Agriculture Story Archives - Page 2 of 13 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Capito Tours Shepherd University, Programs That Received Federal Funding

Shepherd University hosted U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, Monday after $2,708,000 of congressional funds were granted to support programs on campus.

Capito visited both the school’s Tabler Farm and Byrd Science and Technology Center during a visit to the Eastern Panhandle.

One part of the total funding will help create a “small business incubator” for new farming students, specifically to help teach them small-scale agricultural practices in a way that’s hands-on and community oriented.

“Shepherd (University) is located in a unique part of West Virginia that has already historically been an agricultural community,” said Madison Hale, farm coordinator at the school’s Agricultural Innovation Center. “But we are quickly seeing that shift away as a lot of the old ways of farming are kind of no longer being used in practice, and so a lot of land has been sold for development. We’re kind of at a turning point where we could still foster a thriving agricultural community here, but the farmers really need more resources.”

Another set of funding is going towards revitalizing and modernizing the school’s chemistry labs.

“We just want to make them more collaborative, because one of our focuses moving forward as a chemistry program is more and more teamwork and collaboration,” said Jacqueline Cole, the school’s chemistry department chair. “One of the things that the sciences really excel at in lab is teamwork. And so we want to move that into the classrooms as well.”

The funds come from the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by the Biden administration in 2022.

Capito, along with Sen. Joe Manchin, requested some of these funds for the university. Both serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“It’s easier for me to be able to direct that spending into valuable projects than it is for Shepherd to have to apply to a grant in D.C. to compete nationwide,” Capito said.

Funding was also awarded to two other university programs: a special education curriculum for the School of Education and a professional development program for high school teachers.

Capito also visited the Rockwool Manufacturing insulation plant in Ranson earlier in the day, according to a release from her office.

Beans, More Beans And Kentucky’s Poet Laureate

This week, climate change is changing what grows in Appalachia, and where. Some peach varieties usually found in Georgia are moving north. We also learn how the bean dish frijoles charros made its way from northern Mexico — to Appalachian Ohio.

This week, climate change is changing what grows in Appalachia, and where. Some peach varieties usually found in Georgia are moving north.

We also learn how the bean dish frijoles charros made its way from northern Mexico — to Appalachian Ohio.

And we revisit our interview with Crystal Wilkinson, who was appointed Kentucky poet laureate in 2021.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Frijoles Charros Makes Its Way To Menus In Ohio
Climate Change Prunes Peach Trees Of The South
Tough Conversations About End Of Life Plans
Revisiting KY Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson

Frijoles Charros Makes Its Way To Menus In Ohio

A bowl of brothy pinto beans is a comfort food for lots of folks here in Appalachia. In southeast Ohio, one man is serving up soup beans that remind him of his childhood home. Frijoles charros — or charro beans — is a popular dish among the ranching communities of rural northern Mexico. Now they’re on a menu in the former coal town of Wellston.

Folkways reporter Nicole Musgrave has this story.

Climate Change Prunes Peach Trees Of The South

Georgia is known for its peaches. They’re practically a state symbol.

You can find peach trees throughout the state. But now, varieties once found only in the southern part of Georgia are moving northward into Appalachia. That’s because fruit trees need a certain amount of cold weather — and climate change is resulting in milder winters and earlier springs.

It’s not just peaches. Climate change affects all sorts of fruit — from apples and blueberries, to pawpaws, pears and plums.

Jess Mador has this story of fruit tree migration. It begins in Georgia.

Tough Conversations About End of Life Plans

Much of Appalachia has an aging population. And with fewer services available in rural communities, it’s often left to families to care for the needs of seniors. That includes end of life care — and beyond.

But talking about funeral arrangements can be awkward. Tom Nichols is the owner of Bartlett Nichols Funeral Home in St. Albans, West Virginia. He spoke with WVPB’s Eric Douglas about ways to ease the conversation.

Revisiting KY Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson

Our final segment revisits our former co-host Caitlin Tan’s 2021 interview with Crystal Wilkinson. Wilkinson was the first Black woman to be named poet laureate of Kentucky. A lot of her writing focuses on Black women and their experiences in Appalachia.

Wilkinson grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Casey County, Kentucky. Her grandfather, Silas, raised cash crops like corn and tobacco.

