FBN Jan 2021

Farm Bureau News

JANUARY 2021

Farming Diversity Minorities a growing part of Virginia agriculture

Farm Bureau News

Volume 80, Number 1 January 2021 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 $1.13 (included in membership dues).

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Features 5

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“I wish more people

Farm Bureau prioritized timely member support in 2020

In an uncertain year, Virginia Farm Bureau took steps to ensure responsive, uninterrupted member advocacy and service.

Annual awards recognize leadership, creativity

would understand what farmers have to go through.”

– CECIL SHELL, LUNENBURG COUNTY FARMER

Young Farmers, county Farm Bureaus,

community groups and journalists receive recognition.

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 assumes no liability for products or services advertised. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Pam Wiley Director, Communications Kathy Dixon Managing Editor Nicole Zema Staff Writer/Photographer

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VALOR participants build networks, leadership skills

Agriculturalists in the two-year VALOR program learn about farming stateside and abroad and use that knowledge to more effectively communicate.

NEW SERIES: Diversity in agriculture

The first article in a year-long series profiles minority farmers and examines their contributions to agriculture.

Departments 28

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

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

WE’RE SOCIAL!

Heart of the Home

ON THE COVER Nayeli Beltran harvests fruit for Norma’s Produce in Colonial Beach (Photo courtesy of the Beltran family).

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Adam Culler Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Alice Kemp 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 F. Edmondson 1 Tazewell Richard L. Sutherland 2 Grayson Bruce N. Stanger 3 Montgomery Jeannie L. Dudding 4 Craig 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 J. Barry Bates 12 Essex M. L. Everett Jr. 13 Southampton David L. Hickman 14 Accomack A. Faye Hundley * Essex Lindy Tucker Fimon ** Lunenburg *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

President’s Message

VFBF committed to grassroots process during challenging year

I

n the theater business, they say that the show must go on. The adage also applies to Virginia Farm Bureau and its policy WAYNE F. PRYOR development process.

That’s why we held a scaled-down resolutions meeting and a condensed voting delegate business session last year in lieu of our traditional Annual Convention.

The work of setting policies that are of the utmost importance to our producer members is at the heart of our grassroots organization.

We have worked diligently and safely to continue the policy development process that will lead to successful lobbying on issues that affect your businesses.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began last spring, Farm Bureau ramped up efforts to assure the public that their food supply was still strong.

Our governmental relations and communications teams have worked continually to inform producer members about fast-changing federal assistance programs and state public safety regulations. Federation staff created and maintained a web page to share information related to COVID-19 and farming. Our Plows and Politics blog provided breaking news on the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, new farmers market regulations and farm economy updates. Staff also distributed a Virginia Farm Bureau News summer series of email bulletins and printed newsletters.

As concerns mounted about farmers markets’ ability to operate in late spring, our Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability moved quickly to help producers adopt online commerce

Top membership counties for 2020 as of Oct. 31, 2020

practices and stay connected to their customers.

Behind the scenes, the mobilization at Farm Bureau was truly amazing. In mid-March hundreds of Farm Bureau employees were asked to start working remotely, while steps were taken to continue essential operations in county Farm Bureau offices and at our state headquarters outside Richmond.

Their workflow barely slowed, and today many of our employees are still working remotely.

Business is brisk at county Farm Bureau offices, and our products division staff continue to ship to distributors in your community. Those distributors are now able to place orders online, and members can view current product inventory online before placing phone orders.

When local school systems closed last spring, Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom stepped up to offer online resources for educators and parents.

Ironically, many of agriculture’s pandemic solutions are tied to the internet, but not all of Virginia’s farm families have access to broadband service—especially those in rural areas.

This was highlighted by the pandemic.

Farm Bureau has been lobbying to connect rural Americans to broadband for years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program granted $744 million to rural America.

Farmers are grateful for this aid, but we will continue to lobby for rural broadband funding. The lobbying may be virtual, but we are confident our legislators will see the importance of farmers’ need for connectivity, and act on it.

County Farm Bureau

Members

Washington 3,164 Charles City-James City-

3,117

New Kent-York Hanover 2,895 Bedford 2,849 Tazewell 2,785 Franklin 2,616 Augusta 2,519 Henrico 2,479 Smyth 2,406 Rockingham 2,380 County Farm Bureau

Percentage of goal

Prince George 111.93 Bedford 107.47 Greene 106.33 Appomattox 106.00 Nansemond 105.16 Prince William-Fairfax 104.88 Sussex 104.51 Alleghany 104.37 Fauquier 104.15 Caroline 103.67 County Farm Bureau

Member retention rate

Clarke 95.60% Sussex 95.49% Rockbridge 95.43% Craig 95.33% Prince Edward

95.21%

Charlotte 95.19% Bland 95.11% Southampton 95.05% Greene 94.87%

Wayne F. Pryor, a Goochland County hay and grain producer, is president of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Rappahannock 94.73%

vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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WATCH US

This month on Real Virginia:

Farmers protect soil with cover crops

Find It and Win! Virginia Farm Bureau News is offering a new contest for its readers.

In each issue, search for a farming icon, and enter to win. This month’s icon is a pig.

Contest rules are as follows: Find the pig inside this publication. Once you’ve located it, send an email to membershipbenefits@ vafb.com with the subject line “Found It.” The body of the email must contain the following: • Your name • Your mailing address • The membership benefit advertisement located nearest the image

Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Learn how growers sustain their land in the off-season with winter cover crops.

The first 15 members who submit correct entries will win a 20-ounce stainless steel Virginia Farm Bureau logo tumbler. Readers are eligible to win only one tumbler during the contest period, January through December 2021. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. *Virginia Farm Bureau and Countryway employees are not eligible to win.

• The Southern Exposure Seed Exchange connects farmers and gardeners to heirloom produce.

• Discover how cotton, peanut and tobacco production in Greensville County bridges the agricultural traditions of Southeast and Southside Virginia on this month’s County Agriculture Close-up.

BLACK FARMERS

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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 WBRA Roanoke, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and second weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville and WRLH Richmond.

Watch Real Virginia anytime online at youtube.com/user/ VirginiaFarmBureau.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

The number of Black farmers in Virginia as identified by the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture. That number increased 5% from the 2012 census. Read more about minority farmers on page 16.

20-OZ. STAINLESS STEEL VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU LOGO TUMBLER!

VFBF

| 2020

year in review

Thank you for your membership!

As a Farm Bureau member, you’ve put your support squarely behind your community and the farm families who produce the nation’s food and other important products. Here are examples of what Virginia Farm Bureau Federation did to support producer members, their farms and their communities in 2020.

Your Membership Advantage Staff at your county Farm Bureau office are happy to provide details about any of these member benefits!

Travel Services

• Choice Hotel Discounts — 20% off the “best available rates” at Cambria Suites, Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Econo Lodge, MainStay Suites, Quality, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn, Suburban and Woodspring Suites locations • Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Discounts — up to 20% off at over 9,000 AmericInn, Baymont, Days Inn, Hawthorne Suites, Howard Johnson, LaQuinta, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8 Motel, Travelodge, Wingate by Wyndham and Wyndham Hotels locations • TripBeatsm resort condo rental savings — at thousands of vacation destination properties • Avis Car Rental Savings — up to 30% off Avis base rates • Budget Car Rental Savings — up to 30% off Budget base rates • Dollywood — save $10 on regular or children’s tickets • Biltmore Estate — $10 off daytime admission tickets

Home/Business/Farm Savings

• Ford — save $500 on eligible Ford trucks • John Deere Rewards Savings — on residential, commercial and utility equipment • Member Deals Plus®* — lets you save wherever you go, with the nation’s largest private discount network on meals, clothing, vehicle care and other goods and services.

• Grainger Savings — deep discounts on equipment and supplies from Grainger, plus get free standard ground shipping on all standard Grainger products** • Tires — competitively priced auto, truck and farm tires, and farm equipment parts • Caterpillar Machine Discounts — Save up to $5,000 on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers, and receive an additional $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with new Cat equipment.

• Case IH Equipment Discounts — Save $300-$500 on qualifying products from participating dealers.

• Xerox — Save up to 50% on office and production printer products.

Healthy Living

• Life Line Screenings — for stroke, heart attack and bone fracture risks • Prescription Drug Discount — at more than 67,000 pharmacies nationwide, on all FDA-approved brand and generic drugs

Insurance Protection

Members have more options than ever before, with fast claims assistance and personal, face-to-face service.

