Community Leaders Gather on Eastern Shore Congressional representatives, state agriculture officials, and retail executives converged on Dublin Farms in Horntown, Virginia, on July 8 to commemorate America's 250th birthday through a celebration of the state's agricultural heritage. The event also marked Dublin Farms' 150 years of operation, one of the region's oldest continuously operating farms. Hosted by Bushwick Commission in partnership with Dublin Farms, the gathering highlighted the success of Bushwick's annual Virginia Grown potato promotion and its collaboration supplying premium Virginia-grown potatoes to Walmart customers.
Speakers and Recognition Attendees included Congresswoman Jen Kiggans of Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, Katie Frazier, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and multiple Walmart leaders including Regional Vice President Eddie Bostic. Mark Hickman of Dublin Farms and Ken Gray of Bushwick Commission also addressed the crowd. "What made this event so meaningful was seeing organizations from every corner of our industry come together to celebrate a shared commitment to agriculture," Gray said. "This wasn't simply about marking the 250th birthday of our country, it was about recognizing the partnerships that continue to strengthen Virginia agriculture and the communities it serves."
Charitable Contributions and Festivities Bushwick Commission presented a $10,000 donation to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) and facilitated a separate donation through Walmart and Hasbro of 100 Mr. Potato Head toys for hospitalized children. Guests toured the farm and enjoyed a menu created by Chef Jeff Landry featuring potato-leek soup, a breakfast casserole, and brownies made with Dublin Farms potatoes. Congresswoman Kiggans reflected on the event via social media, writing: "Virginia's Eastern Shore is home to some of the best farmers anywhere, and I'm proud to support their work." The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services added: "It's exciting to be part of thriving partnerships that are committed to making local Virginia agriculture successful!"
Why It Matters
The event underscores retail-to-farm partnerships as critical infrastructure for regional agriculture supply chains. For operators sourcing locally, the visibility and coordination demonstrated here—bringing together congressional support, major retailers, and multi-generational family farms—signals sustained commitment to Virginia produce in national retail channels.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