Caitlin began by asking Wilkinson to read a poem. She chose an ode to Tobacco and her grandfather.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Town Mountain, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sierra Ferrell, Wes Swing and Paul Loomis.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.

And you can sign-up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Health Leadership Discuss DHHR Restructuring And More

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice speaks with the chairs of the House and Senate Health committees – Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, and Del. Amy Summers, R-Taylor. Both lawmakers have been directly involved with legislation that would restructure the DHHR.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice speaks with the chairs of the House and Senate Health committees – Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, and Del. Amy Summers, R-Taylor. Both lawmakers have been directly involved with legislation that would restructure the DHHR.

Also, Senate Republicans gathered in front of the Senate chamber Wednesday morning to present a wide-ranging tax reduction plan for West Virginia. As Chris Schulz reports, Gov. Jim Justice voiced his approval of the proposal, and the Senate met later in the evening to suspend rules and approve the measure. It now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Finally, in our hills and hollows state, agriculture is often a challenge, especially for the small family farm. On Agriculture Day at the West Virginia Legislature, Randy Yohe found a multi-generational farmer, honoring the past while focused on the future.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

W.Va. Family Farms Turn To Agritourism To Survive

Among all the agriculture booths and displays filling the Capitol Rotunda, were Alex and Jade Hanna. The Greenbrier County couple operate a family farm that was established by Alex’s ancestors in 1787.

In a state traversed with hills and hollows, agriculture is often a challenge, especially for the small family farm. On Agriculture Day at the West Virginia Legislature, multi-generational farmers are honoring the past while focused on the future.

“We’ve done a wide range of things over those years. In my grandparents’ lifetime, they were dairy farmers, and they transitioned to beef farming,”’ Alex Hanna said. “I’ve done everything from sheep and poultry. But beef really took off for them.”

Beef and vegetables are the current Hanna Farm mainstays. Alex said the challenges these days are rising expenses that don’t net a profit when taking their beef and vegetables to market. He said the markets themselves are also dwindling.

“We can grow the best produce or the best cattle in the county. But if we don’t have a market for it, we’re not coming out ahead,” Alex said.

Alex noted that the West Virginia Grown promotion is a godsend for small family farms.

“They’re good about encouraging programs such as the Farm to School, we’ve sold a lot of produce to the Farm to School program before,” Alex said. “West Virginia Grown is really bringing knowledge to people in our state about the farmers that are here and what they produce.”

The Hanna Farm is like many small family farms around West Virginia that are resorting to agritourism as a way to make a profit. Their laundry list of ventures include a pumpkin patch, a corn maize, cut flowers, a food truck, whatever they can do to survive.

“We depend heavily on the public, especially with agritourism. We depend on the public to come to us,” Alex said.

No farmer ever says the job is easy, but the Hanna’s said they love what they do and plan to pass it onto the next generation.

A KY Comedian Ducks A Flying Bottle And A Talk With The WV Poet Laureate

For working comedians, mean-spirited hecklers are part of the job. But what happens when someone gets angry enough to throw a beer? And, West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman had his own experience with an intimidating gig. We also hear some advice for people caring for aging relatives. You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

For working comedians, mean-spirited hecklers are part of the job. But what happens when someone gets angry enough to throw a beer?

And, West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman had his own experience with an intimidating gig.

We also hear some advice for people caring for aging relatives.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Kentucky Comedian Ducks A Heckler And Catches Fame
West Virginia Poet Laureate Looks Back At 10 Years
More Questions About Elder Care Answered
Miss West Virginia Champions Appalachian Agriculture

Kentucky Comedian Ducks A Heckler And Catches Fame

Catching a break in comedy can take years, decades — sometimes never. Usually, stand up comedians slowly work their way up from open mics and local bars — to the grind of touring on the club circuit.

But getting a spot on a late night talk show? That could be a career launcher — leading to a better spot on club shows, national tours and — every once in a while — real stardom.

Kentucky comedian Ariel Elias recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! — but not in the way she expected. She went viral after a video emerged of a heckler in New Jersey chucking a beer at her.

It missed Elias’ head by inches. What happened next ensured her place in standup history. Elias picked up the can — and chugged the rest of the beer.

WFPL’s Stephanie Wolf recently spoke with her.

