14 VIRGINIA FORESTS Martha Moore was recognized with VFA’s 2023 Outstanding Member of the Year Award during the 2023 Virginia Forestry Summit in Williamsburg, Va. Easton Loving nominated Moore and presented the award that recognizes an individual for their outstanding contributions in the area of conservation, utilization and enhancement of Virginia’s forest resources. It is given to a VFA member that renders service to, and promotes the interests of, Virginia forestry, and/or has fostered greater public awareness and understanding of the forests of the Commonwealth and the contributions which they make to all Virginia citizens. Moore serves as the Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the Virginia Farm Bureau and has been a driving force in legislative and regulatory matters for Virginia’s agriculture and forestry communities. She has been with Farm Bureau for 31 years and currently manages the organization’s lobbying efforts at the local, state and national levels. She also focuses on policy issues regarding agriculture education, budget, forestry, land grant institutions and the environment. In addition to her work with Farm Bureau, Moore currently serves on Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Leadership Council. She co-chaired former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Agriculture and Forestry Transition Team. In 2013, McDonnell appointed her to the Rural Jobs Task Force. She also previously served on the Agriculture and Forestry Transition Teams of Govs. Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Terry McAuliffe. She is a 2019 graduate of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute. Earlier this year, Moore received the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award from the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. In 2020, she was recognized by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts with their Friend of Conservation Award that recognized her exemplary leadership, initiative and dedication to Virginia’s SWCDs. (l. to r.) Easton Loving, Martha Moore, and Bill Osl, Oakland Farm. Virginia Forestry Summit Award Winners MARTHA MOORE IS VFA’S OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR ED ZIMMER RECOGNIZED WITH VFA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Virginia Forestry Association recognized Ed Zimmer with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award during the 2023 Virginia Forestry Summit in Williamsburg, Va. VFA’s Distinguished Service Award gives public recognition to individuals, groups, associations, and/or companies and corporations who make a significant, continuing, and lasting contribution to the conservation of Virginia’s forest resources and/or the enhancement of Virginia’s forest-based community. Zimmer, who currently serves as Deputy State Forester of Virginia, is a professional forester with over 30 years’ experience in a broad array of forestry roles, including both private sector and governmental positions. He has been an active member of VFA since 1991, when he first came to Virginia to work as a Land Management Forester. Zimmer served on the Board of Directors from 2005–2013, becoming VFA President in 2012. He also was previously recognized with the VFA President’s Award. His reach of service spans across the Commonwealth, having served on the former Reforestation of Timberlands Board from
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