Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition
The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Project is building a diverse coalition of stakeholders that represent:
- Virginia Tech (VT) and Virginia State University (VSU)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)
- Non-governmental Sector
- Beginning and Established Farmers
- State and Federal Government
The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition formed to as a way to more effectively address start-up needs of Virginia’s beginning farmers and rancher communities by offering high quality outreach, education, training and resource support. The Coalition acts as an umbrella network of organizations to assist in the development and enhancement of whole farming planning programs, online resource learning and resource support, and farm mentor development. Coalition service providers have ample experience and real-world knowledge that beginning farmers and ranchers seek:
- Marketing
- Sustainable farming practices
- Holistic business management and financial planning
- Land acquisition and tenure
- Farm safety and health
- And more….
While each member may provide specific knowledge about a particular topic or need, each Coalition member ultimately shares a commitment to addressing farm-start up needs from the perspective that the farm is a “whole” that makes up many, integrated parts. Therefore, the Coalition project uses a whole farm planning approach to provide resource and educational support to Virginia’s beginning farmers and ranchers.
Coalition Members
Join the Coalition - Contact Kim Niewolny at (540) 231-5784 or niewolny@vt.edu.
| Member Organization | Service Provider Contact | Resource Area | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Sustainable Development ASD is a non-profit working in southwest VA and northeast TN since 1995. We connect farmers, forest landowners, and those who make food and forest products with markets and other resources in our region. We also seek to educate children, communities, farmers, forest landowners and others on nutrition, childhood obesity, low impact farming and forestry practices, local foods, and much more. | Kathlyn Terry, Executive Director | Farm Safety and Health Assessment | (276) 623-1121 |
| John Britton, Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager | Marketing Development and Strategies | (276) 274-6203 | |
| Tom Peterson, Agriculture Education Coordinator | Sustainable Farming Practices | (276) 623-1121 | |
AgrAbility Virginia | Kirk A. Ballin, Program Coordinator | Farm Safety and Health Assessment | (540) 777-7325 |
| Attimo Winery, LLC Attimo Winery is a new wine business located in southwest Montgomery County, VA. The vineyard (16 acres) is already partially under vine, and will continue to expand in 2011. They broke ground on the Tasting Room on March 1st, and expect to have it open in July 2011. | Richard (Rik) Obiso, Owner and Operator | Farmer Contact | (540) 382-7619 |
| Bracketts Farm; The Elisabeth Aiken Nolting Charitable Foundation Bracketts farm serves as a focus for the Green Springs National Historic District which encompasses over 14,000 acres in the piedmont of central Virginia. Currently developing a working model farm for training and outreach for new and beginning farmers. | Michael Seaton, President of the Elisabeth Nolting Charitable Foundation | Farmer Contact | (540) 894-0853 |
| Farm Credit Farm Credit is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, a financial cooperative owned by its member-borrowers since 1917. Farm Credit's primary function is to provide loans for the farming community. The team at Farm Credit are financial professionals with the experience and knowledge to provide the help you need when you need it. | Chris Simms, Colonial Farm Credit | Access to Credit | (804) 834-3931 |
| John Day, Farm Credit of the Virginias | Farm Land Acquisition and Tenure | 1-800-559-1016 - ext.8 | |
| Ruth Boden, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit | 1-888-339-3334 | ||
| Farm Service Agency, Virginia (USDA) FSA is an USDA agency with a diverse and multi-talented work force, dedicated to achieving an economically and environmentally sound future for American Agriculture. FSA has regional and local offices in Virginia to assist beginning farmers to develop farm operations through a range of education and resources services. | C.W. "Pete" Adamson, Farm Loan Programs | Access to Credit | (804) 287-1527 |
| Linda Cronin, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist | Business Planning and Financial Management | (804) 287-1537 | |
| Zachary Waldon, Farm Loan Officer | Access to Credit; Farm Land Acquisition and Tenure | (540) 248-6218 ext. 2 | |
| Fauquier County Agricultural Development To promote the agriculture industry within Fauquier County, to increase the economic viability of farming and to advise the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors on matters affecting the agricultural economy and its development. | Ray Pickering, Director | Farm Land Acquisition and Tenure; Marketing Development and Strategies | (540) 422-8280 |
