News Release:

Media from across state claim Farm Bureau Journalism Awards

A pair of daily newspapers—the Daily Press and The Daily Progress—were among six winners of the 2007 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Journalism Awards.

Meanwhile, for the third consecutive year, the news staff at the Rappahannock Record in Kilmarnock received the award for weekly newspapers.

WHSV-TV 3 in Harrisonburg and Henrico County Television were co-winners in the television category of the competition, and Lancaster Farming’s Virginia correspondent claimed top honors in the farm news communications category.

The reporters, editors and producers were honored Nov. 26 during the 2007 VFBF Annual Convention in Chantilly for their outstanding and dedicated yearlong coverage of agriculture.

“It’s great to see a continuous stream of quality, creative, accurate and dedicated work coming from media across the state,” the judges wrote.

“It appears that more and more journalists are aware of the many facets of the agriculture industry and its importance to Virginia’s economy and its citizens,” added VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor.

Reporter Veronica Gorley Chufo was the recipient at the Daily Press in Newport News for the second consecutive year. Chufo, who works in the newspaper’s Smithfield bureau, provided in-depth coverage on the state’s little-known cotton industry and how it has evolved.

In addition, she offered detailed information on the state’s first edible soybean facility, reported on Kellogg’s plans to use Virginia peanuts in its energy bars and how Hampton Roads area grain prices had risen. She also wrote features on alpacas and their multiple uses, and how the summer and fall drought affected crops in her area.

“Her cotton gin story was quite descriptive and informative,” the judges wrote. “It included educational material that most readers would find fascinating.”

A team of reporters at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville kept readers abreast of a controversial debate in the General Assembly regarding distribution rights for small wineries and simplified a complicated issue, the judges noted.

The newspaper also included a fact-filled feature on heirloom apples in the region. The story included the state apple industry’s economic contributions and provided other interesting facts.

The Daily Progress also developed a story about the region’s Century Farms and what that designation entails, as well as covering the ongoing summer and fall drought. The paper reported on young farmers and their perspectives on the future, how the Easter freeze affected vineyards, and a Farm Bureau candidates’ forum at which land use issues were discussed.

“All in all, a very balanced, very informative package of stories,” the judges wrote. “The stories covered agriculture from the farming, political and social perspectives and provided insightful comments from the people involved.”

Linda McNatt of The Virginian-Pilot received honorable mention.

Reporters and producers at WHSV-TV 3 in Harrisonburg provided viewers with breaking news in the Shenandoah Valley—some tragic, but all events that shape the region’s agriculture.

Channel 3 was on the scene at the Rockingham farming accident that killed four members of a local family and a farm employee. Channel 3 also stayed on top of the avian flu outbreak, with responsible journalism that emphasized that the outbreak posed no threat to the public or the food supply. They also reminded viewers of the danger of tractor rollovers.

There were happier reports as well, as the team of reporters covered a young farmer field day and how Chesapeake Bay watermen and farmers are beginning to work together to improve water quality.

“News coverage in the Valley brings no shortage of agriculture stories, and WHSV’s staff rose to the challenge,” the judges said.

Henrico County Television shared first-place honors. HCTV offerings included a 30-minute documentary on the plight of the honey bee and its importance to the agriculture industry. The report included an array of soundbites from area beekeepers and showed how bees gather honey and pollinate crops.

“This documentary let suburban residents see and understand the role the amazing honey bee plays in our food supply. It was quite educational and quite timely,” the judges wrote.

In addition, HCTV prepared a water quality documentary that explained the importance of biosolids in farming and how the material is closely monitored and applied.

“Henrico County Television, which serves a large metropolitan audience, doesn’t back off from agriculture issues. It continually educates and reminds its urban viewers about farming’s importance and heritage,” the judges said.

The Rappahannock Record ran away with the weekly newspaper category.

The newspaper provided a two-part series on grain growers who are producing a special brand of barley that is being used in whiskey distilling; news coverage on how local farmers are protecting the Chesapeake Bay and how more funds are needed; and coverage of the drought, as well as stories on an Extension forum and land use issues. The paper also addressed the development of the new federal farm bill and ran a feature on alpacas.

“There were nice stories on traditional as well as non-traditional Virginia agriculture,” the judges said.

Gay Brownlee, the Virginia correspondent for Pennsylvania-based Lancaster Farming, claimed the farm news communication category with her in-depth articles on women in farming, Christmas tree farms, the FFA and the unique Gelbvieh cattle breed. She also reported on how Shenandoah Valley farmers are working to improve water quality, the big business of horse hay, and the avian flu situation.

“A credible and consistently interesting read on the diversity, energy and innovation that is 21st-century Virginia agriculture,” the judges wrote.

Jeff Ishee and WVPT-TV’s “Virginia Farming” received honorable mention.

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.