Young Farmers of Virginia Newsletter Fall 2012 www.vayoungfarmer.org Volume 16, Issue 1 State Officers: Past President: Pamela Lowe 538 Sugar Run Rd Pearisburg, VA 24134 540-392-7802 President: Adam Wampler 14049 Kay Drive Timberville, VA 22853 540-896-3252 Vice President: Kevin Driver 5183 Rawley Pike Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-810-3422 Secretary/Treasurer: Jeremy Will 9127 Kiser Road Mt. Crawford, VA 22841 540-828-0999 Reporter: Rosemary Liskey 657 Cross Keys Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Riverbend Nursery - Greenhouses Riverbend Nursery Seedbeds Director: Stuart Melton, Jr. 11097 Rockville Rd. Rockville, VA 23146 804-749-3823 Executive Treasurer: R.J. Nobblitt 18429 Monrovia Rd. Orange, VA 22960 540-727-4036 Executive Coordinator: Ron Byrd 309 Paradise Lane Independence, acres VA 24348 276-768-8590 rpbyrd@vt.edu c ch I State Advisor: Dr. Glenn Anderson Roanoke Farmer P.O. Box 2120 Richmond, VA 23218 804-225-2840 local farmers and Riverstone Organic Vegetable Farm RG Cattle Company The 2012 Virginia Young Farmer Field Day was held in Floyd County, Virginia on July 26. The Floyd County Young Farmer Chapter with Advisor Bruce Caldwell hosted the event. There were 3 stops on the tour which included: Riverbend Nursery This is one of the largest nursery operations in the state of Virginia with around 40 acres in greenhouses and seedbed operations. They have state of the art greenhouses with roofs that open and sides that slide to open as well. Riverstone Organic Vegetable Farm This is an organic vegetable operation on 80 acres that is in its second year of operation. They sell produce by CSA s and at the Floyd, Blacksburg and Roanoke Farmer s Markets. RG Cattle Company This is a family owned and operated cattle buying operation where they buy from local farmers and sell to feedlots and finishing operations. They also have their own own feedlots where they can finish some cattle in their own facilities.
Young Farmers of Virginia State Convention 2013 Message from Your Executive Committee Team Greetings fellow Young Farmers. We trust that each one of you had a great Thanksgiving!! This year s National Institute was held in Memphis TN. Our Vice- President Kevin Driver attended as our State delegate; we look forward to his update at state convention. The National Institute for 2013 will be held in San Antonio TX, what a great opportunity to for you to enjoy summer weather in December as well as meet some outstanding farmers from across the United State and see the beauty of agriculture. Details will be posted on the NYFEA website when they become available. The Executive Committee is making the final preparations for the Sixty-third annual convention to be held January 25-27, 2013 in Williamsburg, VA at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Tours are still being finalized; keep checking the website for updates. They will be posted as soon as they are finalized. Don t forget about the Award applications, the deadline to have them in is January 10 th. The executive committee will be meeting on January 15 th to judge the applications. We thank you for the great opportunity to serve you and this fine organization as an Executive Committee Team. We hope each of you have a Merry Christmas and that we will see you at the State Convention! Thank you and God Bless! 2013 Executive Committee Team Crowne Plaza Williamsburg Lobby Pool
NYFEA Institute Memphis, Tennessee Downtown Memphis, Tenn. Mississippi River Kevin & Amanda Driver John Deere Green Cotton Gin Rodeo Kevin and Amanda Driver along with their children represented YFV at the NYFEA Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. They served as our delegates as well as participate in tours. They toured downtown Memphis by trolley. They saw the Mighty Mississippi River as well as the history museum there. They toured a cotton farm and a cotton museum as well as a visit to a John Deere Dealership. They ate at Paula Dean s Restaurant and met many farmers from across the nation. Next year the NYFEA Institute will be held in San Antonio, Texas.
*************************************************************************************** We need help with the following items for YFV Convention; Door Prizes, Table Favors, Live Auction and Silent Auction Items Thanks in Advance for anything you can bring. Award Applications are due by January 10, 2013 and should be mailed to: Ron Byrd, 309 Paradise Lane, Independence, Va 24348 Judging will be on January 15, 2013 Please consider running for an YFV Officer. We need good people with great ideas. Be sure to check vayoungfarmer.org for the latest information. Ron Byrd 309 Paradise Lane Independence, VA 24348 Email: rpbyrd@vt.edu