Agriculture in Our County

It's hard to drive through Rockbridge County and not see cattle.

With its cattle numbering 37,000, Rockbridge is ranked in the top 10 counties in Virginia with cattle. Rockbridge has mostly beef cattle and milk cows.

This county in the southern Shenandoah Valley has 789 farms and more than 157,300 acres of farmland. Cropland covers more than 33,852 and includes corn, wheat and soybeans, but mostly hay.

Rockbridge also has hogs, sheep, laying hens and broilers.

Close to 390 residents call farming their main occupation. Overall, Rockbridge County’s agriculture generated nearly $16 million in cash receipts in 2002, according to the latest agriculture census.

Rockbridge is home to the Virginia Horse Center, which holds major horse sales, competitions and equine exhibitions. In addition, Rockbridge is the location of the Cyrus McCormick Farm and historic museum; Natural Bridge, from which the county derives its name; Washington and Lee University; Virginia Military Institute and Southern Virginia College.