Central Virginia farmer receives second annual Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition award
(DOSWELL, Sept. 29, 2026)—The State Fair of Virginia this year continued its tradition of honoring those who served on behalf of our country and are now providing food and fuel for us at home.
Jacob Gilley of Orange County was honored with the Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition Award at a special recognition ceremony today during the State Fair on its main stage.
The award is sponsored by the State Fair and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Nearly 700,000 military veterans call Virginia home—one of the states with the highest percentages of veterans relative to its population size. The recognition program was open to all Virginia veterans who are currently engaged in agriculture.
The second annual award honors the invaluable contributions of Gilley, who served six years as a C-130 aircraft mechanic with the 130th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. He returned to his farming roots and now owns JG Land & Livestock. He also is an agricultural consultant and real estate professional with Legacy Land Real Estate, brokered by Gayle Harvey Real Estate, where he specializes in farms and rural land.
“Jacob uses the values of resilience and sacrifice that defined his military service in his calling as a farmer and industry advocate,” said Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Scott Sink. “Not only is Jacob passionate about agriculture, he is one of the biggest supporters of Virginia Farm Bureau and is happy to represent Orange County at any Virginia Farm Bureau event.”
Gilley is a director and immediate past president of Orange County Farm Bureau.
Gilley, wife Jennifer, and their four children operate JG Land & Livestock, a working livestock farm focused on sustainable and profitable production while also using their farm for innovative research and education. Through their Heaven’s Hollow Farm brand, Jacob and Jennifer also direct market beef to consumers and utilize a commercial goat operation for sustainable vegetation management. Their commitment to conservation and stewardship was recognized in 2022 when Heaven’s Hollow Farm received the Virginia Grand Basin Clean Water Farm Award for the Rappahannock River Basin.
The ceremony included leaders from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The state agency traces its history to the 1928 establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal benefits and connecting veterans and families to services.
“Virginia’s veteran farmers show extraordinary dedication — not just to their work, but to the communities they support every day. The values they lived by while serving our nation now strengthen our farms, our rural communities, and our economy,” remarked Sloane Rose, DVS deputy commissioner. “The opportunity to recognize the Veteran Farmer of the Year is something I deeply appreciate, and I’m always grateful for the unique contributions veterans make across our entire commonwealth.”
The 2026 State Fair of Virginia will run through Oct. 4. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.
The State Fair is held each fall at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and attracts over 200,000 fairgoers. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries.
Since 2013 the State Fair has awarded 2,903 scholarships and over $1.15 million to support youth education. The fair offers youth more than $100,000 each year in scholarship funds through 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.
Reporters and Editors: You’ll find a photo library on our website for easy access to images to accompany your fair coverage. Visit StateFairVa.org/p/about/media.
Media: Contact Kathy Dixon, VFBF communications, at 804-370-3055.