• Auto, Home, Life — a wide array of auto, home and life insurance products, as well as farm, business liability and personal property insurance • Health — Staff at your county Farm Bureau office can help you review and enroll in individual, group or Medicare supplemental health insurance plans with health insurance carriers on both the public and private health insurance marketplaces.

Financial • Banking Services — credit cards, deposit accounts and mortgage, vehicle and education loans • Estate Planning Assistance — free, no-obligation analysis to help you set financial goals

*Member Deals Plus® and Member Deals plus® are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. **FREE standard shipping on all orders shipped ground transportation.

Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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VFBF

| 2020

year in review

Supporting our members The following are examples of what Virginia Farm Bureau Federation did to support producer members, their farms and their communities in 2020.

Agriculture Business Assistance

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“I am a Virginia Farm Bureau member because of the effectiveness of lobbying efforts both on the state and national level.”

Virginia Farm Bureau’s Grain Division assisted over 360 farm operations and increased hauler numbers and end destinations. In a year full of marketing unknowns, staff helped ensure small businesses were still maintaining regular cash flow and had optimum marketing options.

— Darlene Coppedge, Madison County Farm Bureau

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The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability assisted 14 Value-Added Producer Grant applicants, and 13 were awarded a cumulative $2.8 million for 2021. VA FAIRS also developed a red meat processing study guide to respond to the outpouring of interest in local meat processing. An arm of VA FAIRS—Lulus Local Food—responded to overnight demand from farmers markets, food hubs and others for an e-commerce platform in response to COVID-19.

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During the 2020 General Assembly, Farm Bureau succeeded on 49 out of 64 key policy issues. One of the most important was giving farmers the opportunity to achieve the nutrient reduction goals required in Virginia's final Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan before nutrient management plans and livestock stream mandates became effective in 2026. We also helped secure over $52 million in funding for the current fiscal year to help farmers achieve these nutrient reduction goals.

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Agriculture, Development & Innovation Department staff contributed to the Virginia Pollution Abatement program and permit regulatory review. They worked with growers, brokers, other Farm Bureau staff and industry stakeholders to inform and solicit public comment from poultry litter end-users. The Virginia Water Control Board considered regulations in December 2020 after receiving over 40 Farm Bureauprompted comments.

Grassroots Development

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To maintain legislator engagement, Governmental Relations hosted virtual meetings for members with legislators for building relationships through AgPAC and to discuss the 2021 Critical Pre-Session Legislative Issues. VFBF also started a “Friend of the Farm” video series on Facebook to help farmers familiarize themselves with House and Senate agriculture committee leaders.

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The annual grassroots policy development process was conducted utilizing virtual meetings and limited in-person meetings to maintain input from members while following safety protocols.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Growth & Service

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Met and exceeded membership quota by ending the membership year Oct. 31 with 129,986 paid members.

The goal set by American Farm Bureau Federation was 129,373. The end-of-the-year numbers were just 14 shy of a 130,000 stretch goal.

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Created and launched a new service corporation website, products.vafb.com, which lists the 1,800 products stocked in the Henrico County warehouse. The website is currently for informational purposes only; members must place orders by calling 800-476-8473 or purchasing through a Farm Bureau products dealer.

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Successfully helped plan and execute 85 county annual meetings—70 of which were virtual. Online meetings are a new concept for county Farm Bureaus, but they were able to successfully elect new officers and develop policies for consideration at the state level.

News and Media Relations

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VFBF produced 32 regularly scheduled large-scale communications pieces—24 episodes of the Real Virginia television program, and quarterly issues of Virginia Farm Bureau News and Cultivate magazines.

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VFBF Young Farmers held their first hybrid summer conference that included two in-person locations and online programming that allowed individuals to participate from home. Speakers were broadcast live to all registrants and on Facebook, and this new format opened the door to top speakers who may not have been shared with as many people in a normal year.

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Communications staff wrote and distributed nine special summer series news updates to producer members between Memorial Day and Labor Day— three emailed newsletters and six e-newsletters.

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In more than 1,000 instances, ongoing outreach to news professionals resulted in print and broadcast media outlets sharing news about Farm Bureau; commentary from the organization’s members, leaders and staff; and news about the State Fair of Virginia.

Young Farmers Leadership Development

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A Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmer was named the winner of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet in January, and a Virginia couple was named first runnerup in the AFBF Achievement Award competition.

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VFBF Young Farmers were the first in the nation to hold a virtual Youth Discussion Meet contest and followed that up with virtual VFBF Young Farmers and Collegiate Discussion Meets. Awards ceremonies for those contests were broadcast live on Facebook and reached more than 1,000 viewers—many more than they would have in person. Young Farmers also held virtual networking sessions to discuss issues related to farming during the pandemic. That led to a new series aimed at VFBF youth and collegiate Young Farmers called “Difficult Conversations in Agriculture.”

Agricultural Education

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Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom launched a virtual learning platform for educators and families. Available resources include online lessons and activities and virtual farm tours on the AITC Facebook page and YouTube channel. Two features are posted each week, providing a connection to agriculture for both in-person and virtual classrooms.

2 “Farm Bureau is the most widely recognized organization that constantly promotes, educates and advocates for the vast agriculture industry.”

— Dwayne Forrest, Culpeper County Farm Bureau

Pamela Hall of Isle of Wight County represented Virginia as the 2020 Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year and then was named a National Agriculture in the Classroom Teaching in Excellence Award recipient.

Virginia AITC Programs Director Tammy Maxey also gained national recognition when she was elected National AITC president in June.

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Virginia AITC awarded 82 grants to 63 localities to provide over 22,000 students with an agricultural experience. Projects ranged from hydroponics and garden expansion to STEM and animal agriculture activities. Several educators received grants reflecting the virtual learning initiatives in place for their school divisions. vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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VFBF

| 2020

year in review

Women’s Program Outreach

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Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Program participants took part in Legislative Day and, along with Young Farmers and Farm Bureau staff, helped serve over 600 lunches to elected officials.

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County Farm Bureau women’s committees hosted PB&J food drives across the state, collecting a cumulative 4,306 pounds of food and $3,367 in monetary donations.

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Although the spring conference had to be canceled, the Women’s Leadership Committee still recognized its Outstanding Woman in Agriculture, Distinguished Farm Bureau Woman and Farm Bureau Ambassador.

Winners were announced in the April issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News, and news outlets were notified in their communities.

“Bob & I have been members since 1983. I have been county president for 13 years after serving on the state Women’s Committee for 20 years. I appreciate the legislative process and telling the story that the American farmer is raising the food and fiber for the world population.”

— Joanne Burkholder, Greene County Farm Bureau

15,000 people attended the event. Visits were timed in two-hour sessions to meet COVID-19 requirements for public gatherings. On the second fair food weekend, a modified youth livestock show was held simultaneously, and a record amount of money was raised for the State Fair scholarship program through the annual Sale of Champions.

The Meadow Event Park and State Fair of Virginia

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When COVID-19 forced businesses to shut down, The Meadow Event Park staff joined forces with venue management representatives in the region and poured hundreds of hours into planning a State Fair of Virginia. The event eventually had to be canceled, but MEP gained the respect of state health officials and the public for making a wise decision.

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A staff of five planned and executed a successful fair food drive-in event. Over six days and two weekends,

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

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Facility rentals remained strong, and construction of the new Farm Credit Pavilion began in the spring. In October, American Kennel Club dog competitions were held for 14 straight days. A full slate of equine events was held, and the Illuminate Light Show ran from Nov. 13 through January 2021.

VFBF president praises organization’s accomplishments; delegates elect officers, directors

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uring a modified annual meeting of county Farm Bureau delegates in December, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor said he’s proud of the accomplishments of farmers and his organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite about 85% of Farm Bureau employees being forced to work from home during the pandemic, he reported that quick and efficient service to members has continued.

One mark of confidence was reached at the end of October, when the organization reached 129,986 members, several hundred above this year’s goal.

Pryor also noted that more needs to be done to give farmers and rural Virginians access to high-speed internet service.

“Just like farms needed electricity and phone service a century ago, rural Virginia will not fully thrive without broadband internet,” he told the assembled delegates. “The nation’s modern economy is totally dependent on this essential service, and anyone offline is missing connections to buyers, suppliers, news, educational resources and vital medical services.”

