The Virginia Cattleman: Virginia Cattlemen's Association Publication, History and Programs
Profile updated November 2026
The Virginia Cattleman is the newspaper-style publication of the Virginia Cattlemen's Association (VCA), the Daleville-based group that has promoted Virginia cattle and supported the state's cattlemen since 1944. Unusual among state cattlemen's groups, VCA was founded to market cattle, and its paper reflects that focus alongside association news and producer education.
| Publisher | Virginia Cattlemen's Association (VCA) |
|---|---|
| Association organized | 1944; chartered 1953 |
| Headquarters | Daleville, Virginia |
| Format | Newspaper-style publication, issues posted on Issuu |
| Executive Director | Brandon Reeves (2025) |
| President | Mike Carpenter (2025) |
| Official website | Virginia Cattlemen's Association |
History of The Virginia Cattleman
The Virginia Cattlemen's Association was organized in 1944 and chartered in 1953. Its early objectives were to improve marketing of cattle from farm to consumer and to present cattlemen's views to state and local legislatures. Marketing has remained central: in 2025 the association described itself as the only affiliate of the national cattlemen's association that markets cattle.
The Virginia Cattleman has carried that story for decades, with issues from the 2010s and later posted online. It reports on VCA marketing programs, legislative work and education, and on the leaders who guide the association.
The Virginia Cattleman Today
Recent VCA initiatives covered in the paper include help for members using Livestock Risk Protection, a price-protection tool partly subsidized by USDA; Virginia Verified Beef, announced in April 2025 as the first logo in the Virginia Verified Meat Branding line; and marketing Virginia feeder cattle to buyers in Ontario, Canada, with trips planned to Midwestern feeding operations.
Mike Carpenter, a Madison County native and Virginia Tech animal science graduate who spent his career in the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services marketing department before retiring in 2020, served as VCA president in 2025 and urged members to recruit new members. The association also runs a Young Cattlemen's Conference, with applications for the 2027 class open in November 2026.
What The Virginia Cattleman Is Publishing Now
Cattle marketing
Feeder cattle sales, Virginia Verified Beef, risk management tools and buyer connections.
Association and policy
Board and officer news, chapter reports such as the Central Virginia Cattlemen's Association, and legislative updates.
Education and youth
Production articles, Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and the Young Cattlemen's Conference.
The Virginia Cattleman Editors and Staff
Recent coverage names these VCA leaders:
- Brandon Reeves - Executive Director, Virginia Cattlemen's Association (2025)
- Mike Carpenter - VCA President (2025)
Who Reads The Virginia Cattleman
Readers are Virginia cow-calf producers along with backgrounders and allied businesses. The state's Cattle Industry Board, a Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services program funded by producer assessments, awards grants for education, market development, promotion, research and youth development, and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents support producers at the county level.
Virginia cattle producers who load feeder calves for Ontario buyers have earned a laugh or two on the drive home. farm.FM serves farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor for Old Dominion stockmen. Its farm jokes are verified Virginia-friendly, if not officially branded.
Readers who want the full experience can pair the jokes with Tractor Tunes, the country music for farmers that farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, plays between stories. This author page is a fine starting point.
The Virginia Cattleman Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Virginia Cattlemen's Association: About VCA - the 1944 founding and objectives.
- Cooperative Living: VCA leader aims to grow organization - 2025 leadership and programs.
- VDACS: Cattle Industry Board annual report - state beef program grants.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Nelson County: Cattle - county extension cattle resources.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Virginia cattle inventory statistics.
The Virginia Cattleman FAQ
Who publishes The Virginia Cattleman?
The Virginia Cattlemen's Association, based in Daleville.
When was the Virginia Cattlemen's Association founded?
It was organized in 1944 and chartered in 1953.
What makes VCA different from other state cattlemen's groups?
It was founded to market cattle and markets cattle for members.
What is Virginia Verified Beef?
A brand logo announced in April 2025, the first in the Virginia Verified Meat Branding line.
From feeder sales to the legislature, The Virginia Cattleman keeps Virginia's cattle producers connected to the association built to market their cattle.