RICHMOND, Va. — Amanda Parris of Hillsville has been named Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Farm Woman of the Year. She was honored during the VFBF Women’s Spring Conference, held March 16-18 in Roanoke.

The award recognizes recipients’ contributions to family, home, farm business, community and Farm Bureau.

“As Farm Bureau Woman of the Year, I hope that I can work alongside those within this great organization to strength and rejuvenate interest for future generations,” Parris said. “My personal passion is land stewardship, animal welfare and transparent farm practices to ensure high-quality, safe, all-natural products are available to consumers. … I think that it is important to relay the message of how vital agricultural is to our economy and to the health and independence of the people of this great nation.”

Parris grew up on her family’s dairy farm, which later transitioned to beef cattle. As a child, she was an avid equine enthusiast and 4-H volunteer leader and taught riding lessons. She attended the American School of Equine Dentistry and operates Blue Ridge Equine Dentistry. She also is tourism relations manager for Carroll County and assists local government in planning and implementing community events that focus on agriculture and youth.

She and her husband, Michael, along with her mother, operate A&M Farms, where they direct-market grass-fed and -finished beef.

Parris received $250 from the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., a trip to the 2018 VFBF Annual Convention and a travel package to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

With 127,000 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 and preserving the Virginia way of life.

— Virginia Farm Bureau Federation