About Agriculture Innovation at Eastern
With supporting funds from the USDA Rural Business Development Grant, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Eastern's Agriculture Innovation Program launched agriculture programming and initiatives to help drive new economic opportunities in agriculture. Eastern understands that successful programming and economic development could not be accomplished alone. Local, regional, and state partnerships are key to sustainability and impactful programming efforts. A few of our partners include the United States Department of Agriculture, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, West Virginia University Extension and West Virginia State.
These partnerships and supportive funding have allowed Eastern's Agriculture Innovation to support agriculture entrepreneurs locally, regionally, and statewide to adopt and drive agricultural innovation. Several practices include the utilization of poultry bio-waste as a method of upcycling byproducts and utilizing precision agriculture technologies such as drone imaging on operations. Eastern has also led many initiatives including:
- Ag Action Council
- WV AG Showcase andÌýAG Student Challenge
- Workshops and Trainings
- Farm to Table Events
- Business Coaching
- Biochar
Eastern is viewed as one of the leaders in economic development specifically in Agriculture. As a result of the tremendous interest from past programming, Eastern now has a Potomac Highlands Food Cooperative, an Associate in Business Management with an Emphasis in Agribusiness, Ag Workforce Trainings & Certifications, and timely workshops and programming.
Ag Workforce Trainings & Certifications
Earn industry recognized certifications and trainings to directly benefit your agriculture enterprise and education.
Apply now!
To enroll in an Ag Workforce Training, please complete the application below and send it via email to aginnovation@easternwv.edu.
*Please note: Applicants under 18 years old must have a parental and principal/guidance counselor signature for acceptance.
2024 Trainings and Certifications Full Schedule
Potomac Highlands Producers
The Potomac Highlands Producers is a group of farmers and producers from the six Potomac Highlands counties of eastern West Virginia, all working together to promote and sell their products to retail, restaurants, institutions, and individuals. The project is being spearheaded by the ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Virginia Community & Technical College to strengthen the local farm economy.
The goals of Potomac Highlands Producers are to grow the local farm economy by providing marketing and advertising of local food, business coaching and support, training on innovative agricultural practices, collective sales of products, and community awareness of the availability of local foods from the Potomac Highlands and where to buy them. The Potomac Highlands Producers is located at Eastern's Main Campus in Moorefield.
MONTHLY LOCAL FOOD BOX
Taste all the Potomac Highlands has to offer with our monthly Best of the Potomac Highlands Food Box. Each month, we offer a different selection of high-quality food products from local farmers. The Potomac Highlands has a a surprising abundance and variety of products that are grown—pastured beef, lamb, chicken and pork to maple syrup, apples, strawberries, organic eggs and more!Ìý
Learn more about one of our producers
Your Travel Guide to Local Farm Fresh Products
The agritourism guide includes 106 local food producers across Grant, Pendleton, Tucker, Mineral, Hampshire and Hardy Counties. These agricultural operations offer a variety of experiences ranging from farm stays or bed and breakfast on the farm, to purchasing local foods, navigating corn mazes and seasonal on-farm activities, picking fruit and vegetables, feeding animals, and recreational activities on the farm.
Contact
Trish Halterman
Ag Workforce Fellowship and Student Training Coordinator
For information about Ag Trainings: aginnovation@easternwv.edu
Phone: extension *9609
David Miller
Agriculture Innovation Program Coordinator
Email David.Miller@easternwv.edu
Phone: extension *9606
Amanda Gross
Workforce Student Services Coordinator
Email: amanda.gross@easternwv.edu
Phone: ext. *9413
Fax: 304-434-7003
Robert Burns
Director of Non-Profits & Grants Management
Email: Robert.Burns@easternwv.edu
Phone: ext. *9233