RICHMOND—Emerging agricultural leaders from across Virginia launched a three-day conference focused on networking and professional development by bringing their concerns directly to state government officials at the Virginia Capitol.
During the 2026 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer’s Winter Expo, which carried the theme “Plowing the Past to Cultivate the Future,” participants from throughout the state gathered at the General Assembly on February 26 to build relationships, gain knowledge, and discuss agriculture’s future with top administration officials.
Katie Frazier, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, praised the young farmers for “helping drive so much of the good work that’s done in the commonwealth to protect our No. 1 and No. 3 industries”—agriculture and forestry.
“We are here to be your voice at the table,” she remarked. “We want to bring your feedback and your issues to Richmond so that we can make great decisions as we move forward.”
Frazier detailed three key focus areas where the administration aims to support the state’s agriculture and forestry sectors: expanding market access and economic development; advancing conservation efforts and safeguarding working lands; and building investment in tomorrow’s workforce.
Conference participants received presentations on collaborative initiatives in these areas from several state officials, including Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Green, State Forester Terry Lasher, Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova and Deputy Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Adrienne Kotula.
The young farmers also participated in roundtable conversations with Frazier, Bulova and Kotula regarding obstacles confronting emerging agricultural professionals—addressing concerns such as accessing farmland, qualifying for Agricultural Best Management Practices funding, and providing resources for agricultural educators.
Martha Moore, VFBF senior vice president of governmental relations, urged the young farmers to develop creative solutions that could enhance Farm Bureau’s advocacy initiatives in the future.
Conference participants also received information about professional development and rural advancement programs from Kristie Proctor and Chandler Vaughan representing the Virginia Rural Center.
The organization represents a collaboration between the Sen. Frank Ruff Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia, working together to partner with policymakers and community stakeholders in developing creative solutions and expanding business opportunities to promote economic growth across all areas of the commonwealth.
Vaughan discussed the Center for Rural Virginia’s work to strengthen rural communities through its Virginia Rural Leadership Institute. The VRLI seeks to “retain, attract and develop rural Virginians into innovative, responsible and civic-minded leaders who build strong communities.”
He also showcased the center’s Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard—an interactive digital mapping platform introduced last spring designed to deliver comprehensive data analysis and funding opportunities for rural Virginia communities.
“This is meant to be a time-saving tool to get a deeper understanding about the needs, strengths and opportunities in your city or county, and to quickly identify funding opportunities to address those needs,” he explained.
Vaughan and Proctor asked participants to share their input on the evolving dashboard and assist in identifying additional grant opportunities that may be missing. More information is available at cfrv.org/rvod.
Media: Contact Moore at 804-347-5982.
