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To deliver programs in agricultural education for out-of-school adults in order to assist them to become established, or to progress in farming or other related agriculture occupations. Young Farmer members receive many benefits from their membership in local, area, state and national organizations. Not only are educational programs offered, but also social/recreational activities as well as opportunities for community service.
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2017 Award Winners
Posted By admin on February 8, 2017
The following awards were presented at the 2017 convention:
Corn Growing Award: Sponsored by Southern States Cooperative
RECEIVED GIFT CERTIFICATES TO SOUTHERN STATES ($100 1st and $50 2nd )
- Richard Clemmer, Riverheads
- Bob Christian, Riverheads
Soybean Production Award: Sponsored by Syngenta
Winner RECEIVED Prefix chemical and plaque
- Mark Deavers, Broadway/Timberville
Corn Silage Growing Award: Sponsored by Pioneer-John See
Winner received plaque and 2 units of seed corn, runner up received 1 unit of seed
- Richard Clemmer, Riverheads
- Bob Christian, Riverheads
Virginia Outstanding Young Farmer Association: Sponsored by Virginia Farm Credit Association
Winner RECEIVED $ 100 CHECK and runner up received $50
- Spotswood
- Broadway/Timberville
Outstanding Young Agribusiness Person: Sponsored by VA Council of Farmer Cooperatives
RECEIVED $ 200 and plaque
- Terry Sager, Spotswood
Diversification in Agriculture Award: Sponsored by VDACS
RECEIVED $ 500 CASH AWARD and plaque
- Amanda Lynn Weakley-Scott, Madison
Outstanding Young Farmer Award: Sponsored by VA Farm Credit Association
RECEIVED $500 CASH AWARD and plaque
- Brian Arborgast, Broadway/Timberville
Agriculture Stewardship Award: Sponsored by VDACS
RECEIVED $500 CASH AWARD and plaque, farm sign
- Dwight William Newman, Spotswood
Farm Business Management Contest: (Test prepared by David Walker)
- Herb Hoffeditz, Broadway/Timberville $25.00 and Plaque
- Christopher Houff, Spotswood $20.00
- Mark Deavers, Broadway/Timberville $15.00
- Amanda Weakley-Scott, Madison $10.00
- Isabelle Leonard, VA FFA $5.00
Ag Stewardship Contest: (Test prepared by Carrie Gray)
RECEIVED CASH PRIZES courtesy of VA Poultry Growers Cooperative
- Herb Hoffeditz, Broadway/Timberville $25 and plaque
- Isabelle Leonard, VA FFA $20.00
- Mark Deavers, Broadway/Timberville $15.00
- Christopher Houff, Spotswood $10.00
- Amanda Weakley-Scott, Madison $5.00
Honorary Membership:RECEIVED PLAQUE FROM YFV
Ron Roller, Strasburg
Edsel and JoAnn Williams, Britton’s Neck, SC
Attendance Award:
RECEIVED PLAQUES from YFV
Percentage of Members Attending: Spotswood
Most Members in Attendance: Spotswood
Farm and Home Safety Award: Sponsored by YFV (1st $100.00 and 2nd $50.00)
- Spotswood Association
Outstanding Advisor Award: Sponsored by Southern States Cooperative
Received plaque and $200
- Elizabeth Lam, Spotswood
Membership Development
RECEIVED $100 CASH AWARD, runner up $50
- Broadway/Timberville
- Spotswood
Elected: 2017 Virginia Young Farmer State Officers
President: Ashley Craun
Vice President: Kaitlyn Sonifrank
Secretary: Pamela Collins
Treasurer: Kelly Callender
Reporter: Mark Deavers
Director: Stuart Melton, Jr.
Past President: Jane McDonald
2017 Officer Team
Posted By admin on February 7, 2017
Jane McDonald, Past President; Ashley Craun, President; Kaitlyn Sonifrank, Vice President; Kelly Callender, Treasurer; Mark Deavers, Reporter. Not pictured: Pamela Collins, Secretary; Stuart Melton, Director
Executive Coordinator Position
Posted By admin on February 7, 2017
Position Announcement
Title: Young Farmers of Virginia Executive Coordinator
General Description
This is a part time, 125 hours per 12 months of employment, position which involves coordinating the Young Farmers of Virginia, adult education program. This position is contracted for one year and can be renewed upon agreement of both parties.
Responsibilities
The Young Farmers of Virginia Executive Coordinator is responsible for coordinating programs and activities associated with the Young Farmers of Virginia. Specific responsibilities include:
*Attend all YFV Executive Board meetings.
*Serve as a liaison to the NYFEA for Virginia.
*Work with the VYF Reporter to publish the semi-annual newsletter and distributing to membership.
*Work with the VYF Executive Treasurer to produce a membership roster annually.
*Work with the Virginia Department of Education and Virginia Tech staff to enhance the Young Farmer Program.
*Contact new agricultural education teachers to encourage new Young Farmer programs.
*Assist the VYF President in planning and conducting the YFV State Convention.
*Collect and organize member award applications for awards judging.
*Serve as contact person for the YFV
*Maintain the YFV display with photos and recruitment/event information
*Serve as photographer at YFV activities
*Update website www.vayoungfarmer.org
The YFV Executive Coordinator will work under the supervision of the YFV Executive Board and the Specialist for Agricultural Education at the Virginia Department of Education.
Qualifications:
Experience working with Young Farmer Programs essential. Experience working with word processing, spreadsheets and databases preferred. Ability to use and access email and internet communications essential. A self-directed individual is desired.
