Chamber holds annual ag dinner

The Botetourt Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual agriculture dinner at The Preserve at Crooked Run in Fincastle last Thursday. Members of Botetourt County’s ag community, local dignitaries, family, and friends gathered for an evening celebrating agriculture in Botetourt County and the state of Virginia.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr served as the event’s keynote speaker. He discussed issues concerning the industry locally and statewide. In partnership with local producers in Botetourt County, the Chamber presented a smokehouse meal prepared by Aaron’s Smokehouse highlighting locally raised beef from Williamson Farms, and locally raised chickens from Fincastle Farm.

The dinner featured a local menu, including products from the Homestead Creamery, Layman Family Farms, Ikenberry Orchards, Little Wasprock Farms, and Bryant Orchards. Other contributing local vendors were Sarah’s Petals Cut Flower Farm, Nick of Thyme Bakery and Catering, Three Li’l Pigs Barbeque, Brugh’s Mill Country Store, Foot of the Mountain Café, Patrick Perkins Photography, Food Lion, and Kroger.

Virginia Mountain Vineyards provided a selection of award-winning estate wines for guests. The event included local producer tables sharing their products and information about their business. Mountain Thyme Honey and Gifts, Fincastle Farm, and Sarah’s Petals had displays during the event. Virginia Western Community College and The Advancement Foundation provided information about their respective programs that support innovative business development in the agricultural industry and agricultural education.

Executive Director of the Botetourt Chamber Khari Ryder called the dinner “a phenomenal event” when recently asked. He hopes that this event is “only a catalyst to other informative and educational events for our ag industry.”

The Chamber’s Agriculture Committee planned this year’s dinner. Members of the committee include Emily Bailey, Jenna Lawrence, Amy White, Kevin Sutton, Scott Stevens, Clayton Taylor, and Granville Grant.

Sponsors for the dinner were First Bank and Trust Company, Bank of Botetourt, Farm Credit of the Virginias, and Rockingham Cooperative/ACE Hardware. More information about the event can be found at the Chamber’s website: www.botetourtchamber.com.

A portion of the proceeds of the dinner went to the Future Farmers of America (FFA), benefiting the five chapters in Botetourt County.

~ Fincastle Herald staff report