Bedford County News Archives - Land and Table

2nd Annual Bedford’s Finest Fare – September 13

Jason F. — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 03:17:01 +0000

Bedford’s Finest Fare on Sunday, September 13, 2015 (4 to 8pm). This second annual Bedford County celebration of local food and drink will feature an expanded lineup of stellar restaurant chefs plus local wineries, a local brewery, local farms, and the bluegrass sounds of well-known band New Standard Bluegrass. If you did not attend last year it was a phenomenal evening of music and delicious local foods. As a fundraiser for the Bower Center for the Arts, this event is a unique community gathering to celebrate the combined efforts of local farmers, together with local chefs, to produce an amazing small plates feast of mouth-watering culinary offerings. After the success of last year’s Finest Fare – this year will feature an expanded space (from the Wharton Garden to the road – which will be closed off) with room for a hundred more folks than last year (tickets limited to 300) to dine and dance with even more local food, beer, and wine to sample throughout the evening – plus new ticket options for those of you who may just want to come for the music. Enjoy the hometown spirit of Bedford’s ‘Centertown‘ as you celebrate the local tastes and sounds that Bedford County and the Lynchburg region have to offer. It truly will be an evening to remember. This year’s lineup of restaurant’s include:

Town Kitchen and Provisions
Millstone Tea Room
Benjamin’s: Great Cows and Crabs
Bedford Social Club
Azul’s (coming soon from the folks at Bedford Social Club)
Fishers Restaurant
Peaks of Otter Lodge

Featured local drinks will include beer and wine from:

Also featuring meats and produce from these farms… and many more:

From the Bower Center website:

Join us for an evening at the Bower Center for the Arts on Sunday, September 13, 2015, 4 to 8pm, and come enjoy a wonderful evening of great food, beverages, and entertainment in The Wharton Garden. Bedford’s Finest Fare will celebrate Bedford’s vibrant local foods and beverages. Local chefs will offer a sampling of mouth-watering gourmet appetizers, entrees, and desserts featuring locally-grown and raised meats, fish and produce from throughout Bedford County and several regional producers. An array of beverages will include beer from Apocalypse Ale Works and local wines. In addition to tasting this sumptuous fare, you can also visit local producers of food, beer and wine at their display tables.

Get Exclusive Updates About the Upcoming Event at the Bedford’s Finest Fare Facebook page Get Your Tickets Now (only 300 will be sold): $30 in advance. $35 at the gate. $15 for kids 12 and under. Kids 5 and under: free. $10 for band only, no food/beverages. Tickets available online at: www.lynchburgtickets.com And also in person at:

[caption id="attachment_1357" align="aligncenter" width="800"] 2nd Annual Bedford’s Finest Fare (click image to view flyer for printing)[/caption]]]>

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Bedford County Fair To Showcase Farming Community

Jason F. — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 21:59:19 +0000

Bedford County Agricultural Economic Development Advisory Board (AEDAB – also known as the Ag Board), in partnership with the Bedford County Tourism Department, will host its first Bedford County Fair in close to 45 years on August 28, 29, and 30, 2015. The Bedford County Fair will feature a variety of events to attract all ages and interests, including equine demonstrations on Friday, a youth livestock show for FFA and 4-H, as well as a ‘Bedford Grown’ Farmers Market on Saturday, and an antique car show and unique animal display on Sunday. The public is also encouraged to enter a series of competitions that will highlight the best local: crops, fresh vegetables, art, baked goods, sewing, floral arrangements and preserved food arrangement contests and many more! The event will feature a series of live bands throughout the days of the fair, with a grand concert Saturday evening. There will be a designated wine tasting garden for local wineries to showcase and sell their products. In addition, Cole Amusements will provide a variety of mid-way rides and attractions for families and children to enjoy. Bedford County Fair hours will be Friday, Aug. 28, 1 – 9 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 30, 1 – 6 p.m. There will be no entrance fee and parking will be free of charge as well. Attendees will only be required to pay for rides and special attractions and for any food or products they choose to purchase. Bedford farms and food producers are encouraged to participate by being a part of the Saturday Farmers Market or by reserving a table space to promote your farm and farm products throughout the duration of the fair. Other vendors will include: The Department of Forestry, the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center, farm equipment dealers, farm supply dealers, and much more. For questions about signing up for Saturday Farmers Market please contact John Graham. For questions about signing up to have a table at the fair please contact Jerry Craig, Director of Bedford County Tourism. For sign-up forms and more details please visit: www.BedfordCoFair.com or visit: www.BedfordEconomicDevelopment.com]]>

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Agri-tourism and Sustainable Agriculture in Bedford County: Forum Feb. 26

Jason F. — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:54:38 +0000

WHERE: Bower Center for the Arts 305 North Bridge St. Bedford, VA 24523 (downstairs in the terrace gallery) WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 26th at 7pm RSVP: This meeting is open to the public but please let us know you plan on coming by RSVPing using our contact form, on Facebook or by calling Bedford County Tourism Director Jerry Craig by phone at: 540-587-5682.

