Virginia’s Last Farms Stand Strong | Virginia Beach News

In James City County, Virginia, where European settlers first planted roots, farmland is vanishing under suburban sprawl. The “Real Virginia” episode dives into this transformation, spotlighting resilient farmers like those at M.O. Smith & Sons Dairy—the nation’s oldest continuously operating dairy, founded in 1619—whose land was once cleared by enslaved people. With just 79 farms left in the county, many are fighting to preserve their land through easements, as development encroaches. Despite shrinking numbers and rising pressures, farmers in their seventies remain fiercely dedicated to the land, keeping Virginia’s agricultural heartbeat alive amid change. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/65a2a23d08bdd9e6