College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presents Bruce Holland with Hall of Fame Award

16 Mar 2010

Bruce Holland (center) receives the Hall of Fame Award from Alan Grant (left), dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Kevin Boyle (right), professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, at the annual Alumni Awards Program on March 5, 2010.

Bruce Holland of New Church, Va., has been inducted into Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame, which honors those individuals who exemplify career accomplishment and for their service to the college and university.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1970, Holland brought his management skills, technical acumen, and dedication back to his family farm in New Church. Today, the 3,000-acre W.T. Holland & Sons farm operation produces corn, soybeans, wheat, white potatoes, sweet corn, and beans.

“Bruce has a distinguished record of career achievements, service to Virginia Tech, and recognition from others,” said Kevin Boyle, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

While growing the farm business, Holland served the agricultural industry in a number of leadership capacities, including chair of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, treasurer and board chairman of the Virginia Soybean Association, board member of the Virginia Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, and a member of the Virginia Farm Bureau.

An active community leader, Holland is also treasurer of the New Church Volunteer Fire and Rescue, president of the Pocomoke Ruritan Club, treasurer of the Broadwater Academy board, vice president of the Hartley Hall Nursing Home board, and an ordained elder of the Beaver Dam Presbyterian Church.

Holland has also served Virginia Tech in a number of ways. As a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors from June 2002 to March 2009, he made numerous trips from the Eastern Shore to Blacksburg to support the university. In addition, he has worked closely with local Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and hosted the annual Accomack Farm Tour Day that brings more than 600 third-graders to the Holland family farm to learn about agriculture. He has also been active in the Eastern Shore chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.

Throughout his career, Holland has received numerous accolades, including the 2008 Distinguished Service Award of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, the 1998 and 2007 Meritorious Service Award of the Virginia Soybean Association, the 2003 Meritorious Service Award of the Virginia Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, the 2000 Life Member Award of the Virginia Soybean Association, the 1988 Ruritan of the Year Award, and the Century Club Award of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.

Holland completed a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech in 1970.