Pryor, Sink, Hundley re-elected

County Farm Bureau delegates elected Pryor, who farms in Goochland County, to an eighth term as VFBF president. Scott E. Sink of Franklin County was re-elected to a fifth term as vice president. A. Faye Hundley of Essex County was re-elected to a third term as state Women’s Leadership Committee chairman.

LINDY TUCKER FIMON

JEANNIE L. DUDDING

Lunenburg County producer will represent Young Farmers

Lindy Tucker Fimon of Warfield was elected Dec. 5 to a two-year term as chairman of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee.

Elections of officers and directors were held during the VFBF 2020 Annual Meeting of Voting Delegates.

The VFBF Young Farmers Committee chairman also serves on the organization’s board of directors.

Fimon, a Kenbridge native, has worked for Virginia Cooperative Extension in Lunenburg County as an agriculture and natural resources agent since 2012. She also works on Rome Farm, her family’s cow-calf operation in Brunswick and Lunenburg counties, where they raise beef cattle and grow hay.

She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil environmental science with minors in agriculture and applied economics, and leadership and social change. She earned a master’s degree in plant science and pest management from Virginia Tech in 2015.

Craig County cattlewoman elected to Farm Bureau board Jeannie L. Dudding of Craig County was elected Dec. 5 to a three-

year term on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors representing District 4.

As a board member, Dudding will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Alleghany, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Roanoke counties.

Dudding serves as the Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Giles County. She previously was an agriculture teacher at Giles High School in Pearisburg and an agriscience teacher at North Fork Middle School in Quicksburg.

She currently serves as president of the Craig County Farm Bureau and has served on that organization’s board for the past 14 years. She also has been involved with the Craig Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee and served as its chairman for two years. In 2013 Dudding won the VFBF Young Farmers Discussion Meet, and in 2015 she was named Farm Woman of the Year by the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.

Dudding holds a master’s degree in career and technical education from Virginia Tech and bachelor’s degrees in animal science and education from the University of Connecticut.

She and her husband, Jason, own an Angus cow-calf operation.

Re-elected directors

• District 1: Emily F. Edmondson, Tazewell County • District 7: Thomas E. Graves, Orange County • District 10: Robert J. Mills Jr., Pittsylvania County • District 13: M.L. Everett Jr., Southampton County vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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Young Farmers win statewide accolades Wythe County farmer named Achievement Award winner Matthew Heldreth of Wythe County has been named the 2020 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Achievement Award winner.

Heldreth was recognized on social media Nov. 30 after a virtual competition was held.

The Achievement Award honors young farmers who are successful in production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm.

Heldreth and his wife, Shelbie, manage a beef cattle operation at Heldreth Farms, with 350 cow-calf pairs on 1,200 acres. He serves as chairman of the Wythe County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee.

Heldreth will receive one year’s use of a Kubota tractor of his choice; a farm utility vehicle from Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.; and cash awards of $1,000 from Farm Credit, $500 from VFBF and $500 from Chesterfield County Farm Bureau. He will compete for the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award in January during the 2021 AFBF Virtual Convention.

Wythe County ag educators win Excellence in Agriculture Award Jonathan and Kelsey Grimes of Wythe County have been named this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 10

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award winners. The Grimeses were recognized Oct. 14 in a live announcement on the VFBF Young Farmers Facebook page.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes individuals and couples for involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. The Grimeses were runners-up for the 2019 award.

Jonathan Grimes is an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Fort Chiswell High School in Wythe County. Kelsey Grimes is a Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H agent in Wythe County. The Grimeses represent the New River Valley region on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee.

The Grimeses will compete for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award in January during the 2021 AFBF Virtual Convention.

Orange County agriculturalist wins Young Farmers Discussion Meet Jacob Gilley of Orange County took top honors Oct. 21 in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers Discussion Meet, a virtual event this year.

The Discussion Meet competition is designed to simulate a committee meeting in which discussion and active participation are expected from each contestant. Competitors are judged on their discussion skills, ability to

build consensus and understanding important agricultural issues.

Gilley, his wife, Jennifer, and their three children currently own and operate JG Livestock, which includes a commercial flock of hair sheep, feeder pigs, pastured broilers and brood cows, and they background cattle. In addition, they sell meat locally through the Heaven’s Hollow Farm brand. Gilley is vice president of the Orange County Farm Bureau, and he and his wife serve on the VFBF state Young Farmers Committee.

Gilley will compete on the national level in January during the 2021 AFBF Virtual Convention.

Southside Virginia Community College student wins Collegiate Discussion Meet Díaz Tompkins, a student at Southside Virginia Community College, earned first place in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Collegiate Young Farmers Discussion Meet, held virtually Oct. 21.

The Collegiate Discussion Meet competition is designed to simulate a committee meeting in which discussion and active participation are expected from each student contestant. Competitors are judged on their discussion skills, understanding of important agricultural issues and ability to build consensus.

Tompkins plans to pursue degrees in agribusiness and intellectual property.

He will represent Virginia in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet, to be held virtually in March 2021.

Virginia reporters win VFBF journalism awards

Forty county Farm Bureaus, FFA chapters, 4-H clubs and businesses in Virginia created a variety of displays with hay bales to compete in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Hay Bale Decorating Contest.

Winners of the sixth annual competition, which is sponsored by the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee, are: • Best agribusiness, FFA or 4-H display: Wade’s Orchard in Patrick County • Best promotional display for agriculture business or commodity: Louisa County 4-H Livestock Club • Best agriculture-themed display: Three Rivers Soil and Water Conservation District in Essex County • Most creative display: Botetourt County 4-H Livestock Club • Best promotional display for community spirit: Fluvanna County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee

County Farm Bureaus win Awards of Excellence Carroll County Farm Bureau received a first-place Virginia Farm Bureau Federation County Award of Excellence this past November. President Bennie Quesenberry led an effort to educate the county board of supervisors on the importance of land use assessment to farmers. As a result of the organization’s call-to-action campaign, the county land use assessment program remains intact.

King William County Farm Bureau, led by President Charles Piersa, received second place in the County Awards of Excellence. The county raised $4,300 to provide residents in need with gift certificates to local restaurants, which helped six establishments and 36 families.

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Groups win awards for creative hay bale displays

Casey Fabris, a business reporter for The Roanoke Times, captured Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2020 IsheeQuann Award for Media Excellence, the top honor in Farm Bureau’s annual Journalism Awards program. Fabris also won in the award program’s daily newspaper category. She has been a reporter at The Roanoke Times since 2015.

The Ishee-Quann Award is named in part for Jeff Ishee, who operates On the Farm, a daily, web-based farm news service, and who is a former serial recipient of VFBF Journalism Awards. The late Homer Quann was WSVA Harrisonburg radio’s farm news director for several decades and was known as the most dedicated agricultural reporter in Virginia.

Other 2020 VFBF Journalism Award winners are: • Weekly and semiweekly newspapers: Kilmarnock-based Rappahannock Record and the Greene County Record of Stanardsville tied.

• Television: Morning anchor Neesey Payne of WDBJ7 in Roanoke.

• Radio: Operations Manager Frank Wilt of WSVA in Harrisonburg.

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11

Survey will document farmers’ conservation measures

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ata from a new agricultural best management practices survey will help document Virginia farmers’ voluntary soil and water conservation efforts.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation will send a survey link to producer members in the Chesapeake Bay watershed counties; producers are asked to complete the survey by March 4.

“It is so important that farmers fill out the survey,” said Martha Moore, VFBF vice president of governmental relations. “We have never had manpower to be able to comprehensively collect this information. We have always said that farmers are utilizing more conservation practices than what is reported into the Chesapeake Bay model. This survey will help prove this fact.”

Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed must meet certain nutrient reduction goals by 2025 to avoid mandatory conservation practices. The “Voluntary Agricultural Best Management Practices Inventory” will collect details about voluntary farm practices like planting cover crops, installing stream fencing for livestock, and applying nutrient management plans.

The confidential survey was designed by members of Virginia’s Voluntary Agricultural Best Management Practices Task Force—a group of representatives from federal and state agencies and organizations, including Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Survey results will be collected by Virginia Cooperative Extension to ensure participants’ privacy. Extension will integrate verified survey results into the state’s reports to the Environmental Protection Agency for documenting nutrient reduction loads required under Virginia’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan.

