VAFAIRS Specialist

Position Title

VAFAIRS Specialist

Exempt

Richmond, Virginia – West Creek Headquarters

Director, Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VAFAIRS)

Work closely with Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability, and other public and private stakeholder organizations/institutions to address issues that impact the economic viability of Virginia agriculture.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation (VFBF) is the largest nonprofit agricultural advocacy organization in Virginia. It was founded in 1926 to support the agricultural interests of Farm Bureau members through a variety of programs and services. It is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to protecting Virginia's farms.

The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VAFAIRS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunities in agriculture and rural communities across Virginia. We focus on empowering farmers, agribusinesses, and rural entrepreneurs by fostering sustainable, value-added agricultural development and enhancing market access. The Foundation provides technical assistance, including business planning, feasibility studies, and grant application support, to help producers start, expand, and strengthen their operations.

By connecting clients with expertise, resources, and networks, VAFAIRS works to improve profitability, promote innovation, and enhance the overall quality of life in rural communities. VAFAIRS is a Farm Bureau affiliated organization.

This role supports agricultural producers and rural communities by identifying market and structural changes that impact profitability and growth. It provides leadership, education, and technical assistance to clients pursuing direct and value-added marketing opportunities, including developing business plans, grant applications, and project strategies. The role involves extensive client engagement, data analysis, and preparation of professional reports and presentations to advance rural development initiatives.

This multifaceted role supports all programming and serves as the face of our organization.

• Assist with identification of structural changes in agricultural production, marketing and finance and rural economy that could affect producer profitability
• Provide leadership and expertise to producer groups engaged in direct and value-added marketing projects and entrepreneurial and rural development activities
• Provide educational opportunities to apprise producers of market opportunities that could improve their income and profitability and encourage producer participation
• Help motivate diverse clientele pursuing new agricultural enterprises and facilitate development of proposals enabling producers to pursue direct and value-added marketing of agricultural commodities, renewable energy and related niche markets
• Develop presentations to stimulate participation of private and public technical and financial resources in the development of direct and value-added marketing, renewable energy opportunities, and rural community development
• Conduct client interactions, either in-person, by phone, or through email
• Research, collect, verify, and analyze data from both industry and client information to develop grants and other written proposals
• Work directly with clients and in partnership with other personnel to develop and implement a wide variety of value-added project strategies
• Prepare or modify business plans, feasibility studies, marketing plans, grant applications, and other documents
• Illustrate technical data graphically and translate findings into written text
• Assist with the facilitation and execution of VAFAIRS strategic plan

• All other duties and projects assigned by the Director of Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability and/or President required to support the mission of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
• Assist internal staff in supporting the State Fair of Virginia Exhibit Committee
• Assist internal staff in supporting Virginia Farm…