Dustin Francis of Halifax County was named the 2025 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award winner. He was recognized July 26 during the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo in Franklin County.

The award recognizes individuals and couples for involvement in supporting agriculture, leadership ability, and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Francis currently serves as the community relations coordinator for Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative while owning and operating a cow-calf operation in Halifax County. He raises commercial and registered Angus and SimAngus cattle, feeder pigs, and poultry, and maintains and produces several acres of hay alongside his three children.

He also serves on the VFBF Livestock Advisory Committee, and the VFBF Young Farmers promotions, Winter Expo and Summer Expo subcommittees.

From growing up on his family’s sheep farm, participating in youth livestock shows and working with local cattle producers, Francis cultivated a lifelong enthusiasm for agriculture and cattle production. He enjoys channeling his passion for agriculture advocacy into his role with the electric co-op and other community initiatives.

Francis juggles a full-time job with myriad farm responsibilities. He manages a cow-calf operation for another local producer—overseeing the farm’s daily operations, managing hay and pasture production, optimizing herd health and tackling other responsibilities. Within his own operation, he’s expanded into swine and poultry production while successfully marketing his freezer beef “Pasture to Plate” program and replacement heifers and herd bulls for sale.

Francis discussed his efforts to positively promote the industry, including spearheading his county fair’s farm animal field day for area youth; co-hosting Virginia’s Young Farmers Podcast; helping establish the Halifax County Cattleman’s Association in 2018, for which he serves as vice president; hosting on-farm workshops; and participating in VFBF’s annual Legislative Day.

Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for Virginia Cooperative Council and as a school system liaison for the Halifax County Agriculture Development Advisory Committee. He also enjoys participating in Christian ministry work and is an avid conservationist.

During his presentation to the judges, Francis highlighted three key issues that the industry needs to address in the next five years: The increasing average age of the American farmer and the industry’s barriers to entry; lack of broadband access in rural communities; and waning agricultural literacy among the general public.

He noted the necessity of reliable broadband service for producers’ bottom lines and rural residents’ quality of life. Through his role with the electric co-op and its broadband subsidiary, he’s helped secure over $150 million in grant funding for the construction and implementation of fiber-to-the-home broadband service for Virginia residents in seven counties and areas of North Carolina— passing more than 20,000 homes to date. He also promoted a partnership between county leaders and Dominion Energy to reach additional rural residents by the end of the year.

Francis’ goals in the next five years include continuing his work with the electric co-op; expanding marketing opportunities for local cattleman’s association members; encouraging statewide participation in Virginia Cooperative Council’s Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education Conference; taking on new leadership opportunities within Farm Bureau; and reviving his county Farm Bureau Young Farmers program.

He said the Excellence in Agriculture Award application process offered valuable opportunities for networking, building connections and learning from other industry leaders. He attended the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention as last year’s state-level runner-up and enjoyed gleaning ideas from national competitors.

“You’re getting better, they’re getting better, but overall, it’s making the industry better,” he reflected. “We can help folks all over the state, and I’m just happy to be here.”

As Excellence in Agriculture Award winner, Francis will receive a Kubota utility vehicle courtesy of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., a cash prize, and a travel package to the 2026 AFBF Annual Convention in Anaheim in January. While at the convention, he will compete for the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Morgan and Josh Washburn of Franklin County were named this year’s state-level runner-up and will receive $500 and a travel package to the AFBF convention. Shasta Wilson of Washington County was named a finalist and will receive $500.

With more than 135,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia’s agriculture industry.

Contact Christina Amano Dolan, VFBF communications, at 804-401-0793.