Hey, farming friends!

Fluvanna County Young Farmers are preparing for Old Farm Day! This is a day full of exhibits, booths, and activities from Fluvanna's own. The theme of the fair this year is springtime and gardening. Our booth will primarily focus on the layers of soil and Fluvanna's crops. There will be a corn pool for kids to play in, cutouts for the perfect photo opportunity, and a special Fluvanna's products game for the adults! We hope to see you there! On another note, Fluvanna Young Farmers and Farm Bureau now has their own shirts! They are on sale online and will be available for order at Old Farm Day. 

Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau rep., was available to speak with potential Young Farmers members at Fluvanna County High School on Tuesday morning. This went successfully, perking many students interest to be involved with the organization. A big thank you is due to agriculture teacher, Russell Jennings, for having Campbell come and speak with students. 

As school is winding down for me, I have been busy preparing for Virginia Tech's Little International Livestock Show. Block and Bridle hosted the annual event. As my first cattle show, it was a successful learning experience showing my girl, Gloria. 

Win: A win this week was ordering T-Shirts! I am excited to get our name out there through shirt sales. 

Pinch: As of now, only two of us are able to work the Young Farmers booth at Old Farm Day. Hopefully we will be able to find another member to assist. 

"Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own." 

-Samuel Johnson

Interest Meeting

Hey, farming friends!

This past week Fluvanna Young Farmers came together for our first meeting. In attendance were Mark Campbell and Ron Saacke, both Farm Bureau Representatives who gave great insight on program development and goal planing. Terry Lintecum was also in attendance as a guest speaker. With a small orchard of his own, Lintecum provided valuable advice for those beginning farming or who have a passion for agriculture. A Longwood graduate, teacher, coach, and bus driver, his passion for farming was instilled through his involvement in the FFA. He says "I owe it all to that jacket." It was touching to hear this story, as I'm sure it made its mark on all who have been a member of the FFA organization.

Four of our committee members were present, along with past Farm Bureau President and 4-H All Star George Goins, current President Channing Snoddy, and FFA Alumni chair David Wood. The meeting was productive and we are excited to get the chapter going! Some of the goals we discussed were working a plot at the community garden, assisting at 4th grade Ag. day, and creating a booth for the fair and Old Farm Day.

Win: The meeting was very informative and successful!
Pinch: Would have been encouraging to see more people in attendance at the meeting.


"Our farmers deserve praise, not condemnation; and their efficiency should be cause for gratitude, not something for which they are penalized." 
-President John F. Kennedy

Lexington here we come!

Hey, farming friends!

This past weekend, the Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers Winter Expo was held in Lexington, VA. Three Fluvanna County Young Farmers members attended, along with board member Mark McWilliams. The first day of the expo included a tour of  McCormick Farm (Shenandoah Valley Research Station) and a tour of the Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery. That evening, we attended a program in the Jefferson Ballroom at the Natural Bridge Hotel, where we would be spending a majority of the weekend. At the program, we heard a General Assembly update and discussed policy development.

Saturday began with a delicious breakfast, fueling the busy day ahead of us. In the morning, we attended a workshop on international agriculture and worldwide agriculture issues. Dr. Tim Durham, from Ferrum College, gave an extremely informative presentation on GMO's. Following Durham, were Antoine Ehouman and Joy Powers, discussing agriculture leadership projects in Africa.

Later in the day, we drove through beautiful Shenandoah countryside to Ingleside Dairy Farm and Donald's Meat Processing. At Ingleside, we were led through the milking and calving facilities, learning about the process of dairy farming. Our favorite part of touring the meat processing facility included homemade ice cream and jerky that followed.
After we finished our tour, groups returned to the hotel, where we ate dinner and participated in a Casino night. Overall the weekend was a blast! It was great to connect with new and old friends, learn more about Virginia agriculture, and make memories with Virginia Young Farmers.

Win: The expo was a success and we are looking forward to holding the first Fluvanna Young Farmers meeting next week...

Pinch: Hope to have more members attend the expo next year!

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." 
-Albert Schweitzer  

Slowly thawing out...

Hey, farming friends!

