West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Service will host a free series of workshops on entrepreneurial farming and food manufacturing throughout Kanawha County beginning Feb. 20 in Charleston. The series leads into the upcoming West Virginia Urban Agriculture Conference and Community Expo, taking place on the University’s campus in May.
The workshops will provide information on agriculture in the state, popular profitable crops and livestock to grow and raise, and foods to manufacture, as well as where agricultural entrepreneurs can go to access federal grants, cost-share programs and low-interest loans.
“These workshops provide an excellent opportunity for anyone just starting out or interested in launching an agriculture-related business to connect with other producers, WVSU Extension Service and USDA services and resources,” said WVSU Extension Service’s Alternative Agriculture Extension Agent Kristie Martin.
Each workshop will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The complete schedule is as follows:
- Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center, 1701 5th Ave., Charleston
- Thursday, March 14 – Lisa Curry Memorial Annex Building, 12316 MacCorkle Ave., Chesapeake
- Wednesday, April 17 – Clendenin Community Center, 4 1st St., Clendenin
Workshop speakers include representatives from WVSU Extension Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia National Guard Patriot Guardens Program. A new farmer, an established farmer and a food manufacturer will also be on hand to speak about their agricultural journeys and how they got started, grew and found their niche in West Virginia.
The workshops will lead into the West Virginia Urban Agriculture Conference and Community Expo, taking place May 3-4 on the WVSU campus in Institute. The free two-day event is designed to attract agriculture enthusiasts at all levels of skill, from backyard hobbyists to full-scale farm operators, who have an interest in urban farming and gardening practices.
Registration for the workshops is required by visiting wvstateu.edu/extension or contacting WVSU Extension Service VISTA Jeremy Brannon at brannoja@wvstateu.edu or (304) 720-1408.
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