Virginia Agribusiness Council

During this National Ag Week, we pause today on National Ag Day to thank our farmers and agribusinesses who feed our Commonwealth.

We were so honored to have our Vice Chair Jim Riddell present this 2025 Land Grant University Award to SWVA Extension Agents. So well deserved for all they did to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts! https://lnkd.in/ebaz_38e

This morning we hosted a joint ACNR breakfast where we were thrilled to present the 2025 Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness Award to Delegate Michael Webert. This award is presented to a member of Congress, State Legislator, Governor, or other influencial government official for exceptional support of Virginia’s agribusiness industry for a period of years. We are grateful for Delegate Webert's partnership in supporting Virginia agribusiness. #vaagribusinesscouncil #virginiaagbiz #AgAwards

We are pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the Land Grant University Award: The Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents from the Southwest VA District, as well as Dr. Daniel Goerlich, Associate Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension. These awards are presented to outstanding faculty members, administrators, or employees of a Virginia Land Grant University for meritorious or exemplary service to the industry of agribusiness during their career. VCE Agents from SWVA are being recognized for their extraordinary leadership and for the meritorious actions they took in response to the Hurricane Helene disaster. The immediate actions this group undertook undoubtedly impacted local families, farms, and businesses in ways that even these agents will forever be unaware. From providing damage assessments, livestock feed and fencing supplies, technical and emotional support, and coordinating public and private financial aid— SWVA Extension Agents led the regional efforts on behalf of the whole agribusiness community. Losses to SWVA Ag and Forestry are estimated between 450 and 650 million dollars - with one state agency citing direct and indirect impacts of over 2 billion dollars. Dr. Goerlich’s service to our industry is as robust as it is diverse, and we are grateful for the dedication his service continues to exemplify. In the last six months alone, he led efforts to educate landowners on the changes to tax code, the Virginia Farmer Survey of Best Management Practices Application, and then coordinated and released the Ag and Forestry Damage Assessment following the Hurricane Helene disaster. His exemplary service to Virginia’s ag and forestry community has spanned more than 25 years, and Dr. Goerlich has consistently found opportunities to increase the impact of VCE. His leadership is critical to numerous efforts within Virginia. We thank and recognize the VCE Agents from SWVA and Dr. Dan Goerlich for their engagement, leadership, and support which focused on the most pressing issues and needs of agriculture in Virginia. #vaagribusinesscouncil #virginiaagbiz #AgAwards Virginia Cooperative Extension (Official)

Don't miss our podcast with our Government Relations team as they discuss each week at the General Assembly. New episodes weekly during Session on 'Herd on Capitol Square' on Spotify. Catch up on episodes and follow us so you don't miss any! https://lnkd.in/eiDh74r4

We have been overwhelmed with the support our ticket holders and sponsors have shown in their contributions to our work. Specifically, in helping us to address the significant costs incurred for non-refundable expenses associated with the banquet cancellation by honoring their sponsorship and/or ticket purchases. Thank you for your commitment and support!

When it rains it pours, and when it rained on our Banquet plans, we found opportunities to pour into our community. With meals for over 1,000 guests already prepared, we could think of nothing better than to find a positive in an unfortunate situation. Working with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and A Sharper Palate Catering Co, we were able to identify local organizations who could benefit from the meals. It was an honor to support The Doorways, Henrico County Division of Fire, and RVA Community Fridges?with these sizable food donations.? ? One of the Virginia Agribusiness Council’s policies is to prioritize increasing access to nutritious, locally produced food to improve food security for Virginians. In this small way, with this one donation, we were able to take our policies that we advocate for on a legislative level and put them into action in a tangible way. We will continue to use our unified voice to support the efforts of so many across the Commonwealth who work daily to ensure food security is a reality for all.

We regret to inform you that the Legislative Appreciation Banquet scheduled for tomorrow, January 9, has been cancelled due to the current water issues in the City of Richmond. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Due to the timing of this decision, our caterer had already begun preparing food for this event. We are keenly aware of the impact that this crisis may have on food availability across the Richmond Metro and are pleased to work with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks on a plan to safely donate to local area meal providers. As you read this post, please share with others in your network who may be attending. We have spoken with the team at the Omni and they are ready to assist via phone in cancelling reservations. Thank you for your understanding and your continued support of VAC and Virginia Ag and Forestry.

Keynote Speaker Announcement! Only a handful of individual tickets remain - get yours today! https://lnkd.in/e3YQSTn7 #virginiaagbiz #vaagribusinesscouncil #LegislativeBanquet