U.S. ag secretary encourages young farmers, minority farmers at Virginia school

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture recently visited a university in Virginia to speak about the need to get young farmers going in the industry.

Secretary Tom Vilsack was on the campus of Virginia State University in Ettrick and spoke about how he'd like more young people to pursue a career in farming, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"We talked about the need to get young people engaged in opportunities in rural Virginia," he said. "We are seeing an increase in interest on the part of younger people in smaller-scale [farm] operations, which is why we put some focus on local and regional food systems."

The average age of a farmer in the U.S. is about 60, according to Vilsack, which is a number he is seeking to lower.

In addition to encouraging more people to get into the industry, Vilsack's choice of Virginia State University will likely help motivate minority farmers to get operations started as the school is a historically black university.

R.F. Turner, a goat farmer who saw the secretary speak, told the Progress Index that he believes Vilsack has a "very sincere commitment to diversity in agriculture."

USDA Secretary to speak at Delaware agriculture dinner

The Delaware Council of Farm Organizations recently announced that Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will be at its annual agricultural dinner.

This will be the 41st year that the council puts on its Agricultural Industry Dinner, which will be held on January 26 at the Dover Downs Hotel & Conference Center, according to a release from the organization.

Vilsack will be the featured speaker at the event, a prospect that pleases Kenneth Wicks, the president of the Delaware Council of Farm Organizations.

"I am extremely pleased that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will join the Council, the public, agricultural industry attendees, and our public officials as we celebrate Delaware's $8 billion agricultural industry," Wicks said.

In addition to a speech from Vilsack, the dinner will see Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee hand out the Secretary’s Award for meritorious service to Delaware agriculture.

Individual tickets to the event will cost $60, with a table for 10 going for $550.

The state's Department of Agriculture seeks to "to sustain and promote the viability of food, fiber, and agricultural industries in Delaware," according to its website.