Click here or on the preview image above to download/view the PDF

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A Lack of Regard for the Public's Opinion in Bedford (via News and Advance)

Jason F. — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 16:01:58 +0000

an opinion piece from their Editorial Board expressed the concern many citizens in Bedford County have after witnessing the June 9th public hearing concerning zoning changes for CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations). With the rush to vote many members of the local community are disturbed and wondering how to respond to what appears to be a lack of transparency and a disregard for public concern. Here is the article from the News and Advance:

By THE NEWS and ADVANCE EDITORIAL BOARD When leaders in Bedford County decide on a course of action, it’s full speed ahead evidently, no matter what the public thinks. We’re talking about last Monday’s joint public hearing held by the Board of Supervisors and the county planning commission on proposed changes to the county’s zoning ordinances regarding setbacks for “concentrated animal feeding operations,” or CAFOs for short. Of “factory farms” in reality. And they are just that: large buildings for “growing” animals for corporate food processors. Thirty thousand chickens. Thousands of cattle or pigs. Factories in every sense of the word that produce toxic environmental waste. County residents caught wind of the politicians’ intentions to dramatically reduce setback requirements for these factories and turned out in large numbers, filling the board chamber and spilling into the hallway. Under the old ordinance, CAFOs were allowed but with setbacks of 1,000 feet for poultry operations and 2,500 feet for other animals. The setbacks were designed to protect neighboring properties, homes, residential subdivisions, streams and public water sources. But after Monday night and a 6-1 vote by the supervisors, those setbacks have been slashed. Now, instead of 1,000 feet for chickens or 2,500 feet for other animals, it’s 250 feet. Except for homes; chickens and cows can come within 300 feet while for pigs, it’s 500 feet. As one speaker at the public hearing pointed out, that’s only the length of football field from a home. And we’re not talking about a bucolic scene of beef cattle grazing in a lush green pasture or chickens scratching and pecking in a wide-open field. We’re talking about thousands of animals being “grown” in large buildings built on a concrete slab, generating thousands of tons of waste either to be collected on site or trucked off. Certainly doesn’t sound like a “farm” operation to us. Sounds much more like a factory in need of more government and environmental oversight, not less. That’s what a great many of the people who showed up for Monday night’s public hearing thought so, as well. Farmers and members of the county’s Agricultural Economic Development Advisory Board at the meeting spoke about the benefits to the county and their livelihoods from such operations: increased economic activity in the county, farms that are more financially stable, farmers able to keep farming. Other residents spoke about air and water pollution dangers posed by factory farms. They spoke about waste disposal and collection on-site. To say it was a contentious meeting would be an understatement. Sensing the public’s split on the matter, Planning Commission member Jeff Burdett quite properly moved to table a decision that night, in an attempt to buy time for further study of the matter. He lost that motion on tied vote, 3-3, and was next on the losing end of a 4-2 vote to approve the setback cuts. After the hand-off from the Planning Commission to the Board of Supervisors, it became apparent what the result would be. Supervisor Steve Wilkerson proposed to amend the setback requirements for operations near private homes, but the ball was rolling down hill for approval. And that’s what happened. On a 6-1 vote with only Chairman John Sharp objecting, the supervisors OK’d the new ordinance. What would have been the problem with the supervisors taking more time to study the issue, to hold meetings and work sessions with the public and all interested parties? That’s what Sharp wanted to do, sensing the deep split in the board chambers that night and in the public at large. But apparently his colleagues had already made up their minds. No more public hearings. One and done. That was enough for the majority of the board. In the end, the process of good government lost Monday night in Bedford. Supervisors had a chance to involve the public in a major decision, working with them and bringing them into the governing process. But, instead, they chose not to. Read the article at NewsAndAdvance.com]]>

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Mixed Reactions to Changes to Bedford CAFO Zoning Ordinance

Jason F. — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:10:18 +0000

From WSET:

