Mr. and Mrs. Willie Mitchell of Bedford have announced the engagement of their daughter, Julie Marie Mitchell, to Michael Brian Darden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Darden of Newsoms.

The bride-to-be is the maternal granddaughter of Anne Snead of Boones Mill and the late Rev. A. Dave Snead and the paternal granddaughter of Mildred Mitchell of Bedford and the late Bill Mitchell.

She is a 2008 graduate of Ferrum College in Virginia, where she received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with minors in English and psychology with an emphasis in educational studies. She received her teaching license from Mary Baldwin College in 2009.

Her fiancé is the maternal grandson of retired Sgt. Major James F. Pope and Audrey Pope of Courtland and the paternal grandson of J. Ashley Darden of Newsoms and the late Jane Darden.

He is a 2006 graduate of Ferrum College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agroecology. He is an employee of Jay Darden Farms, where he works with his father and brother.

The wedding is planned for June 25, 2011.