Outstanding young agriculturalists urged to apply for 2020 competition The application deadline for high school juniors or seniors interested in competing for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist award is March 31.

The annual award recognizes youth for outstanding academic, community and agribusiness achievements.

County-level winners will be notified in early May. The state winner will receive a cash scholarship of $1,500 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and the VFBF Young Farmers Committee.

For complete rules and a registration form, visit bit.ly/OYAapplication.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Thousands of pounds of food donated through PB&J collections The numbers are in! County Farm Bureau women’s committees collected a cumulative 4,306 pounds of food and $3,367 in monetary donations.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2020, the committees organized food drives to help the hungry in their communities with a classic lunchtime staple—peanut butter and jelly.

Sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee, the food drives collected peanut butter, jelly and other nonperishable food items to help support regional food banks, local food pantries and Virginia families.

Peanut butter is among food banks’ most-requested sources of protein.

Warehouse products help farmers work more efficiently When the weather gets cold, it’s sometimes uncomfortable working in farm shops. But Farm Bureau members can heat their shops with a VAL6 radiant heater—now available through the VFB Products Division.

The heaters run on diesel or kerosene, produce heat quickly at the touch of a button and produce almost no smoke or odor, said Bill Latane, VFB director of member benefits. There are two sizes in stock at the Farm Bureau warehouse: one with a 9-gallon fuel tank; and one with a 15-gallon fuel tank.

Latane said the warehouse also is stocking tire valves, stems, patches, boots and mounting compound for those who change their own tires, or want to start doing so.

Liquitube Premium Tire Sealant helps prevent flat tires by sealing up to a ¼-inch puncture in standard tires and up to a ⅝-inch puncture in industrial tires. The sealant stays liquid in the tire, won’t rust the rim and can be washed out with a regular garden hose if you change the tire because it’s worn out, Latane said. “There simply is no better product available.”

Members can check out some of these products Feb. 26 during a planned spring open house at the Henrico County warehouse. If COVID-19 restrictions prevent that from happening, a special member appreciation week with discounted prices will be available the last week of February.

“As that event gets closer, further information will be emailed to our members with addresses on file,” noted Latane.

In the meantime, he’s encouraging farmers to consider their baler twine, net wrap and silage wrap needs.

Visit products.vafb.com to view the inventory of over 1,800 different products. To place an order, call 800476-8473.

Keep uninvited guests from hogging the birdseed Spice things up

BY ALICE KEMP

T

“You can get birdseed already premixed with hot pepper,” Viette said. “Squirrels can’t stand it.”

Birds don’t have the same taste receptors as mammals so spicy seed doesn’t bother them. Homeowners can purchase it premixed or mix their own birdseed with hot pepper.

However, some don’t like to use it because they claim it can irritate squirrels’ eyes, Viette noted.

erry Lautzenheiser laughs when she thinks about the extreme lengths to which she and her husband, John, have gone to keep squirrels away from their bird feeder.

They tried hanging it high off their elevated screened porch, which was inconvenient to squirrels, but the Lautzenheisers couldn’t access it without dragging out a big ladder.

So, John Lautzenheiser devised a workaround. “He cut a window within the screen itself that he can open and shut,” explained Terry Lautzenheiser, the horticulture technician for Virginia Cooperative Extension in Henrico County. Opening the custom window, he reaches out with a specially-made hanger to take the feeder down for refilling.

“He’s an engineer,” she chuckled. “It’s been funny.”

Outsmart the squirrels

From elaborate obstacle courses to spinning bungee-jumping apparatuses, people have invented hilariously ingenious ways to keep squirrels out of bird feeders.

Backyard birders get frustrated when their feathered friends are pushed away by squirrels. Additionally, purchasing pricey, specialty birdseed only to have squirrels dominate the feeder is money down the drain.

Some bird feeders are made specifically to keep squirrels out.

Lautzenheiser said she bought her feeder for its weight-sensitive closing mechanism—birds are light enough to perch, but a squirrel’s heavier weight triggers the seed ports to close.

“That’s what’s worked best for us,” she said.

Horticulturalist Mark Viette went a different route and customized his bird feeder using plastic-coated chicken

Other tips:

Squirrels can jump far!

Weight-sensitive bird feeders, like this one hanging at Terry and John Lautzenheiser’s home, are effective at keeping squirrels out of the birdseed.

wire he purchased from a hardware store.

“You can make a box and put it over the feeder,” he explained. The holes are just large enough for birds to get into, but too small for squirrels.

Viette also added a separate feeder just for squirrels that he placed 100 to 200 feet away from the others.

“Squirrel feed tends to be inexpensive and is based more with a mixture of sunflower, corn and other foods,” he said. “Some people like the squirrels, but you can feed them away from your other feeders.”

Round, slick metal baffles are another option. Attaching underneath or above a feeder, they can block a ravenous rodent from climbing on.

• Keep bird feeders up high, in an open area and away from branches or anything a squirrel could use as a jumping point to get access to the feeder.

• Consider your seed choice; birds love Nyjer and safflower seed, but squirrels will avoid it.

Don’t forget the water Just as important as the birdseed is making sure birds have a source of water like a birdbath, especially in communities where there’s no natural water source.

For wintertime, there are heated birdbaths available, or you can use a birdbath warmer (Some are solar-powered) to keep the water from freezing.

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Members of the inaugural VALOR class are pictured in front of Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. While in the country, class members learned valuable agricultural lessons.

EXPERIENCE V OF A LIFETIME VALOR program broadens scope of agriculture at home and abroad

BY NICOLE ZEMA

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

irginia agriculturalists become more effective when they take a walk in other farmers’ boots.

Every step through Virginia’s back forty and beyond is a transformative experience for those seeking first-hand knowledge to become agricultural advocates and industry leaders.

Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results, or VALOR, is a two-year program that develops leaders who can engage, promote and create collaborative solutions for all segments of Virginia agriculture.

It’s an intensive journey. In two years, each class of VALOR fellows completes 12 experiential seminars that include eight trips touring Virginia’s agricultural regions, a stateside and international excursion, and two capitol seminars. The range of experiences

aims to develop leadership skills, so fellows can perpetuate a sustainable future for Virginia’s agricultural community.

Five classes are now alumni of the program since it was initiated in 2012

by Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. But what happens in VALOR doesn’t stay in VALOR, and a couple of its fellows want to share their experiences.

HUNTER RICHARDSON Producer of row crops, cattle and timber King and Queen County Farm Bureau VALOR Inaugural Class VALOR Director Dr. Megan Seibel thought Hunter Richardson would be a good candidate for the inaugural class, and she was right.

“It’s a program that pushed

me outside of my comfort zone,” Richardson said. “I needed that—it’s how you grow as a leader.”

His class visited several farm operations including dairy, cheese and fruit production and processing in Michigan, and farm chemical research and renewable energy operation in Indiana.

“We stayed with farm families overnight and got to know them on a personal level, instead of being in hotel rooms,” Richardson said. “That was an added level of experience. Each stop provided a front row seat to challenges and solutions to issues.”

The international trip to Argentina was rife with discovery, and fabulous wines. But Richardson noticed how much land is dedicated to raising beef, corn and soybeans, without the benefit of precision agriculture technologies that increase yields back home.

“I felt a sense in Argentina that things are slower-paced, and there were a lot of challenges with revenue,” he said. “What I was left with— Argentina has a tremendous amount of potential in production, but the economic situation at the time was a limiting factor.”

The leadership principals developed through VALOR, “allow us to leave with a sharpened sword,” Richardson said. “And I’m grateful for that.”

SHELLEY BARLOW Cotton, soybean and corn farmer Nansemond County Farm Bureau VALOR Class II VALOR’s international component offered big-picture perspective of the vastness of global agriculture, said Shelley Barlow. She said the agricultural threads stitched throughout Vietnam’s cultural tapestry made a profound impression on her.

“Stepping out of Virginia, it’s pretty overwhelming—the reach of agriculture in the whole world,” Barlow recalled. “Vietnam is about the size of California, but very crowded, and they don’t leave any fertile ground

“The great thing about the program is that it’s twofold—a leadership development program, but also specifically revolving around agriculture.

