Justin and Lori McClellan of Smyth County were named first runners-up for the 2018 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award. The competition took place at the AFBF Annual Convention, held Jan. 5-10 in Nashville, Tenn.

Southeastern Farmer of the Year Robert Mills Jr. of Pittsylvania County received a Massey Ferguson tractor from Massey Ferguson North America and Boone Tractor on Jan. 26. This is Mills’ prize for winning the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award.

Members of more than 40 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia have donated nearly $44,000 to assist fellow farmers affected by destructive wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado.

Farm Bureau members help support the Young Farmers Program, which offers contests, seminars and networking opportunities for future agricultural leaders.

Producing a valued commodity, working on the land, being your own boss—these are all things that make farming a new version of the American Dream for a lot of young adults. Given that the average age of the American farmer is 58, that’s not a bad thing. That’s why the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee works with several programs that help beginning and young farmers get established in the industry. 

Mindy McCroskey of Washington County recently was named runner-up for the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award. The competition took place at the 2016 Annual AFBF Convention, held Jan. 10-13 in Orlando, Fla.

For the first time ever, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation had finalists in all three Young Farmers & Ranchers competitions at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation convention.

Jack Kerr of Augusta County has been named the winner of the inaugural Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Outstanding Young Farm Employee Award.

Sam Gardner of Bedford County and John and Lydia Shepherd of Nottoway County have been named winners of this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Environmental Stewardship Award.