Two Buckingham farmers — who represented their industries and professions on the local, state and national level of agriculture and worked together for many years — were memorialized by the Buckingham Farm Bureau on Sept. 10.

The late Richard S. “Dick” Ellis IV and Bobby H. Bryan, who both farmed for a majority of their lives, will be permanently honored for their dedication to farming and promoting the industry with a large plaque that will soon join a new flagpole at the farm bureau’s office at Sprouse’s Corner.

According to Henry Wood, a past president of the farm bureau who unveiled the memorial alongside members of the Ellis and Bryan families, the two men were “good stewards of the soil and friends of agriculture on both local, state and national levels.”

During the ceremony Wood said that both men served on national livestock boards. Raising pigs, Bryan served on the national pork board while Ellis, a cattle farmer, served on the national beef board. “As far as we know they’re the only two people in Buckingham that’ve served on the national level on those types of organizations,” Wood said.

He said it was hereditary for the families to work in agriculture, detailing the involvement of their families on the farms.

“Both were very active with the agri-business council, Virginia Extension Service and the soil and water conservation boards,” Wood said.

Both men, who were past presidents of the Buckingham Farm Bureau, were enshrined into the Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame in the 2000s.

“They both just poured their heart and soul into agriculture,” Wood said, noting that their involvement in the industry was endless.  

“It is such an honor for this to be presented … in memory of Bob,” Bryan’s wife, Elsie said.  “And he would have been so proud, so thankful for it. He and Dick both spent many, many hours out of state and in state. And their primary concern was for the producers.”

Bryan said that it was fitting that her late husband and Ellis were honored at the same time. Ellis owned Mount Rush Farm and following his death, Bryan worked and managed it.

“I think both men would be very pleased,” Dick’s wife, Irene said. “They both did a lot of work outside of the county to support agriculture, namely hogs and cattle.”

Not only is the memorial dedicated to the honor and respect of Bryan and Ellis, but to “all Buckingham County farmers, who have given their life, labor and love as good stewards of our land.”