RICHMOND—A fourth-generation farmer and agribusiness operator in Botetourt County recently earned accolades from the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee.

Candace Monaghan was named the 2025 Distinguished Farm Bureau Woman on April 5 at the WLC’s annual conference in Richmond. The award recognizes a Farm Bureau woman for her agricultural leadership and contributions to a farm business or agricultural enterprise.

Monaghan grew up on her family’s dairy farm, where she and her siblings milked cows and helped with other tasks. The farm eventually transitioned to raising beef cattle.

In 2016, Monaghan founded the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival to diversify the farm during financial challenges. With just two weeks of planning, the first festival welcomed 1,600 visitors—far exceeding her goal of 300. The farm now hosts the largest sunflower festival and vendor show on the East Coast each September.

Up to 21,000 festivalgoers from 35 states visit each season. Festival promotion and planning includes managing over 85 volunteers to fill 125 shifts, organizing music lineups, and handling logistics for 120 craft and food vendors.

“The festival has become more than just an event,” Monaghan said. “It’s a way to share our family’s farming legacy and inspire future generations.”

She said she was honored to be selected as this year’s Distinguished Farm Bureau Woman.

“I truly love what I do with our sunflower farming operation and couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Monaghan noted. “I’m excited to share our journey and continue educating others along the way.”

She said Farm Bureau has played a vital role in shaping her passion for agriculture and advocacy. Monaghan is currently chair of the Botetourt County Women’s Leadership Committee and has served in other committee leadership roles since 2009. She also is past treasurer of the county Farm Bureau board.

She earned a $500 cash award courtesy of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., as well as paid trips to the 2025 VFBF Annual Convention in Williamsburg in December and the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, in January.

Runner-up is Deanne Marshall, an Orange County dairy farmer and agricultural advocate. She received a $250 cash award.

Marshall promotes agricultural education for all ages by hosting tours and presentations at her family’s organic robotic dairy, and participating in Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s Agricultural Literacy Week. She is a member of the Orange County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, and serves in various educational organization roles, including treasurer of the Orange County Education Foundation for the past eight years.

She is a past president and former executive director of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, currently holds a seat on the Orange County Health Commission, and is president of the Orange Rotary Club.

Participants in the VFBF Women’s Leadership Program support agriculture, the state’s largest industry, through educational efforts in their communities; local outreach projects; and advocacy for Farm Bureau policies.

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 Christy Murphy, women’s leadership program coordinator, at 804-584-6210.