You get to learn about the practical aspects of the industry and new innovations, while also learning about what’s going on in your own backyard, applying better overall understanding of what agriculture looks like in Virginia. It’s such a great opportunity to get out on farms and talk to producers about what challenges they are facing. Particularly for me in governmental relations, having a practical understanding about the issues in the field helps me when I’m lobbying or talking to legislators, because I have that experience to draw on, and first-hand stories to relay to them when they are making policy decisions.”

Stefanie Taillon Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Governmental Relations VALOR Class IV

unused. A whole backyard would be orange trees, coffee trees or pepper plants. It made me very conscious of how much our country is landscaped for landscaping’s sake, and not being used to produce.”

She admitted having “tunnel vision with an individual operation. It’s not a bad thing to be finely tuned in on cotton production, but this helped me take a step back. Travel broadens your mind and opinion of things.”

Her class also visited Florida Brahman cattle ranches dotted with palm trees, and saw sugarcane harvested and processed in a refinery.

“It was unlike anything we’d ever seen,” Barlow said. “The equipment and techniques are so different than anything we do here.”

Barlow is compelled to talk about her experiences as a VALOR fellow.

“Having been through this program, it’s almost a mandate to be willing to talk about it, and be a voice for agriculture,” she said. “I take that very seriously.”

Want to become a VALOR fellow? Applicants must: • Be a Virginia resident, contribute to each module and complete outside assignments.

• Complete a two-part application for review by a selection committee. Interviews will be scheduled with selected applicants. Up to 20 participants are selected for each class.

• Demonstrate leadership abilities and potential through their organizations, political actions and communities.

• Contribute $5,000 toward the cost of the program, which is valued at approximately $20,000. Class members are permitted to have the tuition subsidized by employers or other entities.

To apply or learn more about VALOR, visit valor.alce.vt.edu. vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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NICOLE ZEMA

Clockwise from left: Lunenburg County farmer Cecil Shell and his son, Cecil Jr., grow tobacco, small grains and vegetables; Díaz Tompkins has won awards for crops he has grown; and Nayeli Beltran harvests fruits and vegetables for Norma’s Produce in Colonial Beach.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

DIVERSITY IN AG

Growing diversity reflects changing face of agriculture

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Their numbers may be small, but minority farmers are an important part of the state’s agricultural composition. This is the first article in a series that explores different segments of minority farm operations in Virginia.

The U.S. Census of Agriculture has been surveying the race and ethnic origin of principal farm operators since 2007. The census tracks the number of American Indian, Asian, Black, Hawaiian, Latino, women and veteran farmers managing U.S. farms.

Growing representation

D

Increasingly diverse face of agriculture is reflected on Virginia farms íaz Tompkins’ signature cowboy hat hints at his agricultural roots—a multinational heritage he is cultivating into a legacy of

his own.

“I take pride that my grandparents and parents are Native American, Spanish and African—a cultural palette of history and customs,” said Chesterfield County’s Tompkins, who won the 2020 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Collegiate Discussion Meet.

Tompkins represents an upward trend in farm diversity, reflected in data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture. The number of Black farmers is up 5% since 2012.

Virginia is ranked 10th, with 1,767 Black producers. The number of Hispanic farmers is up 8% nationally, with 845 Latino producers in Virginia.

Generations carry on Cecil E. Shell, a Lunenburg County Farm Bureau member and one of the Black farmers counted in the census, was born and raised on the land where his dad

farmed and ran a sawmill. Shell now grows dark fire-cured tobacco, timber, soybeans, wheat and vegetables in Kenbridge with his son, Cecil Jr. “He raises grain, and we work the tobacco together. He does most of the work though,” Shell joked. His son will continue the family’s agricultural tradition, securing diverse representation in the next generation of Virginia’s farming community.

Shell said there are few Black farmers in the area, which he attributes to economy of scale.

“It takes more acreage to survive unless you have some type of specialty crop,” he said. The Shells eliminated flue-cured tobacco production two years ago, as profit margins narrowed. “If a young farmer wanted to raise flue-cured tobacco, they need enough land, but they won’t survive with 10 acres, and might not make as much off 20 acres as we did 30 years ago. And price support has not gone up with the cost of producing the crop.”

Faltering commodity prices, equipment costs and a lack of federal support to mitigate price fluctuations make it

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within the industry. He wants to focus on intellectual property and copyright regulations in law school, and ultimately help farmers market their inventions, while working globally to protect private and government interests.

“Agriculture is the first curriculum to all curriculums,” Tompkins said.

“And is the only profession that is the backbone of all professions.”

hard for farmers to get by, especially without the benefit of generational wealth.

“I wish more people would understand what farmers have to go through,” Shell said. “But we’ll keep on trying.”

A family affair Dora and Leopoldo Beltran, previously migrant farmworkers from Mexico, are associated with the bounty of produce grown in Westmoreland County. They operate 60-acre Penn Farm in Colonial Beach, where their family grows fruits and vegetables and sells them at farmers markets in Virginia and Maryland through Norma’s Produce—the namesake of their oldest child.

The family is a workforce unto itself, balancing careers, parenthood, school and military service with farm work and yearround farmers markets.

“We try to grow as many different varieties of veggies as we can, from asparagus to zucchini,” Dora Beltran said.

The previous owner of Penn Farm retired 15 years ago, and the Beltrans took over.

“He gave us the chance to rent and work for ourselves,” Dora Beltran said.

“Now we own part of the farm, and we rent from the owner’s family. We learned a lot along the way.”

The Beltrans are grateful for their opportunities, and they give back. They donated more than 1,000 vegetable boxes through local partnerships in 2020.

Young farmer faces the future For Tompkins, agriculture is a teacher. Its lessons are rooted in his genes, and are flourishing through connections in Virginia’s agriculture community.

Previous generations of Tompkins’ family raised cattle and farmed in El Salvador before moving to the U.S. “My grandmother had lots of land, horses and crops to take care of everyone,” Tompkins said. “My 18

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

CENSUS PROVIDES SNAPSHOT OF BLACK, LATINO FARMERS According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2017 Census of Agriculture:

Leopoldo Beltran and his niece, Victoria, prepare produce for the farmers market.

Inset: Dora Beltran was a migrant farmworker from Mexico. Now the Beltrans operate Norma’s Produce in Westmoreland County.

grandfather would plant a large harvest, and he allowed 4-H to use some of his land to grow crops that would later be entered into county fair competitions.”

Tompkins said he has worked and volunteered at farms across Virginia, and cattle farms in the Virgin Islands.

He has grown his own maize to make tortillas, and won competitions for collards, peppers, tomatoes, mints and sweet potatoes. Tompkins also has experience raising poultry and growing berries.

“Working on the farm, having a farm and using farm assets to promote positive change is in my DNA—from my grandparents who would plant and sell at big markets, to my uncles who plant and drive the big rigs to markets across Central America for U.S. exports,” he said.

Tompkins, a student at Southside Virginia Community College, was a VFBF Outstanding Young Agriculturalist finalist in 2018. Young Farmers events and contests exposed him to the range of career possibilities

•4 8,697 U.S. producers identify as Black.

•B lack farmers account for 1.4% of the country’s 3.4 million producers, farming primarily in southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

•O n average, Black farmers were older than the average U.S. producer.

•B lack-owned farms are typically smaller than the national average, and the value of their agriculture sales is less than 1% of the U.S. total.

•V irginia ranks in the top 10 states for the number of Black farmers.

•T he 2017 census counted 112,451 U.S. producers who identify as Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish origin.

•L atino producers account for 3.3% of the country’s 3.4 million producers, mostly farming in Texas, California, New Mexico and Florida.

•L atino farmers are typically younger than the national average and more likely to have recently started farming.

•H ispanic-operated farms accounted for 5.6% of U.S. agriculture sales and 3.6% of U.S. farmland.

New year is opportune time to review farmowner policies

BY ADAM CULLER

A

new year is a time for renewed optimism, and for farmowners it also is an opportune time to review insurance coverage.

“As events unfolded last year, the COVID-19 pandemic certainly had an impact on farming across the board,” said Scott DeNoon, farm product and underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “If you experienced any changes to your operation in the past year, whether you expanded or downsized, it’s absolutely crucial to review your farmowner policy with your Farm Bureau agent.”

When contacting your agent, it’s important to review all aspects of your farming operation, such as your residence and related private structures, personal property, farm structures and farming equipment.

