Dr. Amy E. Johnson of Bedford was honored through the Virginia Farm Bureau Lady Leader recognition program March 17 at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Spring Conference in Roanoke.

The Lady Leader program provides opportunities for spokeswomen who are passionate about promoting agriculture.

Johnson said that, as Lady Leader, she hopes to connect with more Farm Bureau members and “share the importance of farm safety and preventive healthcare in agriculture.”

She is a family nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group in Bedford County and often treats farmers in the community.

“I have the opportunity to speak to groups across the state and possibly even across the nation about this very important topic. I hope to be able to show county organizations how they can implement health care opportunities into their programs as well as create a culture of safety.”

Johnson grew up on her family’s beef cattle, sheep and turkey farm in Highland County. She was responsible for the sheep and caring for the cattle. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Virginia Tech and also earned an associate’s degree in emergency health services, an additional bachelor’s degree in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice.

She and her husband, W.P., and their two children live on his family’s farm, where they raise wheat, soybeans and hay.

Johnson received a $500 cash award from Farm Credit, a tablet computer, a trip to the 2018 VFBF Annual Convention and a travel package to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. She also will receive travel expenses for speaking appearances on Farm Bureau’s behalf.

With 127,000 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 and preserving the Virginia way of life. 

Contact Sara Owens, VFBF communications, at 804-290-1133 or Angela Haskovec, VFBF Women’s Program coordinator, at 804-290-1031.