Salary and Benefits
This position is part-time and funded on an annual basis. Annual Salary $2400.00. The successful applicant is expected to work a minimum of 125 hours per 12 months of employment. Funds for expenses and travel will be allocated. No benefits provided. A Dell Laptop, HP scanner/printer/fax/copier and projector are provided for use.
Location
The position will be located in the home of the successful candidate.
Application
A detailed resume and two (2) letters of reference, reflecting the candidates past participation in Young Farmer
activities, should be sent to the address below by March 30, 2017.
Ms. Ashley Craun
President, Young Farmers of Virginia
3463 Hill Gap Rd.
Bridgewater VA, 22812
Phone Number: 540-908-0815
Posted By admin on December 7, 2016
Happy Fall! I hope this message finds you all having been blessed with an abundant harvest to help you prepare for the cold winter months ahead. Summer went by very quickly and I’d like to take a moment to thank Past-President Shelia Lilly on her efforts and assistance with planning our Summer Tour this year. Shelia arranged a great day touring Stoney Run Farm which operates a rotary dairy milking 2100 head daily, we visited Massanutten and learned about the complex task of snow making, had a delicious BBQ lunch at the beautiful Cross Keys Barn, and ended with a safety demonstration about animal extraction in difficult situations. Those that attended the summer tour enjoyed the variety of information that each individual tour had to offer, and it was a nice change of pace from our usual tour stops. As December quickly approaches members of the Executive Committee are making plans to attend the 2016 NYFEA Institute in Tampa, FL. This year the NYFEA Institute celebrates its 50th year and is sure to be both an educational and fun celebration!
We hope you are planning to join us for our 67th Annual Convention in Lynchburg at the end of January. The Executive Committee continues to work on details for a great weekend of education and fellowship. We are securing locations for our Saturday tours that we hope will be interesting and engaging. At the moment we are making plans to visit; Lynchburg Grows, an urban farm dedicated to providing access to fresh, local, produce for Lynchburg residents, restaurants, and organizations; Royal Oak Farm, the largest solid waste composting operation in Virginia.; and a grass-fed cattle and hog operation.
Please don’t forget about the annual awards we offer; Outstanding Association, Outstanding Agribusiness Person, Diversification in Ag, Outstanding Young Farmer, Farm and Home Safety Award, Outstanding Advisor Award, and Membership Development. We continue to have very supportive sponsors for these awards, please encourage your association membership to apply!
Before closing, I’d like to add that several of our Executive Committee members have announced that they will not be returning to the Committee next year. It is very important to the survival of this organization to continue with a complete Committee of dedicated officers and directors. Please seriously consider sharing your time and talents with us by running for an officer position at the upcoming convention.
If you use social media, please LIKE us on Facebook, it’s the easiest and most direct way for us to disseminate information about upcoming events and news from our Ag community (facebook.com/youngfarmersofvirginia).
Until next time…have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!
Jane McDonald
President
June 2016 Newsletter
Posted By admin on June 6, 2016
Summer Tour – Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Posted By admin on June 6, 2016
Summer Tour
Mark your calendar and plan on joining us for our Summer Tours being held in Rockingham County on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. We will meet at East Rockingham High School (250 Eagle Rock Road, Elkton, VA) at 8:30 A.M. We will leave at 8:45 for our first tour.
The first stop will be Stoney Run Dairy. In 2015 they constructed a 72 cow rotary milking parlor. They have 460 acres as a part of this farm and are currently milking around 2,600 cows. They own numerous other large acreage tracts to help support the dairy operation. Rachel Smith with Stoney Run was the State Outstanding Young Farmer award winner at our 2016 convention in Charlottesville.
The second half of the afternoon will be a safety demonstration by Jeremy Holloway, Chief of Rockingham County Fire and Rescue. He will speak to us about different farm accidents that they encounter. We will have a live demonstration of a tractor accident and a large animal rescue. This will be an informative afternoon and we are looking forward to having Chief Holloway and other fire and rescue members join us.
Details are still being ironed out on an additional morning tour and our lunch spot. Please check the Young Farmer website (http://www.vayoungfarmer.org/) and/or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/youngfarmersofvirginia/) for any changes or additions to the day’s schedule. An email will be sent to advisors if any major changes are made. A head count of those attending will be needed no later than Friday, July 1 for the caterer. Please let your advisor know or email me at shelialilly@comcast.net. We are excited about what we have lined up and hope to see all of you there.
Tractor Lease
Posted By admin on January 19, 2016
Our fantastic friends at Tractor Care, Inc. in Harrisonburg, VA have once again offered a great tractor for this year’s LIVE Auction during our convention festivities on the evening of Saturday, January 30. Please share this with your friends who may be interested! Here are the details of the tractor and lease (please note this image is not of the actual tractor only for reference): McCormickCX90 tractor with loader, 4wd w/cab, features a Perkins Tier 3 engine with 84 engine and 71 PTO hp. It has a 24×24 Power Shuttle transmission with three speed powershift.
The lease will be for 200 hours or six months whichever occurs first. The lease period must begin no earlier than March 1 and no later than May 1. The advertised retail finance price on the tractor and loader is $59,900. (This is a new tractor with approx. 20 hours on it, from primarily moving to shows and from running shop equipment.)
Convention Registration
Posted By admin on January 13, 2016
Just a friendly reminder to get those convention registration forms in. They can be mailed in (R.J. Nobblitt, 18429 Monrovia Rd., Orange, VA 22960) or emailed to rnobblitt@hotmail.com or to shelialilly@comcast.net.
($103.00 for all) Early – By Jan. 15, 2016
($113.00 for all) after the 15th