PURCELLVILLE—Loudoun County Farm Bureau has received national recognition for its innovative efforts to connect policymakers with young farmers.

The organization was among 24 county Farm Bureaus nationwide to receive an American Farm Bureau Federation County Activities of Excellence Award. The AFBF County Activities of Excellence program showcases the top county Farm Bureau accomplishments that serve as models of innovation for local program development.

Loudoun Farm Bureau was recognized for its ongoing efforts to “increase the engagement and visibility of the young farming population in our county,” according to Pam Jones, chair of the Loudoun County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee.

Along with hosting various networking events for young farmers, the committee hosted a panel discussion on Feb. 16 with Loudoun County Board of Supervisors chair Phyllis Randall. The event drew around 75 community members and featured five young farmers who shared their unique stories and talked about opportunities and challenges.

“Agriculture takes a different shape” in Loudoun County with its close proximity to Washington, D.C., and uniquely diverse network of nontraditional farming operations and niche markets, noted Brian Walsh, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation field services director serving Loudoun.

“This program was a way to give young farmers in the county a voice and ensure policymakers know they exist, and that they want to farm and continue to grow the rural and agricultural landscape in the county,” he explained.

Panelists shared key issues facing young farmers in the county, including limited access to land and affordable housing, as well as potential issues on the horizon with an ongoing rewrite of the county’s zoning ordinance.

“Highlighting preservation of agricultural lands is really important to the committee because without land, young farmers don’t have an opportunity to farm,” Walsh added.

The committee hopes to garner the county’s support of a purchase of development rights program to protect valuable farmland, as well as programs to assist young farmers with starting and growing their businesses.

The roundtable discussion was the committee’s first interactive event with policymakers. They plan to host similar candid discussions with county leadership moving forward.

“We want to capitalize on the amazing voices of our young farmers and say, ‘You are the ones with the power to help us do what we’re trying to do, which is keep these young farmers farming and secure the future of farming in Loudoun County,’” Jones shared.

Young Farmers Committee member Ciara Prencipe will showcase Loudoun Farm Bureau’s award-winning event during the AFBF Annual Convention & Trade Show Jan. 19-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Media: Contact Walsh at 540-325-4981.