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
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