Award Winner:

Pittsylvania County woman named VFBF Farm Woman
of the Year

Ginger Shotwell of Pittsylvania County was chosen as Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2008 Farm Woman of the Year during the organization’s 2007 annual convention in Chantilly.

Shotwell was recognized at a Nov. 27 luncheon. Dianne W. Stephens of Wythe County was named runner-up.

Judging for the designation is based on participants’ contributions to family, home, farm business, community and Farm Bureau.

Shotwell and her husband, John, have a beef operation and raise small grains and tobacco. She is responsible for feeding the cattle, as well as maintaining farm records. She is an active member of the Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and a longtime 4-H leader. She is also a member of the Caswell-Pittsylvania County Livestock Show Committee.

The Shotwells have one daughter, Judy S. King, and one grandchild. Shotwell grew up on a tobacco and dairy farm in Campbell County.

“People think milk and beef come from the back of the grocery store,” Shotwell said. “As Farm Woman of the Year, I want to show people where their milk and beef really come from.”

Shotwell will receive $500 from the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and a travel package to the 2008 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in New Orleans.

With 148,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farm organization.

Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization that supports its members through legislative lobbying, leadership programs, commodity marketing and risk management services, insurance products and other benefits.