About Barry
Born and raised in Virginia.
Del. Barry D. Knight serves in the Virginia House of Delegates, first elected in January 2009. Barry serves as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and serves on both the General Laws Committee and the Rules Committee.
Barry is a native Virginian and has worked his whole life in agri-business with a strong dedication to supporting the local economy and protecting citizens’ rights. Barry began working odd jobs at age 14 and worked on a neighbor’s farm until he was 26 when he purchased his own farm. Barry also worked winters as a long haul trucker.
He grew Barry D. Knight Farms to 640 acres and produced as many as 25,000 finished hogs per year. Barry served as President of the Tidewater Pork Producers from 1984-1990 and earned many awards and distinctions including Virginia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer of the Year, Clean Water Farm Award, and Virginia Beach Man of the Year in Agriculture.
He was appointed by two Governors to the Virginia Pork Board and served with the Virginia Beach Farm Bureau, Southern States Cooperative and Creeds Ruritan Club.
As Delegate, Barry has been frequently awarded “Champion of Free Enterprise” by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and was named 2021 Legislator of the Year. He has been named Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, The Agribusiness Council’s Man of the Year, and Port Champion by the Virginia Maritime Association.
Barry and his wife Paula have been married for 39 years and live in Pungo. They have three sons: Hunter, Kyle and Forrest, two grandsons and two more grandchildren on the way. The family attends Oak Grove Baptist Church.
Notable Recognitions
Business Awards
In recent years Barry has worked hard to give back to the community that has helped him build his business. He served on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission from 2003-2008. He has been a volunteer Little League coach as well as coaching softball.
- American Farm Bureau, Virginia Young Farmer of the Year (1983)
- Virginia Beach Jaycees, Outstanding Young Farmer (1984)
- National Pork Producers Council, Pork All-American (1989)
- City of Virginia Beach, Outstanding Agriculture Operation (1994)
- Virginia Beach Man of the Year in Agriculture (1998)
- Department of Conservation and Recreation, Clean Water Farm Award (1998 & 1992)
- Grand Winner Chowan River Basin Clean Water Farm Award (1999)
- Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Champion of Free Enterprise (six years), Chairman’s award, and Legislator of the Year Award
- Lifetime Honorary Member of the Nature Conservancy
- Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Legislator of the Year (2021)
- Virginia Sheriff’s Association, Legislator of the Year
- Virginia Court Clerks Association, Legislator of the Year (2022)
- Virginia Treasurers’ Association, Legislator of the Year (2023)
- Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Boards, Legislator of the Year (2023)
- Virginia Agribusiness Council, Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness (2023)
Family and Service
Barry and his wife Paula have been married for over 39 years and lives in the Pungo section of Virginia Beach. They have three sons, Hunter, Kyle and Forrest. The Family attends Oak Grove Baptist Church where Barry is chairman of the grounds committee, the business meeting moderator and past deacon and Sunday School teacher.
- Virginia Beach Planning Commission (former member, chairman)
- Virginia Dare Soil and Water Conservation (board of directors)
- Virginia Beach Farm Bureau (vice president)
- Military Aviation Museum (board of directors)
- Southern States Cooperative-Chesapeake Association (former chairman)
- Virginia Pork Industry Board
- Civic League Member: Back Bay/Pungo Civic League
- Oak Grove Baptist Church (Sunday school teacher, deacon)
- Women’s League Softball Coach
- Little League Baseball Coach
- Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee
- Major Employment and Investment Commission (chairman)