Your agent should be apprised of any additions, modifications or remodels made to residences and structures that may have affected their value. In most cases, additional coverage is needed for any increases in value.

Coverage for farming equipment should be reviewed regularly to ensure all equipment is protected on your policy, and that the equipment is properly rated based on usage and current market value. A coverage review will ensure that the policyholder has enough insurance to replace expensive equipment in the event of a loss.

Most importantly, regular meetings with your agent can help identify any coverage gaps before a devastating loss occurs.

“If you were to experience a loss to any type of property, you want to make sure there’s no question about whether you had the proper insurance in place,” DeNoon said. “Reviewing your policies

Farmowner policies help protect land, buildings and equipment.

mainly is about peace of mind, knowing that if something unforeseeable happens you won’t have to worry and wonder if everything was covered.”

DeNoon recommends policyholders meet with their local Farm Bureau agents once a year, or whenever they make major additions or reductions to their farms.

“Our agents are aware of the challenges faced by farmers in their areas,” he said. “They’re going to provide personal service, and our customers are going to receive coverage that’s tailored to meet the specific needs of their farms.”

Keep tabs on your assets with a home inventory The best way to be prepared for a substantial property loss is to keep an up-to-date inventory of items located inside your home.

Maintaining an accurate list of your possessions will allow you to purchase the correct insurance policies, and it can help ensure items aren’t left uncovered. The information included in a home inventory also can help with the claims process in the event of a loss, and can serve as proof of value.

“At the time of a loss, the chances of you remembering everything that you own is going to be slim,” DeNoon said.

“A home inventory checklist makes everything easier,” he added. “One thing a claims person is going to ask for is a personal property inventory—a

list of what you had and what you lost.

Rather than having to think about it, having that checklist is going to make a stressful situation a whole lot easier.”

To start your own home inventory, here’s how to get started: • Document your possessions with photos or videos of your belongings, making note of brand names, models and serial numbers. Keep and record receipts from major purchases to provide proof of value.

When cataloging clothing, count the number of items you own for each category—shirts, pants, shoes, etc.

• Use VBFMIC’s home inventory checklist to document the contents of each room in your house. Be sure to catalog items located in closets and drawers, and remember to include any property kept in storage facilities. Download VFBMIC’s home inventory checklist here: bit.ly/VFBinventory.

•O nce your checklist is complete, store it somewhere other than inside your home to protect it from damage or theft. If the inventory is digital, back it up and keep a copy on an external hard drive or a secure online storage account.

As you purchase more items, get into the habit of adding those items to your home inventory and contact your insurance agent to ensure all personal property is covered.

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SM

How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? named AITC Book of the Year

V

irginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program has selected How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? by Chris Butterworth as its 2021 AITC Book of the Year. Volunteers will present books to schools and participate in virtual readings during the annual Agriculture Literacy Week, planned for March 15-19.

“This book takes a unique peek inside a student’s lunchbox and shares the true farmto-table journey,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC programs director. “Readers can visit farms around the country to learn the source of some of our favorite foods—from fruits and vegetables, to sandwiches and desserts.”

Virginia AITC began celebrating Agriculture Literacy Week in 2011 and is now in its 11th year. It is the program’s largest educational event, with approximately 2,000 volunteers reading to 60,000 children statewide. The week provides students with an opportunity to learn about agriculture, farming and the sources of their food.

The How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? bundle is available for purchase at $10 each, which includes the book, an educator’s guide and poster. Order forms are located on the AITC website.

Volunteers are encouraged to share agriculture’s story by presenting a book to a class or library and virtually reading the book to children in prekindergarten through third grade.

Agriculture Literacy Week volunteers include county Farm Bureau volunteers, Farm Bureau Women’s and Young Farmers committee members, FFA and 4-H participants, partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies, and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been major supporters as well.

For details or to order books, visit AgInTheClass.org.

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom awards $29,000 in grants for educational projects

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irginia Agriculture in the Classroom has awarded 62 grants to 44 Virginia localities for the 2020-21 school year. Funding will be allocated to provide 22,000 youth with agriculture experiences related to gardening, animal agriculture, STEM, health, nutrition and leadership development.

“Grant applications for 2020 reflected the needs for both hands-on and virtual learning,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC programs director. “Projects represented a wide range of plant and animal educational projects—from the creation of division-wide virtual agriscience videos to revitalizing school gardens. We are pleased to have representation from pre-k through 12th -grade educators from across the commonwealth.”

Grants were received by: • Amelia County: Amelia County High School • Amherst County: Amherst Middle School

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

• Appomattox County: Appomattox Elementary School and Appomattox High School • Augusta County: Valley Career and Technical Center • Bristol: Virginia High School • Buckingham County: Central Virginia Christian School • Campbell County: William Campbell Combined School • Caroline County: Bowling Green Elementary School and Madison Elementary School • Charlotte County: Randolph-Henry High School • Chesapeake: Deep Creek Central Elementary School and Great Bridge High School • Chesterfield County: Ecoff Elementary School, J.G. Hening Elementary School and Chesterfield Career and Technical Center • Covington: Edgemont Primary School • Culpeper County: Culpeper Middle School and Floyd T. Binns Middle School

•F auquier County: Liberty High School • Fluvanna County: Fluvanna Middle School •F ranklin County: Ferrum Elementary School •F rederick County: Sherando High School • Fredericksburg: Walker-Grant Center •G iles County: Macy McClaugherty Elementary/Middle School and Giles Virginia Cooperative Extension •G loucester County: Achilles Elementary School •G reensville County: Greensville/ Emporia 4-H • Hampton: Hunter B. Andrews PreK8 School and Phillips Elementary School • Harrisonburg: Lacey Spring Elementary School •H enrico County: Saint Mary’s Catholic School •H enry County: Bassett High School • I sle of Wight County: Windsor High School and Isle of Wight Academy

• Lee County: Thomas Walker High School and Lee County Career and Technical Center • Louisa County: Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Trevilians Elementary School and Louisa County High School • Lancaster/Northumberland County: Lancaster/Northumberland 4-H • Orange County: Orange Elementary School and Orange County High School Motorists in Virginia now face fines for using a hand-held device while driving.

• Pittsylvania County: Dan River High School • Powhatan County: Powhatan Middle School • Pulaski County: Pulaski County High School • Richmond County: Rappahannock High School • Rockingham County: J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, East Rockingham High School and Spotswood High School • Russell County: Honaker High School • Shenandoah County: North Fork Middle School • Southampton County: Southampton Middle School • Staunton: Bessie Weller Elementary School • Suffolk: Lakeland High School and Suffolk Public Schools • Virginia Beach: Children’s Learning Paradise, Hermitage Elementary School and Montessori Academy of Virginia • Warren County: Skyline High School • Washington County: Holston High School • Wythe County: Fort Chiswell High School Agriculture in the Classroom is a national program that promotes greater understanding of agriculture through education. The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a nonprofit organization that receives financial and administrative support from Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. For more information visit AgInTheClass.org.

HEADS UP: Cellphone use while driving is now illegal in Virginia

A

BY ADAM CULLER

new Virginia law banning the use of cellphones while driving is in effect, and Drive Smart Virginia is reminding motorists of the consequences of distracted driving.

The mandate was signed by Gov. Ralph Northam on July 8, 2020, and went into effect Jan. 1., making Virginia the 22nd state to ban the use of hand-held devices while driving. The law now prohibits drivers from holding any personal communication devices while driving a moving vehicle on the state’s roadways.

According to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles 2019 crash statistics, distracted driving caused 23,246 accidents and 120 fatal crashes. Those figures represent 18.1% of all crashes and 14.5% of all fatalities on Virginia roadways.

Virginia DMV statistics from 2018 revealed that the jurisdictions with the most distracted driving crashes were Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Newport News. The counties with the most fatalities were Prince William, Fairfax, Fauquier, Hanover and Spotsylvania.

“Thousands of Virginians are involved in crashes every year, and distracted driving is a factor in many of those crashes,” said David Tenembaum, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. actuarial manager and treasurer of Drive Smart Virginia.

“Manipulating a cellphone while driving increases your crash risk by 2,300% because it involves all three kinds of distractions—manual, visual and cognitive.

Help us save lives by putting your phone down.”

Drivers who violate the new law will be subject to a $125 fine for the first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense. Violations that occur in highway work zones also will carry a $250 fine.

