WILLIAMSBURG—Wilmer Stoneman of Varina grew up in a household where agriculture and politics were a “family pastime.” He has worked to improve the livelihoods of the state’s farmers since 1980, and demonstrated deep commitment to advancing sound agricultural policies and advocated for rural business development over three decades with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

The ongoing impact of his dedication earned Stoneman the Distinguished Service to Virginia Farm Bureau award, announced Dec. 3 during the organization’s annual convention in Williamsburg.

VFBF’s former vice president of agriculture, development and innovation will now continue to be a familiar face in Washington, D.C., as the Virginia state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. In this three-year appointment, Stoneman will be working on behalf of the state’s farmers under the direction of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

“When the nation calls on you to serve, you are obliged to answer that call,” Stoneman said. “I can continue to serve Virginia’s farmers, and be helpful for them in times of uncertainty. And be a contact that Virginia producers know and can work with through the years to come.”

He began his career at Farm Bureau in February 1995 as an assistant director in the Public Affairs Department, was promoted to associate director of governmental relations, and eventually was appointed as director of Farm Bureau’s Commodity/Marketing Department. He was founder and executive director of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability—a department division that fosters sustainable agricultural economic development opportunities that empower farmers, agribusinesses and their communities.

Stoneman has helped Farm Bureau secure more than $117 million in grants and funding for value-added agriculture expansion in the state.
It’s these services that “put the farmer in Farm Bureau,” he said.

For Stoneman, this wasn’t just a job, noted VFBF President Scott Sink.

“It was a commitment to the land and the livelihood of every farmer in this state. As he answers the call to serve with the FSA, we take immense pride in knowing that Wilmer will continue to be a trusted ally to agricultural producers and the Farm Bureau organization.”

Former VFBF President Wayne Pryor described Stoneman as a “visionary.”

“He always was looking ahead,” Pryor said. “He had new ideas and looked for programs to start, while tremendously improving our existing programs.”

Stoneman’s persistence is an enduring lesson in leadership and advocacy, he continued.

“He didn’t give up,” Pryor said. “If there was an issue, he stayed on it. And he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

In addition to working on his family’s 2,200-acre Henrico County grain operation, Stoneman’s background includes a stint with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation. He also worked as a water quality specialist with the Hanover-Caroline and Henricopolis soil and water conservation districts, plus leadership on the Virginia Cotton Growers Association Inc. and the Virginia Cotton Board.

Stoneman was honored with Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2023 Honorary Alumni Award.

The honoree also extended a helping hand in times of crisis through development of The Virginia Farm Relief Fund that grew to $278,000 following Hurricane Helene’s devastation in 2024. The relief funds provided cash aid and supplies to almost 80 applicants in Southwest Virginia’s impacted counties.

With almost 137,000 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.

View more convention news as it becomes available at vafb.com/convention, and follow us on social media via #VFBF25 .

Contact Kathy Dixon, assistant director of communications, at 804-370-3055.