Sarah Large represented the Central District and Buckingham County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Spring Conference in Roanoke, held March 16- 18. She joined more than 250 other Farm Bureau members from across Virginia.

The conference theme was “Farming: Our Heritage, Our Future.”

Participants attended educational workshops on how to work with the media; how to engage consumers about food and agriculture using terms they understand; employing technology to become more organized and embracing the power of positivity. They also received an update on the activities of Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program.

Speaker Robert Mills Jr. of Pittsylvania County, a member of the VFBF board of directors and the 2017 Swisher Sweets/ Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year, shared the importance of cultivating leaders and of remembering “who brought you to the dance,” and thanking those who offer help with personal and professional challenges.

“This conference helped me learn more about how we, as farmers, can advocate for our communities and our industry,” Large said. “We learned that we need to share our story with the media and with consumers and tell the “why” of agriculture, since many people may not understand what we do.”

Several county Farm Bureau women’s committees were recognized for outstanding work in 2017. The Smyth County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee won the VFBF Outstanding Women’s Program award. Runner- up was the Bedford County Women’s Committee.

The Fluvanna County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee received the Innovation Award, which recognizes an exceptional agriculture activity. Amanda Parris of Carroll County was honored as VFBF 2018 Farm Woman of the Year. She operates A&M Farms, a direct-market grass fed and finished beef operation, with her husband and mother. She is also tourism relations manager for Carroll County.

Dr. Amy E. Johnson, a Bedford County farmer and nurse practitioner, received the Lady Leader- Proudly Promoting Agriculture recognition. Madison Slaven of Augusta County, an animal and poultry sciences major at Virginia Tech, was named the 2018 Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador. Buckingham County Farm Bureau is one of 88 county Farm Bureaus in the Virginia