soybeans grown in the U.S. was exported to China until recently. The past year has been a reminder, he said, “that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Fair trade conditions will be key in resolving the dispute with China, Davis said, but the nation’s soybean growers need an agreement that will last. “We’ve got basically four year of carryover (surplus soybeans) sitting here in the United States that we need to get rid of.” vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

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Virginia Farm Bureau 1-800-229-7779 An authorized licensed insurance agent for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, license number: 109534

This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For more information on benefits, please contact your agent or the health plan. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

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General Assembly

General Assembly update

T

he 2019 session of the Virginia General Assembly elicited a range of emotions.

Here’s a re-cap of key issues regarding implementation of Farm Bureau policy.

Specifics on bills with which Farm Bureau was involved are detailed in a comprehensive summary that was mailed or emailed to Farm Bureau leaders who participate in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation action alert and legislative update system. The summary was not available at press time because the state budget and specific details on several bills had yet to be finalized by the legislature.

Based on the information available at press time, here is how 14 key policy positions fared in the General Assembly: means Farm Bureau policy prevailed. means Farm Bureau policy did not prevail. means Farm Bureau was neutral on the final action, or more work needs to be done on the issue to say Farm Bureau policy prevailed.

KEY POLICY POSITIONS Agricultural best management practices loan program

✓

Ag BMP funding

✓

Ag education program funding at Virginia State University

✓

Animal laws Broadband funding

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Eminent domain changes for just compensation

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Establishing options for health benefits by ag organizations Increase age for youth to buy tobacco products Industrial hemp — allowing farmers to grow

✓

Not allowing special hunting license on elk

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Prohibiting minimum wage increase

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Timber theft penalties and landowner assistance

✓

If you are a producer member and do not receive action alerts but would like to, contact Kelly Roberts, VFBF assistant director for member engagement, at kelly.roberts@vafb.com or 804-290-1293.

Remember, Farm Bureau’s work is never done. After the General Assembly session, Farm Bureau works to have staff

✓

✓

Virginia Cooperative Extension position funding Yogurt — prohibited the use of unpasteurized milk

✓

✓

✓

or members appointed to boards and various technical advisory committees or participating in meetings to ensure the proper implementation of legislation.

Additionally, members have begun participating in this spring’s regional policy development meetings to begin determining Farm Bureau’s policy positions for 2020. vafb.com / APRIL 2019

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COURTESY OF VFBF WOMEN'S COMMITTEE

General Assembly

Harry Robey (above), president of Campbell County Farm Bureau, and other volunteer leaders from across the state reviewed Farm Bureau positions on key legislation before Legislative Day.

JONATHAN MAYO

JONATHAN MAYO

Women’s Committee members and others set up a station where the committee distributed chicken sandwiches and other Virginia foods to legislators and legislative staff. Sharing the lunches afforded extra contact with state lawmakers.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

General Assembly

KATHY DIXON

Robert Mills, who farms in Pittsylvania County and serves on the VFBF board of directors, testified before the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee.

Va. farmers share concerns with representatives during Legislative Day

BY KATHY DIXON

C

ounty Farm Bureau presidents and other Farm Bureau volunteer leaders ventured into the state government’s Pocahontas Building Jan. 28 to meet with delegates and senators during the annual Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day. To foster additional contact between Farm Bureau members and their legislators, members of the VFBF Women’s Committee handed out chicken sandwiches sourced with local ingredients to General Assembly members and staff. By 1 p.m. they had distributed close to 600.

Members from Pittsylvania County met with Sen. Frank M. Ruff Jr., R-Clarksville, and discussed issues that have an impact on agriculture, including the farmers’ ability to grow industrial hemp, expansion of rural broadband service and funding for Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel.

VFBF board member and Pittsylvania farmer Robert Mills told Ruff that

farmers appreciate the agricultural research that’s conducted at Virginia Tech, but there is a need for local Extension agents to help farmers apply that information. “We are struggling without enough Extension employees,” he noted.

Ruff agreed, saying that it’s “nice to have good information at Tech but better to have knowledgeable people out in the communities.”

Mills also emphasized the need for a law that would allow farmers to grow industrial hemp, which currently can only be done in conjunction with university research projects. “If we can grow hemp, processors will come to Virginia,” he explained. Later in the day, he spoke in support of hemp legislation before the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee.

A group from Tazewell County met with Del. Will Morefield, R-Tazewell, and Sen. A. Benton Chafin Jr., R-Lebanon, about growing industrial

hemp and the need for broadband service in rural areas. Morefield promised to support both.

“The hemp bill looks like it’s in good shape, and I think hemp will prove to be a viable cash crop,” Morefield shared.

He also emphasized the importance of rural broadband. “You can’t run a business; your kid can’t do homework without it. Rural broadband would help individuals, businesses and economic development as a whole.”

Meeting with legislators and having a presence at the General Assembly allows farmers to help lawmakers understand the issues they face and explain how legislation will affect them. Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, met Pittsylvania farmers Bob and Kristal Harris through the VFBF Adopt an Urban Legislator program. Jones said he’s learned much about agriculture from the Harrises, and “if they tell me about something they’re concerned about, I’ll talk to legislators on the agriculture committee.” vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

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KATHY DIXON

Young Farmers John and Lydia Shepherd (left) placed third in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award program, and Amy Fannon was first runnerup in the Excellence in Agriculture Award program.

BY KATHY DIXON

I Virginia Young Farmers worked hard for awards in the Big Easy

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

n a city of beads, beignets, etouffé and jazz, it’s hard to imagine people ignoring all the attractions and distractions.