It still is permissible to use hands-free technology to make or receive phone calls while driving—the ban only prohibits drivers from directly handling their devices.

If drivers must use their phones while traveling, they must be lawfully parked or stopped to do so.

Drivers using a hand-held device to report an emergency are exempt, as are the operators of emergency vehicles who are engaged in their official duties. Motorists also may handle amateur or citizens band radios.

For more information, visit phonedown.org. vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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Faull pets a potbelly pig that is recovering after being neutered.

Dr. Cassie Faull, a veterinarian with Old Dominion Veterinary Services, prepares anesthesia before neutering four miniature pot-bellied pigs at Schoeman Farmette in Stafford County. Ray Madamba, pictured in the background, gathered with other pig-owning neighbors so Faull could perform multiple procedures in one afternoon.

Faull leads a calf to the barn for horn disbudding, escorted by Savannah Schoeman, 9. Horns are often removed from calves to prevent harm to people and other animals.

GOOD MEDICINE Mobile veterinarians treat farm animals of all breeds ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA

Farmer Dale Nicholson of Poorhouse Farm in Madison County was worried about one of his calves. His cows are rarely sick, so he called Dr. Amanda Weakley-Scott, a doctor of veterinary medicine with Virginia Herd Health Management Services, in early November to come out.

When she arrived, Nicholson told her, “I hate to see a calf like this. I know something is a little bit off.”

Weakley-Scott swabbed the calf’s sinus, and treated it for pneumonia.

Just another day at the office — one that spans multiple counties in central Virginia.

It’s a dirty job, and not for the faint of heart. But Virginia’s mobile farm vets aren’t afraid of mud, blood and livestock secretions. The varied scope of work means no two days are ever the same.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Weakley-Scott’s truck serves as a mobile veterinary clinic, with multiple compartments carrying everything she needs to treat farm animals on-site.

Dr. Amanda Weakley-Scott was called to Poorhouse Farm in Madison County to examine and treat a sick calf.

Weakley-Scott performs breeding soundness exams on young bulls at Quaker Hill Farm in Louisa County. Bull semen samples are collected and then analyzed under a microscope in a makeshift barn lab.

A potbelly pig sleeps peacefully under anesthesia, held by its owner Lisa Marsden, as Faull neuters him.

Cows needing medical attention are wary but mostly cooperative with Weakley-Scott’s examination.

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Winter on the farm calls for extra safety precautions

BY ALICE KEMP

F

arming is a year-round job, and safety is important any time of year.

Jonathan Grimes, a fourthgeneration farmer in Wythe County, said he learned early on about farming in the cold months. “My grandfather always talked to me and my brother about being careful if the ground was frozen and then we got a sunny day,� he said. “The surface of the ground would thaw and be extremely slick—tractor tires wouldn’t get a good grip.�

Grimes serves on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Farm Safety Advisory Committee. He noted that, unlike passenger vehicles, tractors and other farm equipment don’t have antilock brakes. Hit the brakes too hard in icy conditions, and they can skid.

Working in cold weather presents numerous risks for a fall. Watch out for slick spots on stairs, walkways, and equipment steps and running boards.

When getting on and off equipment, maintain three-point contact; keep at least three points of contact with the machine—two hands and one foot or both feet and one hand—to maximize stability and support.

Before operating equipment at any time of the year, farmers should conduct a thorough inspection to ensure everything is in working order, top off fluids and handle any preventive maintenance.

Working in colder weather also poses a risk for hypothermia. Before heading outside, American Farm Bureau recommends, dress in at least three layers of clothing—a base layer,

an insulating middle layer, and a windand water-resistant outer layer. Wear synthetic fabrics and avoid cotton, as it absorbs moisture and dries slowly.

Keep your extremities warm with a hat, gloves and insulated, waterproof boots.

Grimes noted extra vigilance is needed when working around equipment while wearing extra layers. “That added layer of clothing could easily be caught in a power takeoff if you don’t have the shield or if you get too close while it’s turned on,� he cautioned.

Try to make the most of daylight by beginning work early, and take regular breaks indoors to warm up—use break times to sip a warm beverage and eat a high-calorie snack or meal.

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Agricultural Lending Division

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Earthquakes can cause devastating damage to homes — even in Virginia.

Avoid the financial shock of earthquake damage with proper coverage

BY ADAM CULLER

E

arthquakes can cause devastating damage to homes and, as some Virginians discovered after a quake rocked Central Virginia in 2011, an unendorsed homeowner policy won’t cover the costs.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the 5.8 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Louisa County, was the 10th costliest in U.S. history. The event caused $150 million in losses, mostly in Central Virginia and the Washington metro area, with insured losses at $50 million—a mere third of the total.

Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., explained that

unendorsed standard homeowner policies provide no coverage for earthquake damage. Earthquake coverage also is excluded on unendorsed business owner and farmowner policies.

Following the 2011 earthquake, Jeff Feagans, a Louisa County Farm Bureau insurance agent, said the county’s office was overwhelmed with calls from customers inquiring if they had coverage.

Nearly all of them did not.

“Inevitably, we had to tell customers that they didn’t have the endorsement and that [earthquake coverage] is one of the only exclusions on most people’s homeowner policies,” Feagans said, noting that county agents rarely addressed coverage when conducting

policy reviews in the past.

“That probably was the darkest period of my 32-plus years with Farm Bureau, because most of my clients are my friends,” he shared. “And having to tell them they didn’t have coverage— I’m just glad it’s over and done.”

Homeowners typically can purchase earthquake coverage for their homes if there hasn’t been a seismic event within the last 30 days. Basic earthquake coverage insures the structure of the home itself, though policyholders can purchase additional coverage for personal property inside their homes and other structures like detached garages and sheds.

Through VFBMIC policies, the cost of coverage for framed dwellings is 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, and any other type of construction is 80 cents per $1,000. Policyholders’ deductibles are 2% of their home’s assessed value.

Therefore, the annual premium to insure a framed dwelling with an assessed value of $300,000 would be $150, and $240 for other construction types. The deductible would be $6,000 for each.

Despite the added expense and the infrequency of earthquakes in Virginia, Whitus said purchasing earthquake insurance can be a worthy investment to help protect your home from the unexpected.

“Even though it had been over 100 years between major earthquakes in Virginia, imagine being a homeowner when the Louisa County earthquake hit,” Whitus said. “It would have caught you by surprise, and that isn’t the time to find out that you don’t have coverage.

“Your insurance policies should be in place to protect you from these catastrophic events—fires that can burn your house down, hurricanes that can blow your house over, and earthquakes that can demolish your home. Coverage should be purchased for the big events, and earthquakes are exactly that.”

vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

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Missed open enrollment? Here’s what to do

BY ADAM CULLER

W

hether you’re opting into employer-offered insurance benefits or purchasing health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, open enrollment periods typically are the only time to obtain health insurance in a calendar year.

While dates for businesses’ open enrollment periods may vary, the ACA open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 each year. The period to purchase coverage for 2021 concluded Dec. 15, 2020.

If you missed your open enrollment period, there still are options to secure some form of health coverage.

Through certain life events you may qualify for a special enrollment period, which allows a person to sign up for health insurance outside of

conventional open enrollment periods.

According to Healthcare.gov, qualifying events include getting married; having a child; changing residences; or losing health insurance due to the death of the primary policyholder, divorce, job loss or loss of group coverage.

Generally, these events will trigger a 60-day period in which a person can purchase health coverage, and sometimes dental and vision coverage, through the health insurance marketplace. Also, employer-based plans are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days.

However, if you don’t sign up for coverage during a special enrollment period, you must wait until the next open enrollment period or explore other options.

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If you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, short-term health insurance plans can be purchased at any time to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage, they offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and those who qualify for coverage may enroll at any time. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children whose families make too much income to qualify for Medicaid.

Additionally, sole proprietors can purchase group coverage at any time if the business owner has filed the proper forms and schedules on their tax returns within the last tax year.

To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

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26

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

2021_FD_FB_Virginia_3.6875x4.8125_Ad_Q1.indd 1

11/13/20 4:40 PM

Take advantage of the conveniences of virtual doctor’s visits

BY ADAM CULLER

P

rompted by the interest of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care providers are offering patients unprecedented access to medical visits using telehealth.

