Against a backdrop of pioneer farmsteads, grazing cattle, and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Congressman Bob Goodlatte will host an Agriculture Conference at Staunton’s Frontier Culture Museum on Tuesday. Located in the heart of Virginia’s agriculturally diverse Sixth Congressional District, issues of concern to Virginia farmers and those interested in farm policy will be discussed including livestock and poultry health, conservation and rural development programs, and farm lending and trade.
Other speakers will include Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Dallas Tonsager, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development; and Dave White, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The Sixth District, encompassing the beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley, stretches south from Shenandoah County to Roanoke, east to Lynchburg and west to Bath and Highland counties.
National forest land makes up one-third of the district including the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Large and small farms that raise horses, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and llamas dot the area. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs as well as wineries and small breweries make up some of the diverse commodities grown and sold in local farm markets and beyond.
The Shenandoah National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway are included in the Sixth District as well as skiing, boating, camping, and Civil War battlefields. Historic buildings have been preserved in Staunton and Lexington, and the Frontier Culture Museum features original homesteads from the past.
Rep. Goodlatte has long been part of the local agricultural scene in Congress, serving as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from 2003-07. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. The Sixth District is one of the largest poultry and dairy regions in the nation which makes him knowledgeable as he serves on the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
The Agriculture Conference is free and open to the public. If you plan to attend, the Frontier Culture Museum is located at 1290 Richmond Road, Staunton, VA 24401. The meeting is Tuesday, August 24, and will run from 10:00-Noon.
