RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee recognized Amy Johnson of Bedford County with its Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award Aug. 27 at the organization’s Women’s Leadership Conference in Harrisonburg.
The award honors women for achievements in and contributions to the agriculture industry.
Johnson is a family nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group in Bedford and often treats farmers in the community. She also is the medical advisor to the board of directors for the Moneta Rescue Squad and serves on the medical executive committee for Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital.
Johnson is president of the Bedford County Farm Bureau and has served on that organization’s board for several years. She is an active member of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s grassroots outreach team, and in 2018 she received the VFBF Lady Leader recognition. Additionally, she serves on the Virginia AgrAbility Advisory Council, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Farmer Stress Task Force and the VFBF Farm Safety Advisory Committee. She frequently gives presentations on farm safety and mental health, and the importance of preventive healthcare in agriculture, and she advocates for agriculture on the state and national levels.
She has been recognized as the Advanced Practice Provider of the Year for Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital, received the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners Distinguished Nurse Practitioner award and ‘The Culture of Yes’ award from Centra Medical Group for leadership in her organization, profession and community.
Johnson said receiving the Farm Bureau award was humbling and a true honor.
“I’m very lucky to be able to combine two things I’m passionate about—healthcare and agriculture,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to educate both the general public and healthcare professionals about how to help the ag community, while also educating the ag community about the resources available to make their lives better. I feel like I can make both worlds better by connecting them and bringing those resources together.”
Johnson grew up on her family’s beef cattle, sheep and turkey farm in Highland County. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Virginia Tech and also earned an associate’s degree in emergency health services, an additional bachelor’s degree in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice.
Johnson and her husband, W.P., and their two children live on his family’s farm, where they produce small grains, row crops and stocker cattle.
Faye Hundley, VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee chair, said Johnson “is a great role model for women in agriculture and in Farm Bureau. She exemplifies leadership and is an example of all you can accomplish if you take advantage of opportunities and stay engaged—the sky’s the limit. She’s well-deserving of this recognition.”
Johnson will receive a $500 cash award, courtesy of Colonial Farm Credit, as well as travel packages to the 2022 VFBF Annual Convention and 2023 VFBF Women’s Leadership Conference, and a one-year paid county Farm Bureau membership.
With 132,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia’s agriculture industry.
–Virginia Farm Bureau