But that’s what Virginia’s Young Farmers did at this year’s American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. The event was held Jan. 11-16 in New Orleans.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers of the Year Achievement Award winners John and Lydia Shepherd, Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award winner Amy Gail Fannon, and Young Farmers Discussion Meet winner Jesse Martin spent Jan. 12 competing or preparing.

Competitor orientations began at 7:30 a.m., and presentations and Discussion Meet rounds were held from 9 a.m. until just before the finalist announcements at 5 p.m.

Achievement Award orientation followed that, and the Shepherds who farm in Nottoway County, were required to return the next morning for their Top 10 interview by a panel of judges.

Fannon, of Lee County, was named

first runner-up for the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award, and the Shepherds placed third in the YF&R Achievement Award program. Martin, who is from Rockingham County, took part in two Discussion Meet rounds.

In addition to the time commitment during the convention, the Young Farmers had been preparing all year—filling out applications, assessing their farming operations, getting presentations ready, studying ag-relevant issues, competing statewide and then practicing for national competition.

John Shepherd said just filling out the Achievement Award application took at least 40 hours, and Fannon agreed with that assessment.

W.P. Johnson of Bedford County, a VFBF delegate to the convention, was a 2014 runner-up for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award along with his wife, Dr. Amy Johnson. “In reality,” he reflected, “you prepare for these competitions from the time you’re 18.” That’s when many Young Farmers get involved with the program, he explained, and are encouraged to vie for the awards.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

VFBF garners highest AFBF honor

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was one of only six state Farm Bureaus that received the AFBF Pinnacle Short cutline XXX Award, the highest honor a state Farm XXXXXXXXX Bureau can be given for program and membership achievement.

VFBF also received AFBF Awards of Excellence in all four program areas: advocacy, engagement and outreach, leadership and business development, and membership value.

AFBF marks 100th birthday While Young Farmers celebrated successes, other convention-goers marked 100 years of AFBF’s notable accomplishments.

The organization has been providing a unified voice for farmers for 100 years, noted AFBF

Farm Bureau members who attended the 100th AFBF Annual Convention heard remarks from President Trump (left) and took in the Crescent City’s many sights.

President Zippy Duvall. “It was fitting to have President Trump and numerous members of Congress among our attendees as we kicked off our centennial celebration. We continue to face a challenging farm economy, and we stand ready to work with Congress and the Trump administration to address the issues important to our farm and ranch families.”

Trump assured farmers that “the greatest harvest is yet to come,” and any pain they are experiencing as a result of his economic policies will pay off in the long term.

Duvall said AFBF has worked with the current administration and that “there’s power in that one voice working together. American Farm Bureau has been at the political table throughout history.”

He told convention participants that then-AFBF President Edward O’Neal watched Franklin Roosevelt sign the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the first federal farm bill, into law in 1933.

Duvall himself was present last year when Trump signed the current farm bill into law. vafb.com /

APRIL 2019

15

Days-long downpour didn’t deter Young Farmers from gathering

N

BY PAM WILEY

ot even three solid days of rain could dampen the enthusiasm of rising ag professionals at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Winter Expo.

The event was held Feb. 22-24 in Smithfield, with meals and meetings held in the town’s historic district. About 150 young adults, college students, FFA members and others took part in the family-friendly event.

Participants on their way to Smithfield were encouraged to visit the Virginia Farm Bureau Products Division open house in Henrico County, and tours were held at the following sites: • Monahan Farms in Sussex County, where participants were introduced to the specialized—and huge—equipment used to harvest peanuts and cotton; • the city of Suffolk’s Department of Fire and Rescue, where first responders shared information about the agency’s farm safety program and training to address farm emergencies; • Amadas Industries in Suffolk, which manufactures both peanut combines and rock star-style luxury motor coaches; • Suffolk Cotton Gin, which processes raw cotton for the textile industry; • Smithfield Foods Inc. Innovation Center in Smithfield, a product research and development facility; • the Land Lab, a working farm operated within Isle of Wight County Schools’ career and technical education program; and • Montague Farms’ soybean packing and export facility, which handles natto soybeans, exported to Japanese buyers for processing into a breakfast product.

The expo agenda also featured remarks from keynote speaker Bettina Ring, Virginia secretary of agriculture and forestry, and Bill Gill, assistant vice president of sustainability for Smithfield Foods. Representatives from the VFBF Agriculture Development & Innovation staff and Governmental Relations Department outlined their

16

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

work for producer members, and a panel of Farm Credit loan officers fielded questions.

Opening night speaker Robert Mills, a former VFBF Young Farmer and current state board member, came in out of the rain and emphasized the importance of stoking one’s aspirational fire.

Mills is a first-generation tobacco, beef and poultry producer in Pittsylvania County, president of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services board and a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

It was an inner fire—a powerful drive to make farming his life’s work—that helped him overcome significant obstacles, he told Young Farmers. “You folks are the people that I love to spend my time with,” he said. “You folks are the reason I run all over this country” for industry events. It would have been easy for everyone to stay home over the rainy weekend, he noted, “and you got out of your bubble and you came to Smithfield” to learn and to make contacts.

Mills recounted an unexpected reminder last fall of why he and other farmers do what they do. With a hurricane predicted to have an impact on Southside Virginia, he made a trip to his local supermarket for staple goods.

So had everyone else in his community.

The parking lot was so full, he recalled, that he nearly had to park on U.S. Route 29, and grocery carts were in short supply. Inside the store, shoppers were getting the goods they needed to weather a storm and potential power outage.

“They knew there was going to be food there,” he said simply. “They never have gone without. … What a testimony, that we can stand back and say we make sure that those shelves are full.”

As with all Young Farmers expos, the Smithfield event included networking opportunities and time to socialize.

