SEWARD AWARDED SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Richmond, Virginia – Roy E. Seward, a 42-year state employee, was recognized by the Virginia Agribusiness Council as their 2010 Special Recognition award recipient.  Donna Pugh Johnson, Council President, presented Seward with his award during the March 25 meeting of the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and was joined by Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services and agency staff in recognizing his history of dedicated service to the Commonwealth and the agribusiness industry.

Seward is currently the Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Research at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), a role he has held since 1996.  After growing up on a hog and peanut farm in Surry County, Seward pursued a degree from the University of Virginia, joined the Virginia Air National Guard, and then sought employment at VDACS.  He began his career at the agency in 1968, when soon after graduating from college he accepted a job to “inform the public about all things agriculture.” 

After a seven year stint at the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Seward returned to VDACS in 1977, joining the staff of then-VDACS Commissioner Mason Carbaugh as executive assistant a year later. In 1992, he moved from the Commissioner’s staff to the Department of Policy, Planning, and Research, where in his position he has provided legislative and regulatory information to the Department for the past 18 years. In addition to the other duties of his job, Seward was elected Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 1988, a post he currently holds.  During his 35 years of employment at VDACS, Seward has worked during the administrations of twelve governors and soon, six Commissioners of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Council President Donna Pugh Johnson remarked during her presentation, “We are happy to recognize Roy E. Seward today for his outstanding service at a place that is so central to his service. Many of you, like myself, turn to Roy as a source of knowledge, expertise, and a valuable historical perspective on a frequent basis.”  She went on to comment, “His commitment to the Commonwealth, to VDACS, and to the industry of agriculture is clear, as is the stamp he has made upon this agency.  It is my pleasure to present Roy E. Seward with our 2010 Special Recognition Award.”

The Virginia Agribusiness Council represents agricultural and forestry producers, suppliers, marketers, processors and commodity associations in the Commonwealth with a unified voice through its government affairs activities. The Council has a combined membership of over 40,000. For more information on the Virginia Agribusiness Council, visit www.va-agribusiness.org.

Photo (left to right): Donna Pugh Johnson, Va. Agribusiness Council, Richmond; Roy E. Sewart, Va. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Department of Policy, Planning, & Research, Richmond.