This week has shown Blacksburg some sunnier skies, lightening the mood of myself and those around me. The week began with contacting Jacob Wood about the Young Farmers committee. He said he would be able and happy to serve on the committee with me. At the Young Farmers Winter Expo, next weekend, he and I will discuss goals for the year and potential events/programming strategies.

On Tuesday, I designed a Fluvanna Young Farmers T-shirt. I talked to Fluvanna County High School's Student Government Association about being potential t-shirt makers. This would be a great way for the Young Farmers to connect with the school system. On Wednesday of this week, I created an interest meeting flyer and contacted FFA member, McKenzie Wills, to distribute the flyer- as I am located at Virginia Tech. I also contacted the high school's FFA advisor and AP Biology teacher to post the flyer in their classrooms for potential members.

There is potential that Fluvanna Young Farmers will be partnering with Bedford County Young Farmers on a summer trip to Tangier. This would be a great way for Fluvanna and Bedford to connect, as Bedford is a well established program.

Win: The sun came out!

Pinch: Final numbers for the Young Farmers Expo attendees is lower than I had hoped for Fluvanna.


"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
-Theodore Roosevelt 

Breaking Heifers

Hey, farming friends!

The week has been cold and soupy here in Blacksburg, especially for we Fluvanna Young Farmers who are in the process of heifer breaking. As part of a livestock handling class, I have been working with the ever-so sassy Hereford "Missy." While this lady has been filling up much of my time, I have still managed to make progress with my research for Young Farmers. 

As a resource to be utilized by Farm Bureau, I am writing (and hopefully publishing) a county Young Farmers development method. This method will include information about the organization, its objectives, how to assess community needs, and the steps necessary to ensure that the new program is both maintained and sustained. I have been using the Virginia Young Farmers Constitution as an objectives resource. 

As the Young Farmers winter expo steadily approaches, I have been in contact with those attending and keeping them up to date on the weekend's agenda. I have also been in touch with the Fluvanna Farm Bureau office, learning that our proposed budget was approved. I have spoken with Fluvanna County High School senior, Jacob Wood, in regard to this. I will be working with him, as a new Fluvanna Young Farmers officer, for yearly goal development and budget allocation within our organization. 

Win: Two wins this week.... I have halter broken my heifer!... and our YF budget was approved!

Pinch: Grey skies dampening my motivation.

"A good farm is recognized as good partly by its beauty."  -Wendell Berry 

Once a Fluco, Always a Fluco

Hey, farming friends!
This past week began with completing the interest meeting agenda. I am excited that local Fluvanna farmer, Terry Lintecum, will be speaking on behalf of Fruit Hill Orchard. Ron Saacke and Mark Campbell will both be speaking at the meeting. Fluvanna FFA Alumni have offered to provide dinner; however, due to the unknown number of attendees we will save their offer for a later date.

On Friday, I found myself back in my home county, after a windy drive on interstate 81. There, I went to the Fluvanna County High School's agriculture program to observe. Doing so enabled me to talk with several potential Young Farmers members, now FFA members, and give them more information about the organization. I was sad to hear that one of the girls, who was initially coming to the winter expo, would no longer be joining us. Because of this, I spoke with one of the FFA officers who was interested in going. Spot filled!

In the agriculture shop I observed a CNC machine being used, roosters being fed, plants being watered, and seeds being planted. I was able to talk with the instructor, Russell Jennings, and learn more about curriculum development. I am looking forward to working with Fluvanna County's FFA advisor in recruiting for the Young Farmers organization. Something I believe that we as YF would be able to facilitate is a "Blue Buddy Day". This would be a day where (blue and gold) FFA members and young 4-H clover buds would work together on an agriculture related activity. This interaction would enable the young 4-Hers to see that their agriculture journey as a lifelong pursuit.

Win: Working with youth and seeing them "in their element" while working in the ag. shop is always a win in my book!

Pinch: Being notified that one of the girls attending the expo could no longer go left me in a bind. Fortunately, I was able to find other shoes to fill that place!

"Stand tall. Think tall. Smile tall. Live tall." 

Dreaming of Warmer Weather

Hey, farming friends!

I am dreaming of warmer weather in Blacksburg this week. Yet, through the cold, it has been a productive week for the Fluvanna Young Farmers! 

