Anne Kathryn “AK” Martz of Essex County was named the 2023 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist on July 30 during the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo in Page County.

The recognition program is organized by the VFBF Young Farmers Committee and honors high school juniors and seniors for academic, community and agribusiness achievements.

Martz is the daughter of Marvin and Jami Martz. She graduated with honors from Rappahannock High School, served as president of her high school’s FFA chapter and served on the school’s student council.

She plans to pursue a degree in agricultural education at Virginia Tech and said she hopes to eventually teach students “about the industry that keeps our world spinning.”

In addition to her academic achievements, Martz recently was elected state vice president for Virginia FFA. She will spend the next year helping lead the state program and visiting FFA chapters statewide.

Outstanding Young Agriculturalist competition scoring is based on academics, general leadership, farm or agricultural experience and an oral presentation.

During her presentation, Martz discussed the importance of agricultural education in Virginia schools. She believes that agriculture’s future begins in the classroom, and “everyone deserves the opportunity for agricultural literacy.”

As the Outstanding Young Agriculturalist winner, she will receive a travel package to the 2023 VFBF Annual Convention in Virginia Beach on Nov. 28. While there, she will have the opportunity to share her presentation with about 600 Farm Bureau members.

“I feel so grateful and honored that I will be able to share that message with many farmers and other agriculturalists in November,” Martz said.

She also will receive a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Farm Credit, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and Virginia Farm Bureau.

First runner-up McKenzey Kirby of King William County will receive $500 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.

Other finalists were Raelin Bowman, Washington County; Morgan Butler, Culpeper County; Daniel Campbell, Nelson County; Anna Grohs, Bedford County; Katlyn Newman, Carroll County; Cameron Stanley, Culpeper County; Braden Stern, Shenandoah County; and Emily Taylor, Wythe County.

All finalists will receive $250.

With 133,000 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 Pam Wiley, VFBF vice president of communications, at 804-291-6315.