2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 178
Commending Ernest Eugene Copenhaver, Jr.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Ernest Eugene Copenhaver, Jr., a fifth-generation cattle producer from Meadowview in Washington County, was installed in 2026 as president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the oldest and largest organization representing cattle farmers and ranchers in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Eugene “Gene” Copenhaver was raised on his family's farm in the Lodi community, where his parents, Ernest and Alberta Copenhaver, instilled in him a deep respect for the land, a commitment to community service, and a lifelong dedication to the beef industry, modeling values of stewardship, integrity, and producer advocacy that continue to guide his leadership today; and
WHEREAS, Copenhaver Brothers Farms, Inc., was founded by Ernest Copenhaver and his brother, S.B. Copenhaver, Jr., formalizing a family farming legacy dating back to the mid-1800s and establishing a diversified operation that evolved over time to reflect changing agricultural markets and regional strengths; and
WHEREAS, with the steadfast support of his wife, Jodi, and the encouragement of their children and grandchildren, Gene Copenhaver, along with his son, Will, now manages Copenhaver Brothers Farms as a stocker cattle operation focused on forage-based production, careful risk management, and long-term sustainability, exemplifying the generational resilience and adaptability of Virginia's family farms; and
WHEREAS, Gene Copenhaver earned a degree in animal science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983 and went on to devote nearly four decades to agricultural lending, working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit, and the First Bank & Trust Company, helping farm families across multiple states access capital, manage risk, and build viable operations, all while continuing to work side by side with his own family on the farm; and