DOSWELL—Two notable Virginians were celebrated for outstanding leadership by the Virginia Cooperative Council during the State Fair of Virginia on Sept. 30. The VCC promotes understanding of consumer-owned cooperatives across Virginia and their contributions to the state economy.
The VCC also recognizes exceptional co-op leaders spanning generations.
Their annual Career Cooperative Leadership Award honors council members who have worked consistently throughout their careers to further the success of Virginia cooperatives.
Curry Roberts, 2025’s award honoree, grew up in rural Bedford County near his grandfather’s dairy and tobacco farm. He pursued a political career and was named Virginia Secretary of Economic Development in 1986. In this role, he led 15 state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Department of Forestry.
Until his 2024 retirement, Roberts was public director of Southern States Cooperative Inc. for 32 years, serving terms as board vice president and chair. He led the 100-year-old cooperative through a significant business transition that resulted in profitability and financial stability.
Throughout his career, he maintained strong relationships with congressional leaders, the General Assembly and Virginia Agribusiness Council. Roberts is a past president of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, earning their distinguished service award in 2014. He currently serves on community development boards and is active in the Virginia Economic Developers Association.
The VCC’s Young Cooperator Award went to Adam Ford, marketing manager for Rockingham Cooperative. The award recognizes outstanding cooperators under the age of 40 actively engaged in a cooperative and making notable contributions.
Since 2018, Ford has promoted the co-op’s 12 retail locations and is author and publisher of The House Cooperation Built, a pictorial history of Rockingham Cooperative and the cooperative business model.
He is a past graduate of the Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education and was appointed to a VCC board term.
Ford also leads Rockingham Cooperative’s efforts to support 4-H and FFA programs across their service territory. In 2024, he led creation of the Rockingham Cooperative Agriculture Production Education Association, a grant program providing $20,000 annually to school agricultural land labs across their six-county service area.
“Adam has taught me plenty about patience, thoughtful leadership and making sure everyone in the room feels seen and heard,” said council member Jennifer Armstrong, executive director of Virginia FFA Foundation.
In a first-time coordination with the State Fair, SkillsUSA contests and FFA competitions, the council invited industry members, companies and educational partners to The Meadow Event Park to meet with students for a single-day educational expo called Youth Career Exploration. Virginia Farm Bureau and Farm Credit were among companies sharing various career and educational opportunities.
Visit virginia.coop to learn more about the VCC and Virginia Institute of Cooperative Education.
Media: Contact Mary Howell, VCC executive director, at 804-432-0236.
