The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC today endorsed Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie in the 2017 Virginia governor’s race. The announcement reflects Gillespie’s support for Virginia’s farmers and his desire to grow the agriculture and forestry industry.
Speaking about the endorsement, Ed Gillespie said, “Agriculture and forestry have been cornerstone industries for Virginia for centuries, and our Commonwealth remains blessed with the vast natural resources and fertile lands that can keep our economy thriving. I’m honored to have earned the support of the Farm Bureau’s, and as governor, I will do everything I can to support our farmers and ensure Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industry continues to thrive.”
“The individuals we endorsed have demonstrated their support for farmers through their commitments in their platforms on specific issues, or their experience while holding positions in the General Assembly,” said Wayne F. Pryor, VFBF president and chairman of the VFBF AgPAC board of trustees. “We believe we have endorsed three candidates who involved farmers in determining their policy platforms and have stronger commitments on how they will continue to help agriculture and forestry remain viable and Virginia’s largest industry.”
Last month, Gillespie unveiled his Agriculture and Forestry Agenda at a forum in Roanoke hosted by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its partner agencies. The plan details how Gillespie will champion Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries, prioritizing efforts to expand exports and open new markets for Virginia products.
The nonpartisan VFBF AgPAC was created by Farm Bureau in 1999 and employs in-kind contributions to support candidates who can best support agriculture and Farm Bureau issues.
Find a full list of endorsements here.