Grayson Long of Rockingham County was named the 2024 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist on July 27 during the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo in Nelson 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.

Long is the daughter of Edward Long III and Rhonda Monger. She graduated with honors from Turner Ashby High School and served as president of the Keezletown 4-H Club and Massanutten Technical Center FFA; vice president of Rockingham Federation FFA and the Virginia Junior Sheep Breeders Association; and vice president of public relations for Virginia Family Career and Community Leaders of America.

She also recently was elected to serve as state president for Virginia FFA and was named the Virginia FFA Star Farmer.

In addition to her various leadership roles, Long has been an active member in myriad clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society, Clover Hill/Rawley Springs 4-H Club, Continental Dorset Club and the American Junior Southdown Breeders Association.

When she wasn’t busy with school, extracurricular activities, family farm responsibilities or managing her own sheep flock, Long was earning accolades in county, state and national livestock contests. Her 4-H team was recognized as the Reserve National Champion Skillathon Team and sixth Overall Meat Judging Team in 2023. They also won the state FFA Meat Judging Contest this year with Long named Overall High Individual.

Long plans to pursue a degree in animal and poultry sciences with a minor in agribusiness at Virginia Tech and eventually become a livestock nutritionist in her hometown.

Outstanding Young Agriculturalist applicants are judged based on academics, general leadership, farm or agricultural experience and an oral presentation.

During her presentation, Long discussed the importance of bridging the “large gap” in agricultural literacy in today’s society. She believes the more people she can teach about the importance of agriculture, “the stronger and more supported our industry will be.”

Long expressed her excitement for sharing her passion for agriculture with award judges. She said the application process offered a valuable opportunity for reflection.

“Being as young as I am, I think it’s really incredible to look back on all the things that I’ve done and see all the skills that I’ve been able to gain throughout my time in agriculture,” she said.

As the Outstanding Young Agriculturalist winner, she will receive a travel package to the 2024 VFBF Annual Convention in Hot Springs in December. While there, she will have the opportunity to share her presentation with about 600 Farm Bureau members.

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 Franco Abud of Spotsylvania County will receive $500 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.

Other finalists were Nikki Ballagh, Appomattox County; Kerrigan Bauserman, Shenandoah County; Carrie Miller, Rockingham County; Rebekah Sanderson, Cumberland County; Madalyn Smith, Culpeper County; Owen Waller, Smyth County; and Clint Wilson, Washington County.
All finalists will receive $250.

With almost 135,000 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.