Request for Proposal for Agricultural Lease - Smith Farm

Franklin County, Virginia, is seeking a qualified agricultural operator to lease approximately 79.3 acres of County-owned property at Smith Farm, located at 550 Lovely Valley Road in Wirtz, Virginia. The lease is intended for productive cropland use, such as row crops and hay, for an initial one-year term with the possibility of up to four additional one-year extensions. A critical requirement of the lease is the strict protection of designated Conserved Areas, which include an existing Nutrient Bank and a pending Mitigation Bank. Agricultural activities must not disturb these areas, and the operator must ensure that livestock are prevented from entering and that operations do not interfere with the monitoring or regulatory requirements of the conservation easements. Proposals must be submitted in sealed envelopes marked Smith Farm Agricultural Lease and delivered to the Franklin County Finance Department by 4:00 p.m. on November 5, 2026. The County will award the lease to the most advantageous offer, which is not necessarily the highest rent. Evaluation criteria include the proposed rent schedule, the operator's qualifications and financial capacity, and a stewardship plan focusing on nutrient management, cover cropping, and erosion control. Successful applicants must accept the property in as-is condition, provide commercial general liability insurance naming Franklin County as an additional insured, and comply with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination and drug-free workplace laws.