This week, I made contact with Mark Campbell. I discussed the outline and goals of my internship. I also mentioned to him the additional research I will be conducting for the benefit of Farm Bureau. A portion of my internship will include developing a method for Young Farmers Organization creation, in counties without one. I will be assessing the needs in Fluvanna, developing contacts necessary to develop solutions for those needs, and hopefully connecting mentioned needs to the Young Farmers community involvement. My research will include how to overcome potential developmental barriers, as well as the networking and leadership methods for the process. 

Another success of the week was planning for our first meeting of the year. It is to be held in the Fluvanna County High School Cafeteria, on March 7th at 5:30pm, for those interested. I discussed this meeting with Ron Saacke, head of the Women and Young Farmers Programs and the Agriculture in the Classroom Program with Farm Bureau. He will be in attendance and will likely be bringing an additional Farm Bureau Rep. to come speak at the meeting.  A local farm speaker, TBD, will share their own Fluvanna farming story. Following the business meeting, dinner will be served. Hope you are able to join us! 

Win: The Fluvanna Spring Expo planning is underway and the first Young Farmers meeting has been scheduled!

Pinch: Still figuring out the details of my research. Looking forward to digging deeper into Fluvanna's farming needs!

"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." 

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://www.vayoungfarmer.org/?page_id=2

http://fluco.org/fluvanna-county-high-school/

https://www.vafb.com/membership-at-work/farmers-in-action/womens-program

https://www.agclassroom.org/va/about/index.cfm

Hit the Ground Running

Hey, farming friends!

My name is Erin Small. I am a Junior at Virginia Tech studying Agriculture Sciences with a focus in aquaculture. This spring I am interning with Mark Campbell of Virginia Farm Bureau. As the Sr. District Field Services Director for the central district, one of his main duties is working with Young Farmers Programs. In Fluvanna County, there was a need for an agricultural club, post-high school graduation. Because of this, I decided to undertake forming the Fluvanna County Young Farmers.

Over my winter break, I went to the first board meeting of the year. There, I pitched my proposal to begin a program in the county. The board members were ecstatic. My proposal included goals for the year, potential members, a tentative budget, expo information, and the importance of maintaining a program such as this. I proposed three goals: agriculture career development, advocating for a middle school agriculture program/youth involvement with local agriculture, and a successful county fair/old farm day booth. The Career Development Program would potentially include a career expo, resume writing workshop, and an interview skills workshop. This program would ideally reach graduating seniors, young adults with an interest in agriculture, and young farmers.

This week, I contacted Campbell about a potential spring expo for Fluvanna County's Young Farmers. My proposed location for the trip would be on Virginia's Eastern Shore, surrounding Cape Charles. I contacted Cherrystone Aqua-farms and Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek. Both of these locations would give our group insight to a lesser known side of agricultural production to Fluvanna farmers. The Cherrystone- aqua farms manager would provide a tour of the oyster and clam nursery, hatchery, and packing plant. Chatham Vineyards would provide a unique perspective of viniculture in a non-mountainous location. A third portion of the trip may include a visit to Virginia Tech's Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

Aside from this planning, my week included the year's budget development and proposed expenditures, contacting and registering members for the upcoming YF winter expo in Lexington, and gathering contact information of all new members for the secretary at Fluvanna's Farm Bureau office. I plan on improving my contact with those who have liked the Facebook Page. While I have been able to reach many youth, I would like to form more connections with the 25-40 age range.

Win: I am excited to say that as of this week there are six members in Fluvanna's Young Farmers! Our Facebook page is alive and well, connecting folks throughout the county to Farm Bureau.

Pinch: As I am located in Blacksburg, and not Fluvanna, it has been challenging for me to overcome distance barriers. I feel that if I was in the county, I could speak to local agriculture clubs and increase membership.  Because of this barrier, I will challenge my technology skills and hopefully overcome any contact or recruitment issues I may encounter.

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." 

-John F. Kennedy 

https://www.vafb.com/membership-at-work/farmers-in-action/young-farmer

https://www.facebook.com/fluvannacountyfarmbureauyoungfarmers/