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Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Renee M. Savits
Privacy protected and confidential information is restricted from public access for 75 years per Code of Virginia 42.1-78. Restricted records in this collection have been sealed but not removed from the collection. Types of sealed information may include, but are not limited to: attorney-client communications and proprietary records.
There are no restrictions.
Records of the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, 2008-2018 (bulk 2014-2018). Accession 52174, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Transferred on 10 January 2018 by the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.
Finally established in 2004, the eventual creation of the Agriculture and Forestry secretariat began with a 2001 gubernatorial campaign promise made by Governor Mark R. Warner to provide cabinet level representation for the agriculture and forestry industry. Further support for the creation of the secretariat came from the Governor's Agriculture Net Receipts Work Group, a task force created in 2003 by Governor Warner through the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. The goal of the task force was to determine strategies and recommendations for doubling the net profits of Virginia's agricultural sector between 2004 and 2014. Among the task force's recommendations was the creation of the, "Office of Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry to provide focus and emphasis in the development of the agriculture and forest industries." In 2004, the General Assembly of Virginia created the cabinet position of Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry with the passing of Senate Bill SB 543 and witnessed its codification through 2.2-203.3 of the Code of Virginia. Speaking at the appointment ceremony of the first Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Governor Warner reiterated his commitment to, "support and expand our agriculture and forestry industries" and recalled his desire to, "make sure these very important sectors of Virginia's economy received a seat at my cabinet table."
The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry is appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the General Assembly, and serves at the Governor's pleasure. It is the secretary's responsibility to oversee several agencies and other entities that formerly reported to the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Among the agencies reporting to the Agriculture and Forestry secretariat are the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, the Virginia Agricultural Council, and the Virginia Marine Products Board. The Governor may assign or reassign agencies to and from the Agriculture and Forestry secretariat through the use of executive orders. The secretary's role in leading agencies within the Agriculture and Forestry secretariat is to provide guidance and direction, "in the conservation, protection, and development of Virginia's agricultural and forest resources and in protecting the Virginia Consumer."
Todd Haymore served as the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry from 2010 until 2016 September. Basil Gooden served as Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry from 2016 September until 2018 January.
Records, 2008-2018 (bulk 2014-2018), created and maintained by Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Todd Haymore (2010-2016) and Basil Gooden (2016-2018), during the administration of Governor Terry McAuliffe (2014-2018). The records include agendas, correspondence, memorandum, minutes, newspaper clippings, presentations, programs, reports, speeches, studies, and other working papers.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I: Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, 2010-2016; Series II: Correspondence: Assigned State Agencies, 2010-2017; Series III: Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Office of the Secretary, 2008-2018; Series IV: Economic Development, 2009-2016; Series V: Public Relations, 2010-2018.Series I: Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, 2010-2016, is housed in five boxes. This series includes agendas, announcements, brochures, budgets, correspondence, meeting notes, memorandum, project lists, and reports. The series is divided into three subseries: General, Locality, and Company Name. The General subseries includes budgets, guidelines for the fund, and project lists. The Locality subseries are arranged alphabetically by locality and contain grants reviews, grant applications, and letters of support. The Company Name subseries are arranged alphabetically by company name and contain announcements, correspondence, event briefing information, and talking points.
The Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund is a discretionary, performance-based economic development incentive specifically for agriculture and forestry value-added or processing projects. The AFID program supports agribusinesses of all sizes including produce companies, dairy processors, meat and poultry processors, specialty food and beverage manufacturers, greenhouse operations, forest product manufacturers and more. The fund can also support aquaculture projects such as oyster production and nurseries producing native plants for stormwater BMPs. An AFID facility grant is awarded to a political subdivision for the benefit of the company, with the expectation that the grant is critical to the success of the new or expanding facility. The grant amount and terms are determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and approved by the Governor.
Series II: Correspondence: Assigned State Agencies, 2010-2017, is housed in five boxes and arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series includes agendas, budgets, correspondence, notes, and reports. This series includes information relating to issues concerning the agencies under the Secretary including Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Racing Commission, among others. The series is further divided into two subseries: General and Constituent Cases.
Series III: Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Office of the Secretary, 2008-2018, is housed in eleven boxes and arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series includes agendas, brochures, clippings, correspondence, event briefing information, house bills, memorandum, notes, press releases, reports, and speeches. The series is further divided into two subseries: Events and Subject files.
Subseries A: Events, 2015-2017, is housed in four boxes and contains agendas, briefing information, programs, press releases, notes, and speeches pertaining to events attended by the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. A variety of events include bill signings, trade missions, opening of agricultural related stores, conferences, visits by Ambassadors of other countries, AFID announcements, agritourism conferences, and rotary club dinners, among others.
Subseries B: Subject files, 2008-2018, is housed in seven boxes and contains budgets, clippings, correspondence, meeting agendas, memorandum, notes, press releases, reports, and other sundry materials. This series includes information on issues such as animal shelters, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Dept. of Forestry reforestation and regulations, horse racing and the Virginia Racing Commission, gaming and fantasy sports, invasive insects and plants, local industries, and wine growers and sales, among others.
Series IV: Economic Development, 2009-2016, is housed in seven boxes and arranged chronologically. The series documents the Secretary's involvement with economic development and tourism projects, initiatives, and events, as well as interactions with outside economic development and tourism businesses, organizations, boards, and commissions. This series includes correspondence, itineraries, briefings, invitation lists, newspaper clippings, press releases, speeches, notes, and reports. A large portion of this series includes various marketing and trade mission trips to the East and West coasts of the United States; countries such as Cuba, Israel, and India; and throughout Asia and Europe. Also included are visits to Virginia from various ambassadors. Trade issues, such as China's ban on U.S. poultry, and Virginia agribusinesses, such as wineries, cider and beer breweries, seafood, soybeans, tobacco, and peanuts, were major topics of discussion. Since Secretariat Todd Haymore served both Governor McDonnell and Governor McAuliffe, the records span both governorships.
Series V: Public Relations, 2009-2016, is housed in twelve boxes and arranged chronologically. The series documents the Secretary's various public relations events and meetings. This series is very similar and even duplicates some of the materials from Series IV: Economic Development. The series includes agendas, briefing information, brochures, correspondence, minutes, notes, press releases, power point presentation slides, and speeches. Includes visits from Ambassadors, trade missions to promote investment in the Commonwealth, increase exports of agricultural products, board of directors meetings, grand openings of businesses, cabinet retreats, and tours around the state, among others.