A Saturday-night social included casino games and a fundraiser for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom that raised $800.

The VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo will be held July 26-28 in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Registration will be available in early June at YoungFarmersExpo.org.

Young Farmers Winter Expo tour stops featured mammoth peanut combines, tiny baby goats, local cotton and first responder training for farm emergencies. Opening night speaker Robert Mills (left) chatted with state FFA officers after his remarks.

vafb.com / APRIL 2019

17

You can’t stop a hurricane or other severe storm, but there are steps you can take to lessen your risk for storm damage.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

DON’T WAIT!

Prepare for hurricanes, storms now

W

hile hurricane season is months away, there are tasks that can be done now to prepare your home or business.

“It’s always helpful to take steps in the spring, ahead of storms that could come our way later in the year,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting & policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Don’t wait until the storm watch or warning has been issued; there are preparations that need to be done now.”

• Major hurricane: tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or higher, corresponding to a Category 3, 4 or 5 on the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Wind Scale The 2018 hurricane season produced 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes, of which two were a category 3, 4 or 5.

Hurricane season

❏S hutters: Install the hardware needed to put up shutters or pre-cut plywood to protect windows and doors now. This will allow for easier installation if your area is threatened by a storm.

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season— the annual formation of tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere— will run from June 1 to Nov. 30.

A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has a closed, low-level circulation. Tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and are classified as follows: • Tropical depression: tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less • Tropical storm: tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39- 73 mph • Hurricane: tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher (In the western North Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons, and similar storms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean are called cyclones)

Prepare now for Hurricane Season The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shares hurricane preparation steps that can be taken now for both homes and businesses.

Home prep

❏T rees: Now is a good time to cut weak branches, along with branches that are positioned over structures and could cause property damage if they break in high winds. ❏S eals: Check the caulk around windows and doors, ensuring that it is not cracked, broken or missing.

Fill any holes or gaps around pipes or wires that enter the building.

‘Watch’ vs. ‘Warning’ Hurricane watch: Hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within your area. Because it may not be safe to prepare for a hurricane once winds reach tropical storm force, the National Hurricane Center issues watches 48 hours before it anticipates tropical-storm force winds.

Hurricane warning: Hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the specified area. NHC issues a hurricane warning 36 hours in advance of tropical storm-force winds to give time to complete preparations. All preparations should be complete; and if ordered to evacuate, you should immediately do so.

Tornado watch: These are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is usually large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

❏R oof: Inspect the roof and overhang to look for signs of wear or damage.

Have the roof inspected to make sure the roof sheathing is well-connected. ❏A ttached structures: Inspect porches, carports, entryway canopies and storage sheds to ensure they are firmly attached and in sound structural condition.

vafb.com / APRIL 2019

19

Windflung sheet metal, waterlogged cotton, fractured fences, a toppled grain bin and a trashed peanut processing facility were left in Hurricane Isabel’s wake in 2003.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

DON’T WAIT! ❏S ump pumps and drains: Inspect sump pumps and drains to ensure proper operation. If the sump pump has a battery backup, make sure the batteries are fresh or replaced. ❏G enerators: Prepare and test your generator well before a storm strikes.

Business prep • Have your building inspected, and complete any maintenance needed to ensure the building can withstand severe weather.

• Designate an employee to monitor weather reports and alert your team to potential severe weather.

• Review and update your business continuity plan, along with employee contact information.

• Remind employees of key elements of the plan, including post-event communication procedures and work/payroll procedures. Review emergency shutdown and startup procedures, such as electrical systems, with appropriate personnel, including alternates.

• Test backup power options, such as a generator, and establish proper contracts with fuel suppliers for emergency fuel deliveries.

• Inspect and replenish your inventory of emergency supplies.

• Test all life safety equipment.

• Conduct training exercise for both business continuity and emergency preparedness/response plans.

During a hurricane, the failure of any opening can allow wind and water to enter a building and cause extensive damage. That’s why all windows and glass in doors should be protected well in advance.

The only effective window protection is one that is used, so remember to activate shutters, panels and plywood and completely close all windows and doors.

After a storm IBHS has compiled the following recommendations for after a severe storm: • Protect yourself: Use caution when entering a damaged building. If there is serious structural damage, contact local officials before entering. Report downed power lines or gas leaks. Keep electricity turned off if the building has been flooded.

• Protect your property: Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. This can include boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items.

Consult your insurance company for more information.

• Report losses as soon as possible: Notify your insurance agent or insurer as soon as possible. Provide a general description of the damage, and have your policy number handy if possible.

• Prepare a list: Keep damaged items or portions of them until the claim adjuster has visited. Consider photographing or videotaping damage to document your claim.

Make a list of damaged or lost items.

• Keep receipts: If you need to relocate, keep records and receipts for additional expenses.

• Return claim forms: Fill out and return claims forms as soon as possible. If you have questions, talk with your insurance agent.

Hurricane categories The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1-to-5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. The scale estimates potential property damage. For more information, visit nhc.noaa.gov/ aboutsshws.php.

Category 1: 74-95 mph winds (Very dangerous winds will produce some damage).

Category 2: 96-110 mph winds (Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage) Category 3: 111-129 mph winds (Devastating damage will occur) Category 4: 130-156 mph winds (Catastrophic damage will occur) Category 5: 157 mph or higher (Catastrophic damage will occur)

It’s all in a name!

Between 1953 and 1979, only feminine names were used for storms in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Storm names are maintained and updated through a strict procedure by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. There are six naming lists that are used in rotation.

The only time there is a change in the list is when a storm is so deadly or costly that applying its name to a future storm would be insensitive.