Telehealth is any exchange of information between providers and patients using telecommunications technology. Examples include interacting with your doctor via phone, video conferencing or secure messaging using a computer, smartphone or tablet.

In many cases, preventive care visits and chronic health management are being conducted virtually to limit physical contact between patients and to reserve in-person resources to treat acute illnesses.

Dr. Amy Johnson, a nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group in Bedford County, said increased

virtual visits have promoted patient safety and increased patients’ access to health care.

“Telehealth has really allowed us to touch base with our patients more frequently, and has allowed for more intensive medical management,” said Johnson, who also is a small grains farmer and president of Bedford County Farm Bureau.

“I actually have seen a higher percentage of follow-up visits now because people aren’t having to come into the office,” she added. “A lot of patients who wouldn’t normally follow up in person now are embracing telehealth as an option for their care.”

Johnson explained that virtual visits also offer conveniences not found with typical office visits. Patients with mobility and transportation issues can

meet with their doctors without leaving home, and those who are working no longer need to take time off to attend appointments.

Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance division, said at the height of the pandemic last spring, some insurance companies were covering virtual visits at 100%.

She noted that some carriers are no longer offering this level of coverage for subscribers’ virtual visits with their primary care physicians, though there are other options.

Carrier-sponsored telehealth services typically are most valuable for acute and urgent care. Keeping track of eligibility and expense ultimately is a patient’s responsibility, so be sure to check costs with your insurance provider.

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vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

27

Heart of the Home

Comforting casseroles

A ‘go-to’ meal for any occasion

1 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 cups milk 5 large eggs nonstick cooking spray 8 cups ¾-inch crustless bread cubes 2 cups shredded asiago or fontina cheese 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half fresh basil, thinly sliced DIRECTIONS

COURTESY OF NATIONAL BEEF COUNCIL

Heat oven to 350°.

Asiago cheese gives this strata a rich flavor.

E

voking feelings of warmth and nostalgia, this classic comfort food offers versatility in ingredients and occasion. Going to a party? Bring a casserole. A friend just had a baby? Make her a casserole. Have leftover green beans or chicken? Toss them in a casserole for a quick dinner.

Casseroles have been around for centuries but reached their popularity in America during the 1950s and 60s. The availability of lightweight, ovenproof cookware, canned foods and condensed soup made the casserole a convenient, quick and inexpensive staple to feed families.

Elaborate and complex, or simple and straightforward, many modern renditions of the casserole eliminate the canned soup and add new ingredients.

28

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Brunch Beef Strata INGREDIENTS 1½ pounds ground beef 1 teaspoon salt, divided ½ teaspoon pepper, divided 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 ounces button mushrooms, sliced

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot.

Add ground beef and cook 8-10 minutes, breaking into ¾” crumbles, stirring occasionally. Using a slotted spoon, remove beef from skillet and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Drain drippings from the skillet.

In the same skillet, heat oil over medium heat until hot.

Add mushrooms and onion and cook 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Return beef to skillet. Add thyme, and cook 3-5 minutes or until heated through, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk milk, eggs and remaining salt and pepper until blended.

Spray a 2½- to 3-quart shallow baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Layer half of the bread, ½ cup of the cheese and half of the beef mixture in the dish. Pour half of the egg mixture on top.

Layer remaining bread cubes, ½ cup of cheese and beef and egg mixtures on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Press any dry bread cubes into the egg mixture.

Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes. Top with tomatoes and basil, as desired.

Recipe from the National Beef Council

Easy Cheesy Pork Chop and Rice Casserole INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 375°. Oil a 2-quart casserole dish, and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the rice, vegetables, cheddar, ricotta or cottage cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer to the casserole dish, sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top, and set aside.

In a large skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork chops, and cook until browned on one side, about 3-4 minutes.

Arrange the pork chops, browned side up, on top of the rice mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the rice mixture is hot and the pork chops are cooked to 145°. Let sit at room temperature for 3 minutes.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Recipe from the National Pork Board

For a rustic twist, bake your zucchini casserole in a cast-iron pan.

Zucchini Casserole

5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

INGREDIENTS

salt and pepper to taste

1 large onion 2-4 small zucchini squash

DIRECTIONS

1 large ripe tomato

Heat oven to 350°.

8-ounce package sliced or grated mozzarella cheese

Peel onion and wash the vegetables. Slice the onion, squash and tomatoes. Spray a 9-by-13 inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. In the baking dish, alternate layers of zucchini, onion and tomato, adding salt and pepper to taste. Top with cheese and bacon, and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2 cups white rice 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed COURTESY OF NATIONAL PORK COUNCIL

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese salt and pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 top loin pork chops 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, optional

Recipe adapted from Stacey Bradshaw, Greensville County, in Bring it to the Table, the Surprising Southeast Virginia Farm Bureau Women

Mixed vegetables add a healthy ingredient to this pork and rice casserole. vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

29

PARTNER WITH DWR TO OPEN PUBLIC ACCESS

If you’re a landowner in southwest Virginia, you can receive cash incentives for providing public access to the outdoors!

The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) recently received a grant to work with private landowners in southwest Virginia, particularly in the Coalfields Region, toward the goal of providing more public access. The POWRR (PALS) program is looking for lands that offer wildlife-dependent recreation such as hunting, trapping, fishing, boating, and watching wildlife.

DWR is looking to lease both large and small parcels of land, and all types of habitats (croplands (dove fields), wetlands, open lands, woods).

Beyond lease payments to landowners, the POWRR (PALS) program also has funding to develop parking areas, install gates and fences at access points and improve wildlife habitats.

DWR Law Enforcement will patrol enrolled properties to address unauthorized activities.

LEARN MORE: Call 276-783-4860 or visit virginiawildlife.gov/powrr

Black bear damage frustrates farmers

V

BY ALICE KEMP

Damage hits farmers’ pocketbooks A recent study on black bear management conducted by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with help from Virginia Farm Bureau revealed one-third of agricultural producers have problems with black bears. Most issues are concentrated on farms in the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest, but “it’s spreading outward,” said Mack Smith,

Rockbridge County Farm Bureau president.

“The numbers are sort of exploding throughout the state,” he said.

Smith, who’s been discussing black bear management with the DWR, said the amount of damage they cause to corn crops is in the “tens of thousands of dollars.

“A bear will just sit there and grab all the stalks of corn that he can reach,” he said, frustrated.

“The bear usually just takes one bite out of an ear, then grabs another ear and takes another bite.” Soon, nothing but circles of downed, half-eaten corn remains.

Harvesters won’t pick up the corn lying on the ground, and when Smith plants soybeans the next year, he must spray the field with an extra product to kill the volunteer corn.

“They hit my wallet twice,” he said.

M.L. EVERETT

Black bears are widely traveled, and are known to damage crops, livestock and beehives.

M.L. Everett’s patchy peanut field in Southampton County shows signs of bear damage.

Henry County farmer Gordon Metz surveys bear damage to his corn field. Black bears can cost farmers thousands of dollars in lost crops.

NORM HYDE

ibrant green peanut fields littered with stark, bare patches are a familiar sight for Southampton County farmer M.L. Everett Jr. The damaged fields are caused by black bears that search for areas with mature peanuts and loose, sandy soil. They pull up peanuts and chow down on them like they’re at a buffet, Everett said. The feasting goes undetected until he harvests or checks on his crop.

“They can do a lot of damage,” Everett said.

He added that recent black bear damage hasn’t been as bad as the 3 acres he’s lost to bears in the past, but he noticed a new trend.

They’ve been eating peanut seeds shortly after planting.

“That’s the first time we’ve ever had them go right down the row, paw up the seed and eat it.”

He’s also seen bears rip apart cotton bales and demolish peanut hay, leaving huge messes in their wake.

“It kind of puts you in a bad mood when you see something like that,” Everett lamented. “You can imagine how hard it is to clean up” the messes bears make.

Managing isn’t easy There’s no one-size-fits-all way to manage black bears. Farmers can apply for damage permits to kill problem bears—something both Everett and Smith agree isn’t the ideal solution. Smith has suggested using dogs to chase bears out of fields, hoping enough harassment would keep them away.

While possible solutions are still being discussed, Everett said he’s grateful farmers and DWR are working together to try to find ways to successfully manage black bears.

“They understand the problem and certainly are trying to find a solution that would work for all of us,” he said.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2021

31

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