WVDA Announces Regional Farm to School Summit

RIPLEY, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education and the Farm to School Alliance, will host a regional Farm to School Summit May 18 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley. This meeting will be the first of several held with the goal of bringing together producers, agricultural & …

Op Ed: Pandemic Session Fruitful for Agriculture

Heading into the 2021 Legislative Session, we were unsure how much time would available for policy making here in West Virginia. Over the last year, COVID-19 had brought the state to a halt limiting our lawmaker’s ability to meet. This created a scenario with limited access, as well as added urgency to move bills quickly to avoid a potential outbreak. …

State Farm Museum Antique Gas Engine Show set for May 1-2

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. – The West Virginia State Farm Museum will host an Antique Gas Engine Show Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature an antique and farm tractor pull Saturday at 1 p.m. There will be worship services held at the log church Sunday at 9 a.m. and a gospel show that …

Commissioner of Agriculture Releases Statement Regarding Future of Cedar Lakes

RIPLEY, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture and the Legislative Delegation representing Jackson County released the following statement regarding the future of the Cedar Lakes Conference Center. “I want to thank Governor Justice for his commitment to keeping Cedar Lakes open. With his allocation out of his civil contingency fund, we are able to recover the money the facility lost during …

Commissioner Leonhardt Applauds Passage of West Virginia Farm Bill

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt today applauded the passage House Bill 2633 alternatively named “The West Virginia Farm Bill”. The bill provides several updates to outdated West Virginia code, established a new Agriculture Investment Fund, reorganizes the Livestock Cares Standards Board and reduces regulations on farmers’ markets. The first West Virginia Farm Bill now awaits Governor Jim …

State Farm Museum to reopen April 1, Volunteers Needed

Point Pleasant, W.Va. – The West Virginia State Farm Museum will open for the 2021 season on Thursday, April 1. The Museum, supported by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, showcases numerous relocated historical buildings, as well as a wide variety of days-gone-by farm implements and antique tractors. Regular hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. …