Donna Henderson of Botetourt County was named Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2014 Farm Woman of the Year March 22 during the VFBF Women’s Conference in Norfolk. Judging for the designation is based on participants? contributions to family, home, farm business, community and Farm Bureau.
Henderson and her husband, Jerry, operate a 400-cow dairy called Cave Hill Farm. They milk about 130 registered Holsteins and grow 150 acres of corn and 150 acres of hay.
She taught at Roanoke High School for 34 years, and when she retired in 1995 she was able to participate more fully on the farm. “I have always kept the books and particularly the taxes, but now I keep the books monthly, run errands, help whenever I?m needed and work closely with an accountant at the end of each year,” Henderson said.
The Hendersons host adult and school tours of their farm as well an annual picnic for their local FFA chapter.
Henderson serves as the treasurer of the Botetourt County Farm Bureau Women?s Committee and has been a member of the Botetourt County Extension Leadership Council for the past two years.
Additionally, she is a member of the Botetourt Town and Country Women’s Club, the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition and the Botetourt Prevention Planning Team. She serves on the Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare board of directors and the Botetourt County Social Services board as well. She is a trustee at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Daleville.
Henderson received $500 from the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.
With 135,000 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 protecting Virginia’s farms and ensuring a safe, fresh and locally grown food supply.
