Shelley Butler Barlow

Council Member Shelley S. Butler Barlow  was appointed to the Suffolk City Council in February 2021, and was sworn in February 2021, as the representative of the Chuckatuck Borough. She was elected in 2022 and sworn in for a full term on January 3, 2023. Her term expires on December 31, 2026. 

Experience

A 25-year Suffolk resident, Council Member Butler Barlow farms with her husband Joseph Barlow, Jr., her father-in-law and their son at Cotton Plains Farm, located in Chuckatuck.  She graduated from Western Branch High School in 1978 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Virginia Tech in 1982.  Council Member Butler Barlow has worked in many different segments of agriculture for nearly 40 years. 

In addition to her role as a member of the Suffolk City Council, Council Member Butler Barlow serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. She is a 2016 fellow of Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) and represents Virginia agriculture nationally with the Cotton Board Research and Promotion Program. 

Community Involvement 

In the community, Council Member Butler Barlow is a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Possum Hollow Ruritan Club, Nansemond Farm Bureau Agriculture Education Committee, Suffolk Meals on Wheels Board of Directors, and serves on the Suffolk Farm Services Agency Committee. She is also the Director of Healthy Food Initiatives for Healthy Suffolk, advising local school and community garden projects.