DENDRON—Sixth-generation Surry County farmer Breyon D. Pierce remembers many Saturdays spent working on the farm instead of relaxing with cartoons or outside having fun.
“But over time, seeds were planted within me that taught me something much greater,” he said. “Farming is not just a profession; it’s a calling.”
An award-winning local agriculture instructor, Pierce grows peanuts, corn, soybeans and wheat on more than 900 acres with his father, Glen, at Pierce Farms LLC.
The family opened their farm gates to state dignitaries on June 9, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Sec. of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Virginia General Assembly members and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation leaders. The governor signed multiple bills in support of state agriculture and forestry industries and community food access.
Gov. Spanberger also presented a proclamation to the Pierce family celebrating producers of food, fiber and fuel during Virginia Agriculture Week, June 7–13.
“There is no better place to recognize it than right here on this farm with a family that embodies what it means to devote your life to our land,” she said.
Farmers are facing multidimensional challenges, Pierce noted. Virginia has lost nearly half a million acres of farmland in the last five years, and farmers are strained by rising costs on certain markets.
Protecting agricultural land is crucial to Virginia’s No. 1 private industry and the livelihoods of farm families like his, he said, adding, “And it’s meant to feed families, support communities, and provide opportunities for our future generations.
The governor signed five bills in support of Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries surrounded by local farmers and agricultural leaders, including VFBF senior vice president of governmental relations Martha Moore.
Farm Bureau supported these pieces of legislation, she said. “And now we consider them victories.”
HB 512, developing a comprehensive prosperity plan for agriculture and forestry industries with annual updates to the General Assembly.
SB 522, streamlining management of Forest Sustainability Funds for localities to preserve forest lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
SB 186, protecting Virginia consumers and beef producers by requiring that the presence of manufactured protein be clearly labeled and not misrepresented as real beef.
HB 1086, giving farmers the opportunity to compete with out-of-state bids for school nutrition contracts so more Virginia children have access to local foods.
SB 302, extending the peanut excise tax funding critical marketing, research and education for Virginia’s peanut producers.
Virginia agriculture has an annual economic impact of $82.3 billion in total industry output, generates more than 381,000 jobs, and has an additional value-added impact of $43.8 billion. Broiler chickens topped the 2024 list of commodities ranked by cash receipts of more than $1.2 billion, followed by cattle and calves, miscellaneous crops, milk and dairy products, soybeans, turkey and corn.
Virginia is home to approximately 38,600 farms with 95% owned and operated by individuals or families.
Visit vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown to find local farmers markets, roadside stands and agritourism destinations. When shopping, look for the Virginia Grown and Virginia’s Finest logos on products in retail settings statewide.
Media: Contact Pierce at 757-294-0923; or Michael Wallace, VDACS communications, at 804-786-1904.