• Clean up safely: When starting the cleanup process, be careful, and use protective eyewear and gloves if available. Adjusters may recommend the business owners hire a professional cleaning service.

More information is available at disastersafety.org/hurricane.

vafb.com / APRIL 2019

21

For Your Benefit

Caterpillar offers savings up to $2,500, plus tool credit Caterpillar Inc. offers Farm Bureau members savings of up to $2,500 on select Cat machines, as well as a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Cat machine.

You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/ benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Get the following savings on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers: • Small wheel loaders, 924, 926, 930, 938 models – $2,000 • Compact wheel loaders, 903, 906, 907, 908, 910 914 models – $1,000 • Small dozers, D3, D4, D5 models – $1,000 • Medium dozers, D6K – $1,000 • Medium dozers, D6N – $2,000 • Medium dozers, D6T – $2,500 • Backhoe loaders, 420, 430, 450 models – $1,000 • Backhoe loaders, 415, 416 models – $500 • Compact track loaders, 279, 289, 299 models – $1,000 • Compact track loaders, 239, 249, 259 models – $500 • Multi terrain loaders, 277, 287, 297 models – $1,000 • Multi terrain loaders, 247, 257 models – $500 • Skid steer loaders, 262, 272 models – $1,000 • Skid steer loaders, 216, 226, 232, 236, 242, 246 models – $500 • Telehandlers, TH514, TL1055, TL1255 models – $1,000 • Telehandlers, TH255, TH406, TH407 models – $500 • Mini hydraulic excavators, 304, 305, 305.5, 308 models – $500 • Mini hydraulic excavators, 300.9, 301.4, 301.7, 302.4, 302.7, 303, 303.5 models – $250 • Small excavators, 311, 313, 315, 316, 318 models – $1,000 • Medium excavators, 320, 323, 325, 326, 330, 335 models – $2,000 • Large excavators, 336, 349 models – $2,500 22

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Save wherever you go, with Member Deals Plus® Virginia Farm Bureau’s exclusive Member Deals Plus® benefit uses the nation’s largest private discount network to save you money on meals, clothing, vehicle care, and other goods and services. It uses “show your phone” mobile deals that can be accessed anywhere and redeemed from a smartphone at the point of sale, or from a home computer.

Members can enjoy Member Deals Plus savings at more than 100,000 locations nationwide.

Deals Plus website,

How to get started

For assistance, contact Member Deals Plus customer service at 888275-9136.

To register as a Member Deals Plus user, visit vafb.com/benefits, and click the Member Deals Plus link near the top of the page. Then, on the Member

1. Click “Register” in the top right corner, and use your Farm Bureau membership number.

2. Once you’re registered, you can start saving immediately.

Then, to save with a mobile device, 1. Download the “Member Deals Plus” app from the AppStore or Google Play.

2. Sign in with your email address and password you created on the website.

Member Deals plus and Member Deals Plus are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Save on qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers Members can save $300 to $500 on qualifying products from participating Case IH dealers. You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Eligible individual, family or business members receive the following manufacturer discount on purchases of the listed products: • Farmall Compact tractors, A, C and C CVT series – $300 • Farmall Utilities, C and U series – $500 • Maxxum Series and Farmall 100A series – $500 • Self-propelled windrowers – $500 • Large square balers – $500 • Round balers – $300 • Small square balers – $300 • Disc mower conditioners – $300 • Sickle mower conditioners – $300 • Scout utility vehicles – $300

Save up to 25% on car rentals from Avis, Budget Your Farm Bureau membership affords you up to 25 percent off your next reservation with Avis Car Rental or Budget Car Rental, two of the world’s best-known car rental brands with locations worldwide.

In addition, enjoy additional offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day.

Discount rates may vary between 5 percent and 25 percent depending on time of year, availability and other factors. The Farm Bureau discount may

not be stacked with other corporate or membership discounts.

Visit Avis.com/vafb, or call 800-3311212 to make a reservation, and reference Virginia Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number, available from your county Farm Bureau and on vafb.com.

Or visit Budget.com or call 800-5270700 to make a reservation, and reference Virginia Farm Bureau’s Budget Customer Discount number, also available from your county Farm Bureau and on vafb.com.

For Your Benefit

Roadside Assistance is included when you have towing and labor coverage on your Farm Bureau auto insurance policy.

Roadside assistance offers peace of mind

W

hen you’re stuck on the side of the road, knowing help is on the way is a relief.

For Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. customers who have towing and labor coverage on their auto policies, Roadside Assistance is included at no additional cost.

Towing and labor coverage provides the reimbursement of expenses incurred for automobile disablements such as towing, tire changes, jump starts, lockouts, fuel deliveries and extractions.

“In the past, when a disablement occurred, the customer had to secure the appropriate assistance, and then send any eligible receipts to Farm Bureau for reimbursement, up to the applicable limit on the vehicle,” said Barry Light, VFBMIC product development manager. “Customers are still covered for all the same disablements; however, with Roadside Assistance, the customer no longer has to coordinate the help.”

“Easy and pleasant” Robert Fleet of Amelia County used Roadside Assistance last year. “A family member was driving one of our vehicles

and experienced a mechanical issue,” he explained. “I had never used Farm Bureau’s roadside provider before, so I decided to give it a try. I called the phone number, and the entire experience was easy and pleasant.”

Fleet said he has used a different roadside provider in the past and felt the Farm Bureau experience was superior. “It’s an excellent coverage and helps save money, and may allow customers to discontinue other roadside providers that they currently pay extra to use.”

Anne Baskette of Henrico County was grateful to have roadside assistance when her son’s vehicle was disabled.

