State Fair Youth Development Board

Our Mission

To expand leadership capacity and educational opportunities for youth participants in the annual State Fair of Virginia and other programs at The Meadow Event Park. Connect producers, teachers, leaders, industry and business in an effort to offer encouragement and recognition to Virginia's youth as they participate in competitions and educational programs.

Areas of Focus:
Virginia Agriculture
Virginia Natural Resources and Conservation
Virginia Arts, Culture and History
Scholarship Programs
Diversity in Programs
Fostering programming that bridges the gap between generations
Investing in youth and youth-focused agricultural organizations in order to cultivate future leaders in agriculture

2025 Program Accomplishments

2025 Program Accomplishments

CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHARTER DIRECTORS

Mr. Robert Mills, Jr. Chairman of the Board, Virginia Farm Bureau - Vice President

Mr. Thomas Graves, Virginia Farm Bureau - District 7

Mr. Leigh Pemberton, Virginia Farm Bureau - District 8

Mr. Scott Sink, President, VFBF, ex-officio

OFFICERS

Mr. Robert Mills, Jr. Chairman of the Board, Virginia Farm Bureau - Vice President

Mrs. Marlene Jolliffe, Vice President of Operations - The Meadow Event Park and Executive Director SFVA

Mrs. Kathleen Early, Secretary

Mr. David Priddy, Treasurer

Mr. Chris Kern, Assistant Treasurer

Mr. Marc Follmer, Esq., Assistant Secretary & Senior Vice President of Legal

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mrs. Bette Brand, CEO/FOUNDER
Strategic Consulting, LLC

Mr. Lynwood Broaddus, President
Caroline County Farm Bureau

Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, Dean
College of Agriculture, Virginia State University

Kyley Clevenger, Director
Farm Credit of the Virginias

Dr. Robert Corley, III, Provost
Elizabeth City State University

Mr. Steve Criswell, General Manager
Southern States Cooperative

Dr. Dixie Watts Dalton, Associate Professor
Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Mr. M.L. Everett, Jr., Co-Owner
Everett Farms, Capron, VA

Mr. Addison Gills, Operations Manager
Center for Sustainable Energy

Mrs. Rachel Gross Henley, Working Lands and State Advocacy Specialist
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation

Dr. Mike Gutter, Director
Virginia Cooperative Extension Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Mr. Donald (Don) H. Horsley
Land of Promise Farms Partnership

Mr. Shane Horsley, Vice President, Hog Procurement
Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Mr. Ray Leonard, Vice-President of Sales
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company

Mr. Bobby Orrock, Sr.
Retired FFA Educator, Former Delegate

Mr. Bill Osl, Co-Owner
Oakland Farm, Cartersville, VA

Mr. Andy Seibel, Executive Secretary
Virginia FFA / Virginia Cooperative Extension

Mrs. Susan Upshaw, VP/AG & Commercial Lender
First Bank and Trust

Mr. Andrew Vehorn, Vice President of Member and External Affairs
Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Assoc. of Electric Cooperatives