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"Down Home Virginia" takes you back to Virginia's rich agricultural history
The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is well-known as the voice of the state’s farmers. Over the past eight years its voice has become even better known now that it is being carried on cable and satellite television across the Old Dominion and nationwide on RFD-TV.
“Down Home Virginia,” VFBF’s monthly television news magazine, strives to bring viewers important agricultural perspectives, education and entertainment. The program is hosted by Sherri McKinney and Norm Hyde. Both Hyde and McKinney write, shoot, edit and anchor the monthly show from VFBF headquarters in Richmond, Va.
Their mission is simple. “We want to remind everyone that agriculture remains a viable and important segment of the state’s economy,” Hyde said. “Agriculture affects the lives of every Virginian—not just those of farmers.”
“The program is designed to create more awareness about agriculture, and to offer some helpful tips to viewers on subjects that are farm-related, like gardening, cooking and weather,” explained VFBF Communications Director Greg Hicks. “We always strive to give viewers news they can use.”
In the past few years Down Home Virginia has also worked to promote locally-grown foods to its viewers, both as part of the Farm Bureau’s own SaveOurFood campaign and with state department of agriculture’s Virginia Grown program. Many of the videos produced for the show also appear on the SaveOurFood.org Web site and the VFBF Facebook page.
The program always begins with a “news block,” in which both Hyde and McKinney report on important issues affecting the agriculture community. “We try to present those subjects in a way consumers can easily understand and appreciate,” McKinney said.
Show topics have included the changing face of Virginia’s farm industry; the growth of agri-tourism and locally-grown food options, and the challenges that environmental regulations and animal rights extremists pose to all of agriculture. Other stories include numerous legislative issues and why farmers and Farm Bureau support or condemn those proposals.
The program also is packed full of consumer tips from some of the state’s most revered experts.
Gardening segments hosted by Virginia Farm Bureau member Mark Viette, one of the best-known gardening experts in Virginia, bring insight to budding gardeners. The Viettes also have their own syndicated Mid-Atlantic radio program, “In the Garden.”
Chef John Maxwell, chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Virginia in Norfolk and Virginia Grown spokesman, brings delicious recipes to the table using Virginia Grown products.
“Down Home Virginia” also provides heartwarming feature stories about the legacy of farm families and includes fun family travel ideas like a visit to a historic train depot-turned-inn and nearby buffalo farm in Craig County, or a stop at a Rockingham County dairy farm that now sells homemade ice cream.
“Down Home Virginia” and many of the stories in it are also available on the VFBF web site, VaFarmBureau.org, and on several YouTube channels.
“We want everyone in Virginia and the nation to understand that agriculture is still a very important part of their daily lives,” said VFBF President Wayne Pryor. “Agriculture remains the state’s largest industry and we still feed the world. It’s a story worth telling and one that our viewers seem to enjoy.”