“The customer service representative that he spoke with was very pleasant and eager to assist him,” she recounted.

The rep found his policy information right away and used GPS and other points of reference that Baskette’s son provided to determine his exact location.

“The service provider who came out was wonderful and towed the vehicle to a shop nearby that my son picked out,” Baskette said. “My son did not have to pay anything out of pocket since the shop was so close.”

The service was a comfort to her, she said, because shortly after the incident her son moved to Arizona for college. “I knew if he broke down out there, so far away from home, he knew he had this service and how to go about using it.”

How to get help To use Roadside Assistance, customers can call the Farm Bureau claims number on their Auto I.D. Cards and select the Roadside Assistance option.

“They will bring the help to you wherever you are with no out-of-pocket costs to you, as long as the expense is within the limit on your covered vehicle,” Light explained.

If you do not have this coverage on your vehicles, or would like to select a higher benefit limit, contact your Farm Bureau agent or county Farm Bureau office.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on a phone, eating or drinking, talking to people in the vehicle, or operating a radio or navigation system.

Unfortunately, it’s also a fast-growing epidemic in Virginia and nationwide.

According to Drive Smart Virginia, using a handheld device while driving is a leading cause of distraction-related crashes. Their message is to simply “put the phone down, and just drive.”

The commonwealth of Virginia has a new highway safety portal with information on moving Virginia toward zero roadway deaths. For more information, visit TZDVA.org.

Driving while sleepy can have nightmare consequences

Drowsy driving is impaired driving and, according to the National Safety Council, can be comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen when they’re tired. The NSC reports that driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is equal to driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 percent—the U.S. legal limit.

Every year about 100,000 policereported crashes involve drowsy driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually—more than three times the police-reported number.

Drivers under the age of 25 make up an estimated 50 percent or more of drowsy driving crashes.

Each November the National Sleep Foundation conducts Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Find out more at drowsydriving.org. vafb.com / APRIL 2019

23

Upgraded businessowner policy offers more coverage

V

irginia Farm Bureau insurance can help business owners simplify, save and get back to business.

A Businessowner Policy offers packaged business insurance coverage without the need for multiple policies.

Businessowner Policies or BOPs, combine property coverage, liability and business income into one flexible package that can be customized for small to mid-sized businesses.

The total cost of a BOP is often lower than having individual policies.

“The new Businessowner Policy rolled out Jan. 1 and replaced the old (product), which was over 25 years old,” explained Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “The new policy is much more robust. It’s a really customizable new product and allows us to be able to compete in the marketplace for pricing and coverages.”

BOPs can provide coverage for hospitality, community nonprofit, offices, corner markets, personal

services, retail, or specialty contractor businesses.

“BOPs provide extensive coverage for today’s business needs,” Whitus added.

“It’s really a comprehensive, flexible product.”

The new BOP can accommodate general business upgrades and offers installment plans and may include multiple discounts, including claimsfree, loyalty and multiple policy discounts.

Plans include: • Business property: Protect your business inside and out, including inventory, furniture, landscaping and outdoor signs.

• General liability: This helps cover legal expenses, medical costs and other financial obligations if you are responsible for bodily injury or property damage to a third party.

• Loss of income: Recover quickly if your business can’t operate normally due to a covered disaster.

Additional coverages, offered in

partnership with Hartford Steam Boiler, include: • Commercial equipment breakdown: Helps cover replacement or repair of critical machinery and electronics for your business, including HVAC equipment and sensitive electrical systems and components.

• Cyber Suite: Includes a full list of services and resources if your business or customer data is stolen or lost. It includes public relations fees, data recovery and identity monitoring costs after a breach.

• Employment Practices Liability: Equal Employment Laws prohibit discrimination or harassment of protected groups. EPL helps provide liability coverage if an owner or employee is accused of discrimination or harassment.

For more information, contact a county Farm Bureau office near you, and visit vafb.com/insurance/ business-owners.

Fire extinguisher program protects equipment

E

quipping farm machinery with a fire extinguisher could save equipment and prevent a loss. It also can save premium dollars and lower insurance rates.

“It’s important to have a fire extinguisher on every piece of equipment,” explained Scott DeNoon, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.’s farm product & underwriting manager. “Millions of dollars’ worth of equipment has been saved because owners had an extinguisher installed.”

Virginia Farm Bureau’s fire extinguisher program assists members in protecting certain pieces of farm equipment from loss due to fire by providing—at no cost to members—one 10-pound fire extinguisher with a mount on eligible equipment insured by Farm Bureau.

Eligible equipment includes self-propelled grain combines, haybines, forage harvesters, cotton pickers, peanut combines and track-type bulldozers. Also, should the extinguisher be used or leak, Farm Bureau will have it recharged at no cost.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

To prevent fires on equipment:

•C omplete an inspection of farm equipment before starting a job, using your eyes, ears and nose.

•L ook for leaks, engine oil, hydraulic fluids, exhaust system leaks, worn belts and other problems that cause heat buildups that could start a fire. Also check for worn or damaged electrical wiring.

•A t the end of each day, use an air compressor or leaf blower to blow dry matter from equipment. Be sure to wear safety glasses.

•K eep a cell phone with you and know your local emergency services phone number in case something goes wrong.

“If you use the fire extinguisher, be sure to recharge it before returning to the job,” DeNoon

added.

For more information on the fire extinguisher program, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

Free Medicare seminars being offered statewide

I

f you’re on or soon to be on disability, nearing retirement age, or age 65 and still working, Medicare may be on your mind.

If you have questions about Medicare and want more information, whether you are currently enrolled or nearing enrollment, there may be a local Medicare Seminar available, sponsored by your county Farm Bureau.

