COUNCIL AWARDS
One way the Virginia Cooperative Council fulfills our mission is by recognizing outstanding cooperative leaders throughout their careers.
The Virginia Cooperative Council has two recognitions it awards, annually, to outstanding recipients that have made a meaningful impact on cooperative’s in Virginia. Council members have the opportunity to nominate those worthy of distinction for the Cooperative Leadership Award and the Young Cooperator Award.
Award applications are due for 2026 on August 1.
Cooperative Leadership Award Recipients
Established in 1976, this award recognizes co-op educators, co-op employees and employees of cooperative organizations who have consistently worked throughout their careers to further the success of cooperatives in Virginia and whose career contributions at the local, state or national level are worthy of statewide acclaim.
1976 – Former Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr.
1977 – Luther E. Raper
1978 – Galen B. Brubaker
1979 – W. Geoffrey Wysor
1980 – R. Lindsay Gordon, III
1981 – Paul E. Mullinix
1982 – Claude Scroggs
1983 – Guy C. Lewis, Jr.
1984 – Charles E. Allison
1985 – J. E. Givens, E. N. Garnett, Sr
1986 – James B. Bell & Joseph A. Hazelgrove, Sr.
1987 – Harvey Scott & J. W. Riley, Jr.
1988 – Robert Bryan & Willard Miller
1989 – G. A. James & Robert Connor
1990 – James Click & James Bennett
1991 – Taylor Gore & Richard Ellis
1992 – Earl Longest & Lacy Smith
1993 – Charles Jones & Hersh Gardner
1994 – Earl J. Shiflet & William E. Blalock
1995 – Roy F. Heltzer & Harvey Dunn
1996 – R. V. Rice & Hart Hudson
1997 – Shirley Sullivan & Dick Campbell
1998 – John C. Anderson & James P. Townsend
1999 – Richard Reeves & John R. Marker
2000 – Jerry H. Gass & Gregory A. Smith
2001 – John L. Miller & Charles F. Moyer
2002 – Cecil M. Wright & Larry C. Howdyshell
2003 – Cecil Viverette Jr. & Monk Sanford
2004 – Don Shiflet & Nelson Gardner
2005 - Douglas Wine & Wickham Coleman
2006 - Thomas H. Byerly & J. D. “Jack” Hardesty
2007 – John Bowman & Robert Spiers, Jr.
2008 – Charles Rice & Haywood Hamlet
2009 – Hugh Harris
2010 – Jerry Henderson
2011 – Jerry Groseclose
2012 – Jimmy and Donna Pugh Johnson & Dr. Glenn Anderson
2013 – Dr. Dixie Watts Dalton
2014 – Kenneth K. Smith
2015 – Phil Miller
2016 - Greg Farmer & David Lawrence
2017 – Debra S. Swiderski & Paul W. Rogers
2019 – Allen W. Melton
2021 – Jimmy Graves & Greg White
2022 – Delegate Bobby Orrock
2023 – Norman Wenger
2024 – Jay Bryant & Richard Johnstone, Jr.
2025 – Curry Roberts
Young Cooperator Award Recipients
Established in 1985 as the Young Farmer Award, this award recognizes Virginians under age 40 years at the time of nomination who are actively engaged in the cooperative business model and belong to one or more Virginia cooperatives. Winners receive a $500 gift card to the cooperative of their choice.
1998 - John G. Goodwin
1999 - Donald W. Reese
2000 - Joseph William Guthrie
2001 - Maxey L. Broaddus
2002 - Timmy & Tammy French
2003 - Andrew (Andy) T. Pittard, III
2004 - Terry & Tom Lam
2005 - Matthew J. Lohr
2006 - L. Randy Everett
2007 - Holly & Craig J. Baily
2008 – Randall Layman
2009 - Robert Mills
2010 - Robert Bland
2011 – Stephan and Jordan Berryman
2012 – Jon McDonald
2014 – William Seth Roberts
2017 – Erick R. Watkins
2021 – Alex White (presented in December)
2022 – Seth Diggs
2023 – Thomas French
2024 – Morgan Slaven
2025 – Adam Ford