Chandler Vaughan of Keysville has been named the 2017 Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador. He was honored at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Spring Conference, held March 17-19 in Williamsburg.

            The annual competition is open to anyone 18 to 26 years old who wants to be a spokesperson for agriculture and represent Farm Bureau.

Vaughan is the son of Richard and Lisa Vaughan. He is a student at Virginia Tech, where he is majoring in agribusiness and plans to study horticulture, mechanics and agronomy. He intends to pursue a master’s degree as well.

“I hope to work for an agricultural company upon graduation or become a high school agricultural educator,” Vaughan said. “I will continue to engage myself on the family farm, seeking methods to advance our operation. And I plan to continue to be involved in the community. I firmly believe that the community around me has made me who I am, and I will continue to embody a life of service to those around me.”

Vaughan previously served as a state and high school chapter FFA president and served on the Virginia Cooperative Council board. He was the 2015 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist.

He is a third-generation farmer and enjoys working on his family’s 60-head beef cattle farm.

Vaughan received a $3,000 cash award from VFBF and the organization’s Women’s Committee, and he will make public appearances and serve as an advocate for agriculture and Farm Bureau. He also will receive a paid trip to the VFBF Annual Convention in Williamsburg.

Runner-up Madison Slaven of Augusta County received a $500 cash award.

With 126,000 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.