The following seminars have been scheduled, and will be held at the county Farm Bureau office unless otherwise noted: • April 9, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford Farm Bureaus at Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg • April 9, Prince William-Fairfax Farm Bureau at Bull Run Regional Library • April 10, Fauquier County Farm Bureau at Farm Credit–Fauquier County

• July 30, Amelia County Farm Bureau • July 31, Charlotte County Farm Bureau • Aug. 7, Botetourt County Farm Bureau • Aug. 7, Roanoke County Farm Bureau at Hidden Valley Country Club Medicare information is available—at no cost—at a location near you.

• May 22, Bland County Farm Bureau at Bland County Library • May 22, Wythe County Farm Bureau • May 23, Giles County Farm Bureau • May 23, Montgomery County Farm Bureau • May 29, Surry County Farm Bureau

• April 10, Loudoun County Farm Bureau

• June 4, Clarke and Frederick County Farm Bureaus at Farm Credit– Frederick County

• April 11, Caroline County Farm Bureau at Caroline County Library, Bowling Green Branch

• June 5, Page County Farm Bureau at Massanutten Regional Library

• April 18, Chesterfield County Farm Bureau at The Villas at Ashlake • April 23, Washington County Farm Bureau • April 24, Rockingham County Farm Bureau • April 24, Smyth County Farm Bureau • April 25, Russell County Farm Bureau • May 8, Madison County Farm Bureau • May 8, Orange County Farm Bureau • May 9, Culpeper County Farm Bureau at Culpeper County Library • May 9, Rappahannock County Farm Bureau • May 14, Chesterfield Farm Bureau at The Cove at Magnolia Lakes • May 21, Floyd County Farm Bureau

• July 24, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Farm Bureaus at Virginia Beach Farm Bureau (Providence Square Shopping Center)

• June 5, Shenandoah County Farm Bureau • June 11, Henry County Farm Bureau • June 12, Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau at Olde Dominion Ag Complex • June 13, Franklin County Farm Bureau at Farm Credit–Franklin County • June 25, Nelson County Farm Bureau • June 26, Albemarle County Farm Bureau at Northside Library • June 27, Greene County Farm Bureau • July 9, Louisa County Farm Bureau • July 9, Powhatan County Farm Bureau

• Aug. 8, Craig County Farm Bureau • Aug. 13, Prince George County Farm Bureau • Aug. 13, Sussex County Farm Bureau • Aug. 27, Accomack County Farm Bureau • Aug. 27, Northampton County Farm Bureau Each seminar is available at no cost.

To register, call your county Farm Bureau office, even if the seminar is held at an alternate location.

New this year The following seminars will be hosted

by Virginia Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants at locations across the commonwealth.

To register for an HCC-hosted seminar, contact Angela Windett, 804-290-1118 or angela.windett@vafb.com.

• May 16, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn) • June 19, Greene County at Grace Health and Rehab Center of Greene County • July 16, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn)

• July 10, Prince Edward County Farm Bureau

• Sept. 5, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn)

• July 11, Buckingham and Cumberland Farm Bureaus at Buckingham County Farm Bureau

• Sept. 16, Greene County at Grace Health and Rehab Center of Greene County vafb.com / APRIL 2019

25

AITC

Va. AITC awards $10,000 in STEM grants

V

irginia Agriculture in the Classroom has awarded 21 STEM grants to schools and 4-H chapters.

The funds total $10,000 and will provide 7,500 children and youth in 17 localities with an agriculture experience integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Projects include topics such as hydroponics, animal agriculture and leadership development.

Grants were made possible through funding by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

“This is a new grant program geared to integrate science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics,” explained Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC senior education manager. “This is an expansion of

Elementary School • Hampton: Hampton School Age Programs

the AITC grants program to allow more students to have an agricultural experience while simultaneously learning about STEM concepts.”

• Hanover County: Lee-Davis High School • Henrico County: Crestview Elementary School

Grants were received by: • Bedford County: Staunton River High School • Brunswick County: Brunswick 4-H • Carroll County: Carroll 4-H, Carroll Middle School and Laurel Elementary School • Chesapeake: Great Bridge High School • Chesterfield County: Matoaca High School • Franklin County: Callaway Elementary School • Halifax County: Halifax County Middle School and Meadville

• Isle of Wight County: Windsor High School • Lee County: Dryden Elementary School • Louisa County: Louisa Middle School and Louisa High School • New Kent County: New Kent Elementary School • Stafford County: Rockhill Elementary School • Suffolk: Booker T. Washington Elementary School • Williamsburg: J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

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Upcoming AITC events May 13 23rd Annual AITC Golf Tournament The Dominion Club, Glen Allen 6000 Dominion Club Dr. Online registration at app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/ VirginiaFoundationforAgricult_2/ golftournament.html Contact Angela Haskovec, 804-290-1031 or angela.haskovec@vafb.com.

June 8

Fairfax educator is national honoree, AITC Teacher of the Year

As Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year, Kniesly will receive a scholarship to attend the 2019 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in June in Little Rock, Ark., and a $500 award.

While at the conference, he and seven other educators will be honored as recipients of the National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture award.

Virginia AITC also recognized Pamela Hall, a first-grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School in Isle of Wight County, as runner-up to Teacher of the Year. Hall will receive registration to the 2019 National AITC Conference.

October 10 & 12 Clays Across the Commonwealth Contact Morgan Slaven, 540-383-7579 or morgan.slaven@vafb.com.

Farm Life 360

Community volunteers can give children a 3D view of agriculture through eight Virginia-specific video clips.

Take a ride on a planter, combine some corn, feed calves, and participate in an apple or cotton harvest. Search “FarmLife360” on YouTube.com, and email aitc@vafb.com to borrow 3D goggles for your next event.

