About Us

Welcome to the Planning for an Agriculture Future in Southwest Virginia Conference website! Join the Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry, Todd Haymore to discuss the value of agriculture in Virginia, local food sales, permitting farm enterprises, and production infrastructure. The event program is intended to be useful for active farmers, those considering an agribusiness or agritourism venue, those who offer agriculture services or programs, and local government staff. This event is supported by the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Development Fund and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. To learn about our event partners, click here.

We look forward to seeing you in Blacksburg! To learn more about this event, please contact the New River Valley Regional Commission at (540) 639-9313.

Who should attend?

  • Active Farmers
  • Those Considering a New Agribusiness
  • Agriculture Services or Program Providers
  • Local Government Staff

2015
September 21-22

Blacksburg
VA

13
Speakers

05
Farm Tours

Speakers

Todd Haymore

Secretary
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Dr. Martha Walker

Extension Specialist
Community Viability
Virginia Cooperative Extension

Tracy Coltrain

Agritourism Coordinator
Fields of Gold – Shenandoah Valley’s Farm Trail

Joell Eifert

Director
Virginia Tech Food
Innovations Program

Danny Neel

Marketing Specialist
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Fred Wydner

Agriculture Development
Director
Pittsylvania County

Mike Burton

Program Coordinator
Sustain Floyd
Specialty Foods

Rosalea Riley Potter

Manager
Buffalo Creek Beef and
Donalds Meat Processing

James Cornwell, Jr.

Attorney
Sands Anderson

Kelli Scott

Extension Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Virginia Cooperative Extension

Lisa Bleakley

Executive Director of Tourism
Montgomery County

Elijah Sharp

Director of Planning & Programs
New River Valley Regional Commission

Emily Gibson

Planning Director
Montgomery County

Registration & Pricing

For questions about registration, contact the New River Valley Regional Commission at (540) 639-9313.

Event Schedule

Day 1 (September 21st)

9:00 am Registration opens
10:00 am Dr. Martha Walker, VCE Specialist will officially kick-off
11:00 am Fields of Gold – Shenandoah Valley’s Farm Trail; Tracey Coltrain, Agritourism Coordinator
11:30 am NRV Strategic Plan for Agriculture & Agritourism:
Kelli Scott, Montgomery County, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Lisa Bleakley, Executive Director of Tourism, Montgomery County
Elijah Sharp, Director of Planning & Programs, New River Valley Regional Commission
12:00 pm Lunch (Special Guest: Virginia Secretary of Agriculture, Todd Haymore)
1:00 pm Break
1:30 pm Farm Tours (Shuttles provided – VCE agents lead)
Giles County Tour: Doe Creek Farm
Montgomery County Tour: Sinkland Farm and Attimo Winery
Pulaski County Tour: Hillside Farm and Rockwood Manor
5:00 pm Return to Skelton Center
6:00 pm Reception, Sinkland Farm; Entertainment by the Black Twig Pickers
8:00 pm Return to Skelton Center

Day 2 (September 22nd)

9:00 am On-farm local food sales
Featuring:
Joell Eifert, VT Food Innovations Program
11:00 am Planning for Agritourism, Local Permitting for Farm Enterprises (Part I):
Emily Gibson, Planning Director, Montgomery County
James Cornwell, Jr., Attorney, Sands Anderson
12:00 pm Lunch (Guest Speaker)
1:00 pm Planning for Agritourism, Local Permitting for Farm Enterprises (Part II)
Emily Gibson, Planning Director, Montgomery County
Fred Wydner, Agriculture Development Director, Pittsylvania County
2:00 pm Production Infrastructure
Featuring:
Danny Neel, VDAC Marketing Specialist
Fred Wydner, Agriculture Development Director for Pittsylvania County
Mike Burton, Sustain Floyd Specialty Foods Program Coordinator
Rosalea Riley Potter, Manager for Buffalo Creek Beef and Donalds Meat Processing
4:00 pm Conference close

Event Partners

Event Location

The Inn at VT

The Skelton Conference Center
The Inn at Virginia Tech
901 Prices Fork Rd
Blacksburg, VA 24061