Honoring 250 Years of Agriculture at George Washington’s Plantation - National Agricultural Aviation Association

On Monday, over 600 agricultural leaders from across the country gathered at the Mt. Vernon home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia, to celebrate agriculture’s successful contribution to the U.S. for the past 250 years. DCLRS consultant to NAAA, Jay Vroom, attended as a guest of Syngenta, a stalwart supporter of NAAA.

USDA Secretary Rollins during her keynote address joined on stage by Senate Ag Chair Boozman (R-AR) and House Ag Chair Thompson (R-PA) (concealed behind the Secretary)

Jay Vroom, NAAA consultant (left) Senator Hyde-Smith (center) and Texas Congressional Candidate Tom Sell (right)

Vroom spoke with many ag leaders about the strength of ag aviation and our contributions to the U.S. farm economy. He also had the opportunity to speak with policymakers about key legislative and regulatory issues of importance to NAAA. Among those conversations was an exchange with NAAA friend, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). She noted how crucially important it is to protect funding for the USDA Aerial Application Technology Research Unit in the upcoming Farm Bill.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins provided keynote remarks at the event, noting the ideal location of the 250-year ag celebration at George Washington’s farm and how amazed Washington would be to see the incredible progress farming has made in last 250 years. Ag youth organizations were also front and center, including FFA and 4-H, Agriculture Future of America (AFA), and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), reminding attendees of the bright future ahead thanks to these vital rural youth groups.