Find more information at AgInTheClass.org, or call 804-2901034.

SARA OWENS

C

hris Kniesly, a science teacher at Mark Twain Middle School in Fairfax County, has been named a 2019 recipient of the National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture award, presented by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit.

Earlier this year Kniesly was named Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom 2019 Teacher of the Year. That award recognizes a Virginia educator for incorporating agriculture into core curriculum.

Kniesly has established a school farm that includes chickens, aquaculture and hydroponics. His goal is to provide students with an environmentally conscious introduction to agricultural concepts and create real-life learning experiences.

“Chris uses his extensive school farm and garden as the jumping-off point for real-life, hands-on examples to demonstrate a variety of science concepts,” noted Tammy Maxey, AITC senior education manager and president-elect of NAITCO. “Through Chris’ efforts, his students are gaining a greater appreciation for agriculture, as well as an improved understanding that food begins on the farm.”

Down-On-The-Farm 5K & Fun Run Contact Morgan Slaven, 540-383-7579 or morgan.slaven@vafb.com.

Farm Life 360 videos, viewed through 3-D goggles, provide a unique view of various Virginia farms. vafb.com / APRIL 2019

27

Heart of the Home

Stuffed egg variations are devilishly delicious While many home cooks still use mayonnaise, there are a plethora of variations on the deviled egg, including the following from the American Egg Board and the Virginia Egg Council.

Sister Mary’s Heavenly Deviled Eggs INGREDIENTS

14 large, hard-boiled eggs ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream

E

AMERICAN EGG BOARD

1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

Sister Mary’s Heavenly Deviled Eggs are a dressed-up version of the timeless recipe.

ggs—a symbol of both spring and Easter—have been important for many centuries and in some cultures have symbolized a springtime return to life following the winter.

Eggs also are one of nature’s most nutrient-rich foods, delivering high levels protein and vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as key minerals.

The celebrated deviled egg can be traced to ancient Rome, where boiled eggs were seasoned with spicy sauces and served as the starter of a fancy meal, according to the North Carolina Egg Association. Stuffed eggs were served in Spain in the 13th century, 28

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

when boiled egg yolks were mashed and mixed with cilantro, pepper, coriander and onion juice. The mixture was then stuffed into hollowed-out egg whites. Over the next two centuries their popularity spread across Europe.

By the late 1700s, the word “devil” appeared as a culinary term in Great Britain, referring to heavily spiced, hot, fried or broiled dishes, and it came to describe the process of making food spicy.

In 1896 Fannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking-School Cookbook suggested adding mayonnaise to deviled egg filling to hold ingredients together. By the 1940s the use of that condiment had become popular in deviled egg recipes.

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ¼ teaspoon ground pepper ⅓ cup crumbled cooked bacon ¼ cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives paprika to taste DIRECTIONS Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks, and place in a medium bowl.

Reserve 24 white halves. Finely chop remaining four white halves, and set aside.

Use a fork to mash yolks. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and pepper; mix well. Add chopped egg whites, bacon, cheese and chives; mix well again.

Spoon one heaping tablespoon of the yolk mixture into each egg white half.

Refrigerate, covered, to blend flavors.

Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.

Source: American Egg Board

Heart of the Home

Shrimply Deviled Eggs

Spoon mixture into the egg white halves. Place one shrimp on top of each, and sprinkle with paprika. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

INGREDIENTS

6 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled

Source: Virginia Egg Council; first-place winner in 2012 Tasty Little Devils Recipe Contest, submitted by Carrie Rodgers of Fauquier County

Eve’s Guac Deviled Eggs put a Tex-Mex spin on a classic.

Eve’s Guac Deviled Eggs INGREDIENTS

12 large, hard-boiled eggs flesh of 1 ripe avocado ¼ cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt dash of hot sauce, such as Tabasco ½ cup salsa, for garnish 12 tortilla chips, for garnish DIRECTIONS Cut hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise.

Spoon out yolks, and place into a re-sealable bag. Set egg white halves aside.

To the yolks in the bag, add avocado, sour cream, salt and hot sauce. Seal bag, and mash contents together with your hands until completely mixed.

With scissors, snip off one corner of the bag, and pipe yolk mixture into the egg white halves, creating a small mound in each. Garnish each mound with half a tortilla chip and a dab of salsa before serving.

1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

Quinoa & Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs

12 large shrimp, plus enough shrimp to equal 1 cup, chopped 3 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon pesto

4 large eggs

2 tablespoons capers with juice

½ cup quinoa, cooked and cooled

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon plain Greek-style yogurt

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

1½ tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt and Dijon mustard to taste

⅓ cup crumbled cooked bacon ¼ cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

paprika for garnish

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

DIRECTIONS

⅛ teaspoon sea salt

While eggs are cooking, place beer in a saucepan with Old Bay and 2 cups water, and bring to a boil. Put the whole shrimp and the shrimp for chopping in the boiling water; bring to a second boil, and turn off heat. Leave shrimp in hot water for 5 minutes or until pink. Drain and peel. Set aside 12 whole shrimp, and chop the rest.

Slice eggs in half lengthwise. Scoop yolks out, and place in a mixing bowl.

Mash yolks, and add the chopped shrimp, mayonnaise, pesto, capers, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt and mustard. Mix thoroughly.

⅛ teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS Place eggs in a saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover the eggs by 1”. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Remove pan from heat, cover and let stand for 13 minutes. Drain, and transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water. Let stand until cool.

Peel eggs, and cut in half lengthwise.

