Photo by Jim Ridolphi
Georgie Alvis, 12, and Emmy Alvis, 6, enjoy some ice cold watermelon at last weekend’s Farm Bureau Picnic, an annual event held for members of the local agency. This year’s edition was held at Westview on the James.

Westview hosts Farm Bureau picnic
BY JIM RIDOLPHI
Special Correspondent

Jul 24, 2008

Goochland’s Farm Bureau picnic is always a fun filled family get-together that reunites old neighbors and friends. This year’s event was no exception as more than 60 members gathered for the annual picnic, held at Westview on the James.

Farm Bureau president Steve Bostic welcomed the group and said the agency looks forward to this event. “We hold this picnic and our annual dinner each year,” Bostic said. “It’s a way of showing our appreciation to our members and being involved in our community,” he said.

Many families began the day’s activities at the adjacent swimming pool, appropriate relief from the 90-degree-plus temperatures. But it was cool on the inside of the pavilion and attendees were treated to fried or smoked chicken with all the trimmings, not to mention an abundant dessert table.

Bostic reflected on this year’s event sponsored by the Farm Bureau, an advocate for agricultural issues and a full service insurance and investment services organization.

“I think it was very successful and we had a great turnout,” Bostic said.

“This is just one of the things we do for our members and something they look forward to,” Bostic said.

The annual dinner held in October is more of a business meeting and strategy discussion, while the picnic is all about fun.

“The children seem to enjoy the door prizes,” Bostic said.

Bostic said the past year has been a good one for agriculture and many legislative efforts resulted in positive changes for farmers and landowners in Virginia. “Our legislative movement has been successful, getting some of the laws and some things changed that help out the farmers,” Bostic said. “That’s one of the main things Farm bureau does is lobby for the farmers and the landowners,” he added.

Dolores Williams, member services specialist at Farm Bureau, begins planning the picnic in January, securing the location and deciding on logistics. Everyone at the Goochland Farm Bureau Office, including Williams, spent the day helping at the gathering. Brenda Pryor and the Women’s Committee were also instrumental in planning and working the event.

“It gets busy this last week, but this is always a fun time,” Williams said as she helped move food to the serving table.

Board member Bob Jones concluded the day’s festivities by serving ice-cold slices of watermelon, the perfect ending to the annual gathering.

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