SVCC Hosts Co-op Month Breakfast
SVCC President Dr. Quentin Johnson provides keynote address during Co-op Month breakfast.
The Virginia Cooperative Council recognized a 41-year Rockingham Cooperative employee and a recent Virginia FFA president during its Co-op Month celebration, held Sept. 30 at Southside Virginia Community College in Alberta.
Sam Liggett - recipient of the 2026 Career Cooperative Leadership Award
Sam Liggett, who earned the Career Cooperative Leadership Award, began his career with Rockingham Cooperative in 1985 after graduating from Virginia Tech with a major in animal science and a minor in agricultural economics. During his four decades of service, Rockingham Cooperative grew to include 14 retail outlets, plus a wholesale and agronomy business spanning seven mid-Eastern states. Liggett was named retail division manager in 2007, division manager for operations in 2015, chief operating officer in 2021 and CEO in 2023. After stepping down this past January, he helped with the transition to the new Rockingham Cooperative CEO, Jason Hoekstra.
“Sam has been active for decades in the Buffalo Gap FFA alumni group, and is a former deacon for Mossy Creek Church,” notes Adam Ford of Farm Credit of the Virginias in his nomination statement. “He also led efforts to start Rockingham Cooperative’s ‘Pork for the Pantry’ donation event, which connects local youth livestock exhibitors with those in the community in need of quality protein sources.”
Liggett avidly supported 4-H and FFA programs across his cooperative’s service territory. Both of his sons participated in the Buffalo Gap FFA and the Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education (VICE) while in high school.
Rockingham Cooperative colleagues accept the Career Cooperative Leadership Award from Dustin Francis (left) on behalf of Sam Liggett following Co-op Month breakfast at SVCC.
“Sam’s contributions to Rockingham Cooperative cannot be overstated,” says Josh Carty, the cooperative’s training and development manager, who accepted the award on his behalf. “We are delighted to have his efforts receive statewide recognition.”
Emma Alexander, 2025-2026 Virginia FFA State President and Louisa County High School graduate, earned the Council’s Young Cooperator Award, which recognizes outstanding cooperative members under the age of 40. She was nominated by VCC President Dustin Francis, the community relations coordinator for Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative.
“I first met Emma during her participation at the 2025 VICE,” explains Francis, who observed her leadership skills when she served with other Virginia FFA officers during the 2026 VICE.
Emma Alexander - recipient of the 2026 Young Cooperator Award
Alexander’s family are members of EverGro Cooperative and Colonial Farm Credit. As a member of Louisa FFA, she earned an FFA Beef Production Proficiency Award through her work at her family’s Gold Mine Farm. After placing 2nd in employment skills at the 2024 Virginia FFA State Convention and 3rd at the 2024 Eastern States FFA Exposition, she won the 2025 Virginia FFA employment skills career event. Alexander also earned an American FFA degree, which recognizes significant achievement in agricultural experience, leadership and community involvement.
“With her top-notch leadership and communication skills, Emma already is an outstanding advocate for cooperatives,” Francis said.Currently attending Clemson University, Alexander is studying agribusiness with minors in economics and marketing. After graduation, she plans to return to her family’s cattle operation while pursuing a career in agricultural marketing.
Earlier that morning, SVCC President Dr. Quentin Johnson provided a keynote address after being introduced by Dr. Dixie Watts Dalton, who served SVCC in several capacities before returning to Virginia Tech as faculty. A past recipient of VCC’s Career Cooperative Leadership Award, she served on the search team that hired Dr. Johnson. As he explained, SVCC is the first school in the nation to offer a Data Center Learning Lab and certifications in the trades needed to build and maintain data centers, including HVAC and electrical engineering specialties. SVCC is also well known for its partnership with electric co-ops and utilities to offer the popular Power Line Worker program, which will soon honor its 800th program graduate at its Pickett Park location in Blackstone.