The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee honored Howard Nester of Chesterfield County with its 2023 Warren Beach Award for his contributions to the VFBF Young Farmers Program.

Nester has served as Chesterfield County Farm Bureau president for over 20 years and is well known for his mission to create a strong organization to benefit young farmers.

“Mr. Nester’s commitment to ensuring the success and growth of the Young Farmers Program has been truly commendable,” said Michelle Fox, VFBF Young Farmers Committee chair. “Throughout his involvement with Farm Bureau, he has played a pivotal role in empowering young farmers to become leaders within our organization and industry. His efforts—from championing funding for Virginia Cooperative Extension positions and wildlife management programs, to mentoring up-and-coming leaders—has benefited not only young farmers but all farmers across the commonwealth.”

Nester was honored Nov. 28 at the VFBF 2023 Annual Convention in Virginia Beach. The Warren Beach Award is named for a veteran Farm Bureau leader whose support of young farmers is legendary.

In addition to his role as county Farm Bureau president, Nester currently serves on the VFBF Land Use Advisory Committee and the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC Board of Trustees and was previously a member of the VFBF Bylaw Review Committee. He also chaired several former Chesterfield Farm Bureau committees, including the organization’s Local Evaluation Committee and its Legislative Action Committee, and he served as coordinator of the Chesterfield Farm Bureau Local Affairs Committee.

Under Nester’s leadership, Chesterfield Farm Bureau has sponsored the VFBF Young Farmers Achievement Award and offers a scholarship to a county student enrolled in Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture. Highly active in his community, he also facilitated a countywide Learning Barn donation initiative through which 38 local elementary schools received a barn-themed bookshelf stocked with educational children’s books about farming and food.

Outside of Farm Bureau, Nester serves on the Virginia State Land Evaluation and Advisory Council and previously served on the Chesterfield County Agriculture and Forestry Advisory committee, now the Agribusiness Promotion and Development Committee. He works to expand agricultural awareness through community outreach and is vice chair of the Henricus Foundation board, as well as a member of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center advisory board for agricultural education programs.

Nester grew up farming on his grandfather’s farm in Floyd County and currently raises beef cattle and hay in Chesterfield with his wife, Lucy.


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. View more convention news as it becomes available at vafb.com/convention, and follow us on social media via #VFBFannualmtg23.

Contact Pam Wiley, vice president of communications, at 804-291-6315.