| Grayson LandCare Grayson LandCare is a locally organized group of farmers, landowners, and residents concerned about economic and environmental problems in Grayson County and southwest Virginia. | Sustainable Farming Practices and Marketing Development | (276) 238-7073 | |
| Hethwood Market Hethwood Market is a locally owned market located in Blacksburg with a family atmosphere that provides quality customer service, hospitality, and convenience. Scott and Mindy Sink, owners of Hethwood Market, were the 2010 recipients of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer of the year award. | Scott Sink, Owner and Operator | Farmer Contact | (540) 951-0990 |
| Laurel Farms, Inc. Laurel Farm is owned and operated by the Alvin and Nina Blaha family in southeastern, VA. They produce soybeans, cotton, and peanuts --this successful farm family is a model for beginning farmers interested in Virginia agriculture commodities. | Alvin and Nina Blaha, Owners and Operators | Farmer Contact | |
| Local Food Hub The Local Food Hub is a new organization located in the Piedmont of Central Virginia, providing small, local farmers with services that support and advance their economic vitality and promote stewardship of the land. They offer new farmer workshops, seminars, and outreach programs on their educational farm in Albemarle County. | Emily Manley, Communications & Outreach | Marketing Development and Strategies | (434) 286-2176 |
| Marisa Vrooman, Director | Sustainable Farming Practices Farm Apprenticeships | (434) 286-2176 | |
| Mountain View Farm & Vineyard Mountain View Farm & Vineyard is a family owned and operated beef and wine grape operation located in Botetourt County. The Seibels are respected members of the agricultural community that illustrate the experiences of an intergenerational family farm in south central Virginia. | Megan Seibel, Manager | Farmer Contact | (540) 977-6214 |
| Sustain Floyd This southwestern VA non-profit organizations aims to create a vibrant, regionally unique market and gathering place where the public connects with local farmers, artisans and other producers thereby fostering community support of sustainable agriculture and the local rural economy. | Michael Burton, Director | Marketing Development and Strategies | (540) 250-0111 |
| Rural Development (USDA) RD promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks , credit unions and community-managed lending pools. We offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations. | Vernon Orrell, Assistant to the State Director | Access to Credit Rural Development has funding and technical assistance available to help organize and create local cooperatives in the rural area. These Cooperatives can be utilized to increase profitability for farm producers. | (804) 287-1575 |
| Virginia Association of Biological Farming VABF supports beginning farmers within the region and nationally through ongoing advocacy and educational activities that are farmer-driven and organized. | Kevin Damian, President | Sustainable Farming Practices | (804) 550-2109 |
| Mark Schonbeck, Editor, Virginia Biological Farmer and liaison with National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group | Sustainable Farming Practices | (540) 745-4130 | |
| Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Local County Offices VCE's mission is to help people put scientific knowledge to work through learning experiences that improve economic, environmental, and social well-being. VCE is an educational network of 106 unit offices spread across the Commonwealth. Virginia Tech and Virginia State University are sister land grant institutions that comprise VCE efforts. VCE offices are staffed by roughly 200 local agents and supported by nearly 90 specialists that are together creating programs and building networks needed to support new agriculturalists in Virginia. Please Click Here for Local County Educator Info | Cathy M. Sutphin, Associate Director and State Program Leader | 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources | (540) 231-6371 |
| Brian Calhoun, Associate Director and State Program Leader | Community Viability, Family and Consumer Sciences | (540) 231-0762 | |
| Jewel Hairston, Interim Dean, School of Agriculture, Virginia State University | (804) 524-5871 | ||
| Franklin D. Jackson, Associate Dean for Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University | (804) 524-5262 | ||
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Specialists (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University) | Bobby Grisso VT Contact Person | Several Resource Areas | (540) 231-6538 |
| Theresa Nartea VSU Contact Person | Several Resource Areas | (804) 524-5491 | |
| Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) VDACS is the state agency that promotes the economic growth and development of Virginia agriculture, encourage environmental stewardship and provide consumer protection. VDACS offers several special programs for beginning and established farmers: Farmlink, Virginia Grown, Agriculture and Forest Development, and much more... | Kevin Schmidt, Coordinator, Office of Farmland Preservation | FarmLink Program and Farmland Preservation | (804) 786-1346 |
| Leanne DuBois, Office of Promotions | Virginia Grown, Farm to School, Farmers Markets | (804) 225-3663 | |
| Stephen Versen, Project Manager | Access to Credit, Business Planning & Financial Management, Marketing Development and Strategies, General Economic Development Project Assistance | (804) 786-6911 | |
| Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers Program VAFB Young Farmers program provides local and statewide events, activities, and networking opportunities to new and beginning farmers. The program serves 2,000 young farmers across Virginia, ranging in ages of 18 to 35 years-old. | Ron Saacke, Director VAFB YF | (804) 290-1032 | |
| Virginia State University, School of Agriculture The School of Agriculture is the land-grant division of the University. As such, it is guided by the University’s tripartite mission of teaching, research and public service. The School provides research- based solutions, information, and technology for students, individuals, families, and communities to enrich their lives. In all its endeavors, | Several Resource Areas | See Website | |
| Virginia Tech, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching, and extension, CALS has been instrumental in helping agriculture and other life science industries make significant strides in improving people's lives. Today's College is adapting to society's expectations and needs by focusing its resources and efforts on improving human health and nutrition, sustaining agriculture and the environment, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, and developing cures for devastating and debilitating diseases. | Several Resource Areas | See Website | |
| Virginia State University's (VSU) Small Farmer Outreach, Training, and Technical Assistance Program VSU' s program directly helps small-scale, limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged farmers to own, maintain and operate farms independently through education, training, and outreach services. | Fidelis Okpebholo, Field Coordinator | Outreach, Training, & Technical Assistance | (804) 524-5493 |
| Team Ag Ed, Virginia Team Ag Ed Virginia develops and disseminates curricula to 308 agricultural educators and 32,800 secondary agricultural education students. Formal and non-formal instruction includes continuing education course work, an annual teacher’s conference, and regional professional development opportunities. Department members coordinate statewide youth career and leadership development activities. | Glenn Anderson, Specialist, Agricultural Education, VA Department of Education | Agricultural Education Curriculum Development | (804) 225-2840 |
| G. Andrew Seibel, VA FFA Specialist, Virginia FFA Association | Agricultural Education Curriculum Development | (540) 231-3823 | |
| Dana Fisher, Member, Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators | Agricultural Education Curriculum Development | (540) 459-2161 | |
| VT Earthworks VT EarthWorks is a new business acceleration program designed for agriculture and natural resource-based businesses that serve local and regional markets. VT Earthworks started the Growers’ Academy, an 8-week learning series offered in Roanoke for new and aspiring small farmers. | Christy Gabbard, Director of Catawba Sustainability Center | Business Planning and Financial Management Farm Land Acquisition and Tenure Marketing Development and Strategies | (540) 767-6114 |
| Young Farmers of Virginia YFV is a non-governmental organization affiliated with the agricultural programs in middle and high schools associated with the National Young Farmer Educational Association (NYFEA). YFV reaches out to agriculturalists of all ages and agricultural affiliations with over 350 members. The YFV offer an annual State Young Farmer Tour, which is hosted by various Young Farmers chapters. | Terry Perotti Lam, Executive Secretary | (540) 923-4921 | |
| Lucky Graves, Board Member |
Opportunities
- Virginia Whole Farm Planning Programs will be offered for winter and spring 2012. Click here for details.
- Let's get the conversation started, check out our new blog, Virginia Beginning Farmer Connections~.
Coalition Member Events
- May 4 - Poultry Health Seminar - Farmville
- May 5 - Local Food Hub: A Taste of the Farm 2012 - Scottsville
- May 12 - Application Deadline: 2012 Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant
- May 15 - Profitable Greenhouse Production - Manassas
Farmer Spotlights
Megan Seibel
Mountain View Farm and Vineyard is nestled along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the rolling hills of scenic Southwest Virginia.>>more
Service Provider Spotlight
Amber Vallotton
Amber is the Horticultural Extension agent for Rockingham County... >>more
Beginning Farmer Listserv
To join our Listserv click here.
Contact Info
