For decades, farmers in Virginia Beach have recognized the people and businesses who power their industry.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award, selected each year by a committee of past winners, isn’t going to a person but the city this time.
The committee singled out Virginia Beach’s leadership for establishing the Agricultural Reserve Program or ARP. The ARP has bought development rights from property owners to keep private land in production. More than 11,000 acres have been enrolled in the past 30 years.
Farmer Don Horsley, who proposed recognizing the program, said the honor is a thank you to the city and a reminder that the ARP helps sustain farming, the third-largest industry in Virginia Beach.
“Well, you know, it’s an education process for the city, because we have so many council people now who are not really aware of how important the Agricultural Reserve Program is to the economy of the city,” he said.
The announcement came after City Council discussed reducing the dedicated funding level supporting the ARP amid tough budgetary decisions. One council member even suggested cutting the dedicated portion of the real estate tax rate assigned to funding the ARP by half.
The city has adjusted the funding stream before, but Horsley said what matters is that an earmarked funding source continues.
David Trimmer, the city’s agriculture director, said recognizing the city is a change, but those bestowing the honor understand what the ARP has meant here.
John Cromwell, a member of the Excellence in Agriculture Committee and president of Virginia Beach Farm Bureau, said it’s important to raise awareness about why the ARP helps. The award is scheduled to be presented in March.
“It was such a forward-thinking program,” he said. “It has obtained national recognition and recognition for an industry that is so vital but is in obscurity.”
People forget how important farming is, Cromwell said.
“This is what feeds us three times a day,” he said.
