WHEREAS, the annual economic impact of Virginia's chicken industry is more than $12.8 billion and supports over 43,600 total jobs across the Commonwealth; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia is home to over 1,100 farms growing chickens, with Rockingham, Accomack, Shenandoah, Augusta, and Page counties being the top five counties for broiler operations; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia ranked 13th nationally in 2024 for cash receipts of broiler chickens at more than $1.25 billion, and the state ranked 12th nationally in broiler production at more than 263.4 million head; and

 

WHEREAS, the total value of chicken exported through the Port of Virginia in 2025 exceeded $159 million, with the top destination countries being Canada, Georgia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Ghana; and

 

WHEREAS, a 3.5-ounce serving of chicken breast provides high-quality protein, all nine essential amino acids, and other important nutrients while remaining relatively low in calories and fat; and

 

WHEREAS, September is recognized as National Chicken Month, providing an opportunity to honor Virginia's chicken farmers and their families for producing a nutritious food source and for their significant contributions to the Commonwealth's economy;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize September 2026 as VIRGINIA CHICKEN MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.