Bedford County, VA – Changes to the future of farming in Bedford County have divided the agricultural community. The Board of Supervisors voted 6 -1 to make regulation changes that will allow many more farmers to build poultry and hog feeding facilities in the county. Supporters of the changes to the long standing zoning ordinance say now Bedford farmers have the opportunity to get into the poultry and swine business. “Before it wasn’t even possible here in the county, because of restrictions they placed on the placement of the buildings” said Dairy Farmer Matt Proehl. Proehl says the previous setbacks prevented him from building a chicken feedlot on his property a few years ago. “My family and I are in the dairy business. I wanted something to supplement or go a long with the dairy business. What happened to me was, honestly, it couldn’t be done in the county” said Proehl. Concentrated Animal Feeding Facilities allow farmers to enter contracts with large corporations — like Tyson Foods. However, the opposition says industrializing farming in Bedford is not the best move in the long run. “They are talking about guaranteed income. These facilities are indeed owned by the farmer” said Farmer Brent Wills. Facilities, which, Wills says take 100’s of thousands of dollars to build and will rely on corporations to run. “I don’t see that argument holding up when there’s really no guaranteed income from anything especially from a biological system like agriculture” said Wills. Wills says he doesn’t believe the board really considered the social and environmental issues a long with the economic benefits.

+ WSET.com – ABC13 + (link to video) ——————————– Previous Story:

A local group is fired up about possible changes to Bedford County’s zoning regulations. The Bedford County Agricultural Economic Development Advisement Board is pushing for changes that would allow for more chicken and hog concentrated feeding facilities in the county. Ag Board Chairman Jeff Powers says the board came to the decision to support the changes after researching and visiting local feeding facilities for the last six months. He says the feeding farms would allow farmers to work out contracts with large corporations to make more money. “If it is someone who is already farming then that’s a second product. A crop farmer may not get but one check a year and if the weather is bad he might not get that. This would be a guaranteed income” said Ag board chairman Jeff Powers. However, the local community group Land and Table says there are long term consequences to bringing in these large corporations. “As a community we should not be listening to the promises of corporate agro-businesses” said Land and Table co-founder Jason Fowler. The board will be holding a public hearing on the matter on June 9th.

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Bedford Decreases Setbacks for CAFOs (via News and Advance)

Jason F. — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 04:44:35 +0000

From the News and Advance:

“A battle for Bedford County’s culture sprouted at a joint public hearing on changing zoning setbacks for concentrated animal feeding operations, which opponents referred to as factory farms. The seeds of the confrontation were sown in at least the last week as county supervisors and planning commissioners fielded calls from irate taxpayers on both sides. Residents filled the board chambers and spilled into the hallway Monday. The operations are large buildings for growing animals — for example 30,000-plus chicken coops — to produce meat for a large company. While the buildings and land are owned by the farmer, the animals usually are owned by the processor. The planning commission voted 4-2, and the supervisors voted 6-1, to decrease the set backs for these operations following a public hearing that lasted almost two hours. The operations were not banned in Bedford County, but regulations were such that few, if any, parcels are large enough to meet them for poultry and swine. The board and commission’s decisions will allow the operations much closer to property lines, dwellings, residential subdivisions public facilities, streams and public water sources. The majority of those who faced the supervisors and commissioners Monday night asked the setbacks not be cut, at least not so “drastically,” for the sake of community, economic and environmental health. Some said they should be equaled by raising setbacks for cattle and beef…”

Continue Reading at NewsAdvance.com >>>]]>

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Large-scale Animal Farming at Issue in Bedford County (via News and Advance)

Jason F. — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 13:46:28 +0000

From the News and Advance:

An effort by some Bedford County farmers to adjust zoning regulations to allow larger factory-like farming operations faces opposition from those saying they will harm the community.

Proponents say the setback for poultry and swine are only being changed so that they are equal to that of beef and dairy cattle.

They say concentrated animal feeding operations — for example, a confined poultry house with 30,000-plus chickens — will give small farmers definite income to balance the risks of crop farming.

Opponents say the operations will have a negative impact on Bedford County farmers, the economy and environment. They also say a decision is being rushed.

A joint public hearing of the planning commission and board of supervisors will be held Monday about the setback requirements, which would cut the distance concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, can be built from property lines, dwellings, residential subdivisions, public facilities, streams and public water sources.

The operations are not banned in Bedford County. The setback requirements, however, are such that there are few if any parcels in the county large enough to meet them for poultry and swine.

Under the proposal, the setbacks would be reduced dramatically for poultry and swine to match that of cattle.

Currently, a poultry operation must be set back 1,000 feet from a property line. Swine operations must be set back 2,500 feet. The new requirements would set them at the minimum applied to beef or dairy cattle, which is 250 feet. Similar cuts were made for every setback category.

Continue Reading at NewsAdvance.com >>>

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