Four more days to vote for Farm Mom of the Year
Published 9:54 am Wednesday, May 9, 2012
by Stephen H. Cowles/Contributing Writer
playback58@gmail.com
Isle of Wight County Supervisor Delores “Dee Dee” Darden is up for National Farm Mom of the Year. -- SUBMITTED
WINDSOR—Another election is in progress, one that could bring national distinction for Western Tidewater, and readers can help.
Windsor’s Delores “Dee Dee” Darden is up for National Farm Mom of the Year. Voting continues through Saturday, May 12, and the winner will be announced on Mother’s Day. As of Tuesday, there was no indication how many votes she and the other four candidates had garnered.
To vote, go to www.americasfarmers.com/farmmom/vote.aspx.
Darden got into the contest after being named the Farm Mom of the Year for the Southeast Region.
Taking a break from planting peanuts on Monday, Darden said the recognition was “pretty exciting.”
“My daughter, Carrie, nominated me last year,” Darden said. “I wasn’t picked, but she nominated me again. I had won about two weeks ago for the Southeast Region, which is made up of nine or 10 states.”
The first prize was $5,000, and if Darden gets the national honor, there’ll be another $5,000 plus a trip to Florida for the Commodity Classic. This is a yearly meeting for growers of corn, soybeans and sorghum.
Darden and her husband, Tommy, have a 600-acre farm raising beef cattle, corn, cotton, peanuts, pumpkins and wheat. The couple also operates Darden’s Country Store, which has been in the family for nearly 60 years.
She has been past leader of the Virginia Grain Producers Association and the National Peanut Board and is chairwoman of the Virginia Small Grains Checkoff Board
Sponsored by America’s Farmers, Darden is past president of the Virginia Grain Producers Association. The campaign is an advocacy program, celebrating farmers through communications, awards and programs that highlight the importance of agriculture.
Darden serves as chairwoman of the Virginia Small Grains Checkoff Board. As past chairman of the National Peanut Board she traveled nationally and internationally promoting peanuts.
Darden is an Isle of Wight County supervisor for the Windsor District.
Also the mother of Ellen Couch and Thomas Darden Jr., she is a grandmother to five.