Transfer the yolks to a bowl, and mash with a fork until smooth. Stir in quinoa, yogurt, cilantro, bacon, cheese and chives, and season with salt and pepper.

Spoon yolk mixture into the egg white halves, cover and refrigerate until set, at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving.

VIRGINIA EGG COUNCIL

AMERICAN EGG BOARD

12 ounces beer

Source: American Egg Board

Source: American Egg Board

Shrimply Deviled Eggs won a 2012 Virginia Egg Council recipe contest.

vafb.com / APRIL 2019

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2019 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members, or in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members.

Marketplace CROPS DEER AND RABBIT REPELLENT-$14.95-$21.90, makes 10 gallons. Safe, effective, long lasting, guaranteed. 540-464-1969.

SOIL BALANCE PRO-20 percent average increase in CBD oil production. www.increasecbd. com. 910-528-6605.

FARM EQUIPMENT UNIVERSAL VACUUM PUMP-Model 306053, 3 hp motor, needs pulleys and belt. $200. 276623-1615.

WANTED-Ezgo golf cart, battery powered, marathon model for parts. 540-885-3008.

FRONT LOADER- 48 Ford 8/N, new clutch, hydraulic cylinders, 12-volt back blade auger hog.

540-280-3870.

BOOM LIFTING- Boom 3-Pt hitch, heavy duty, $150 or trade. Shed in nice condition. 540-6722732.

JOHN DEERE 350 SICKLE BAR-9-ft. new wobble box, extra guards, riveted sections. $1,850.

Madison. 540-359-5532.

AGCO ALLIS DIESEL- 5650, 3-point hitch, John Deere 350 sicklebar mower, 50 hp, $12,500.

434-906-4699.

FARMALL 2-BOTTOM PLOW- 14-in single point hitch, new paint, excellent condition. 804-9389233.

JOHN DEERE 8220 TRACTOR- 2002 MFWD Greenstar Ready, one owner, 4,485 hours, 4 remotes pin, 804-241-4497.

MACK GRAIN TRUCK-20-ft. bed, new engine, new tires, new electrical, all steel bed. $18,500.

804-305-0491.

FEEDTRAIN FEEDING SYSTEMS-Feedbunks, bulk bins, creep feeders, UTV/ATV feeders. feedtrain.com. Virginia dealer. 540-679-6567.

LOOKING FOR-Free John Deere Haybine transmission. In Amherst. 434-286-2397, 434-2862397.

HAY AND STRAW NEW-Unopened Inland T&L Bull Flex hay tarp, 23x52 with tiedown kit. $350. 276-698-1951.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE-Bred Suffolk ewes, 18 months old. 540-582-8055.

HORSE BOARDING-Great pastures, run-in shed, self-care, full care, trails, retired horse paradise. 540-348-6209.

HOLSTEIN HEIFERS-A2A2 registered Holstein heifers, bred AI, September and October. Some red and whites. 276-686-5277.

REGISTERED ANGUS-C/C pairs, heifers, genomic EPDs, reasonably priced, AI bloodlines, AHIR, Blacksburg. 540-641-0295.

CHAROLAIS BULLS-High quality and easy calving. Veterinarian owned. $1,500 to $3,500.

Abingdon, 276-628-9543.

AFTER HOURS GOATS-Raising NZ, purebred and commercial stock. Bristol, VA. Contact Jimmy Singleton, 276-791-6759.

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT BREAKING CART AND HARNESS-For sale, $200. 434-724-4514.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20.

Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted.

Use the online form at vafb.com/membership-at-work/ membership/benefits/marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current.

Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm equipment; • Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and • Livestock equipment.

Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • May Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • August Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • September Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).

Finding your member number When placing your ad, be sure to include your Farm Bureau member number, which can be found on your membership card and above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Virginia Farm Bureau News. All member numbers will be verified.

Are your membership records current?

Farm Bureau needs your updated contact information, including email address If you’ve moved, acquired a new telephone number, or changed your name or email address, it’s important that your new information is reflected in your membership and insurance records.

Email addresses and cell phone numbers are especially important; they help your Farm Bureau agent reach you in instances where prompt communication is essential.

If you need to update your records, email your current contact information to membership@vafb.com, and our staff will handle the update. You’re also welcome to call or visit your county Farm Bureau office to update your records.

How to place your classified ad STEP 1 Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad.

• Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only.

• Classified ads are not transferable.

• Please type or print.

• Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.

STEP 2

Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.

STEP 3

Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).

STEP 4

Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership.

Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear.

• Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau.

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

Important: We are not responsible

• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Cultivate and Virginia Farm Bureau News do not constitute an endorsement by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its affiliated companies and organizations.

We reserve the right to edit or reject ads, including ads that represent a business in competition with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company or any of our affiliated or affinity partners. We reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement that makes reference to any particular political party or group, religious belief or denomination, race, creed, color or national origin.

STEP 5

Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552 Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at vafb.com.

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members September August 2

Moving? If your address or phone

Mailed to associate members August July 3

number has changed—or is about to—don’t forget to contact your county Farm Bureau office to ensure that your membership and subscription information stays current!

One free 15-word ad per membership per year; dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME:___________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.:______________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY:_________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________

STATE:________________________

ZIP:______________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above

ADVERTISEMENT (one word per space; please type or print):

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available

1.________________________ 2.______________________ 3._________________________ 4.________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6._______________________ 7.______________________ 8._________________________ 9.________________________ 10.______________________________ ( ) 11._______________________ 12._____________________ 13.________________________ 14._______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN:* q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2019 q August (mailed to associate members) q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q S eptember (mailed to producer members) q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free.

(Ads expire with membership).

Ad placement available for these issues only

*

vafb.com / APRIL 2019

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