The West Virginia Urban Agriculture Conference and Community Expo will be held May 3 and 4 on the campus of West Virginia State University (WVSU) in Institute. The free event will offer urban gardening education, information and resources for everyone from backyard hobby gardeners to professional farmers and agricultural workers.
Held annually since 2014, the Urban Agriculture Conference offers sessions on such topics as meat production, food safety, small orchard management, rain barrels, raising chickens and more.
“This year’s event focuses on community,” said Dr. Annette Ericksen, assistant program director for agriculture and natural resources with WVSU Extension Service. “Through our partners and vendors, we are highlighting services available to people interested in starting new businesses, growing their own vegetables or just taking charge of their food, nutrition and overall health.
Families, students or those with a creative streak will all find something of their liking at the event’s workshops, listening sessions, roundtable discussions and exhibits, Ericksen said.
Friday’s sessions will be geared largely toward professional farmers, entrepreneurs and agricultural agencies. New for 2019 is a community expo component on Saturday, with information and resources on such topics as mental health, the opioid crisis, establishing school gardens and backyard/hobby gardening sessions. Agricultural crafts, blood glucose screenings and blood pressure screenings will also be offered.
The event is being hosted by WVSU Extension Service and will be held in the University’s Wilson Student Union. Additional sponsors include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, and West Virginia University Extension Service.
The event is free to attend, with registration required. Online registration is available at urbanagwv.com.
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