Virginian named Southeastern Farmer of the Year
Published
Virginian Robert Mills Jr. has been named Southeastern Farmer of the Year.
Mills, a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, was named the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo award at the Sunbelt Expo farm show in Moultrie, Ga. He was selected for the honor in competition with nine other state finalists.
The Farmer of the Year Award recognizes excellence in agricultural production and farm management, along with leadership in farm and community organizations. The award also honors family contributions in producing safe and abundant supplies of food, fiber and shelter products.
Mills owns the 2,244-acre Briar View farm in the Pittsylvania County community of Callands. He was named 2017 Virginia Farmer of the Year during the summer. He was nominated by Stephen Barts, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Pittsylvania.
Mills grows four types of tobacco, oversees an Angus-cross beef herd, raises pullet breeder chickens, and produces vegetables and winter wheat.