West Virginia Poet Laureate Looks Back At 10 Years

Marc Harshman is West Virginia’s poet laureate. Harshman has published more than 15 books over his career, many of them for children. His 2017 book “Believe What You Can” won Appalachian Book of the Year. Producer Bill Lynch recently spoke with Harshman about his long tenure, his current collection, “Dark Hills of Home,” and what it was like when he found out he was chosen to follow Irene McKinney as West Virginia poet laureate.

Miss West Virginia Champions Appalachian Agriculture

Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch finished as third-runner up in the Miss America competition. Lynch used the moment to promote Appalachian agriculture. WVPB’s Shepherd Snyder spoke to Lynch about her advocacy.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Company Stores, Mary Hott, Paul Loomis and Montana Skies

Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.

And you can sign-up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Miss West Virginia Helps Promote Appalachian Agriculture On National Platform

Martinsburg native and Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch has been making waves nationally as the third-runner up in this year’s Miss America competition, using her platform to be a voice for Appalachian agriculture.

Martinsburg native and Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Lynch has been making waves nationally as the third-runner up in this year’s Miss America competition.

A five-year member of the organization, she’s used her scholarship money to earn degrees at Delaware State and West Virginia University, and used her platform to be a voice for Appalachian agriculture.

Eastern Panhandle reporter Shepherd Snyder spoke to Lynch about her advocacy work.

The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.

Snyder: Starting off, I was just wondering if you’d go ahead and introduce yourself for me.

Lynch: Sure! So my name is Elizabeth Lynch, and I am currently Miss West Virginia 2022, I’m 25 years old. I just graduated with my Master’s at West Virginia University in Food and Nutritional Science with a focus on applied poultry nutrition and feed manufacturer research. And then I’ll be starting my Ph.D. this fall.

Snyder: Very cool. Also at West Virginia?

Lynch: No, no. So at the moment, I’m on my way to Texas Tech University for One Health Sciences. But I just reapplied to the University of Kentucky. When I applied last year, they didn’t have any funding. So having that year off might have just been a blessing in disguise. But I’ll know more in March.

Snyder: I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about that educational background, having all that experience. You said you were in a master’s program recently at WVU, entering a Ph.D. program, I was wondering how that affects what you advocate for as far as Appalachian agriculture.

Lynch: So my advocacy kind of started when I was five, so it goes back way farther than my education. I started riding horses when I was five years old. And then through 4-H and FFA, I started raising pigs. And I really just fell in love with the idea of being a part of the future of agriculture and that belief in the future of agriculture. But my family doesn’t actually own a farm. I’m a first generation agriculturist. So I was like, ‘How in the world do I contribute to the future of agriculture?’ But then I realized through FFA, that it’s so much more than just cows, sows and plows. There’s so many different opportunities if you want to be a part of agriculture.

So I was like, ‘Okay, I’m really good at science. I’m really good at research.’ And I took that, and I turned it into my agricultural education. So I got my bachelor’s degree at Delaware State University, in animal and poultry science, and I did research with sheep and goats while I was there, and then I moved to Morgantown for my master’s degree, and I did work with poultry. And then I’ll start my Ph.D., again, in an agricultural field, working with food, animals and parasites.

Snyder: I know each Miss America contestant is required to have something that’s called a “social impact initiative,” you chose yours to be advocating for Appalachian agriculture, which kind of ties nicely into…

Lynch: Everything I do! Yeah. So it’s my whole life. So when I got involved in the Miss America system, actually, through (Miss West Virginia Organization Executive Producer) Candy Reid and (Executive Director) Shelley Nichols, they kind of pulled me off the streets. In a sense, I didn’t know anything about this organization, I didn’t have a clue on what I was doing. But I knew that the Miss America organization was the largest provider of scholarships for young women in our nation. And I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna have 10 years of school, let’s figure out a way to pay for that.’ So I got involved in the Miss America system, where we really focus on the public speaking aspect, the interview skills, the professional development. So for me, that was huge, and it’s also paying for my school.

So I really decided to take my passion for agriculture and turn it into my social impact initiative. For me, that was a really easy decision, I wanted to make sure that my community understood exactly where their food came from. I wanted to remind people to thank a farmer or talk about the different agricultural careers. And then I also started my Farmer Friday interviews where I interview agriculturists from all over West Virginia. And now I’m expanding that to different parts of the nation as well. And that kind of gives them a chance to tell their story so that they’re not just hearing my voice all the time.

Snyder: Now, this kind of ties into another question that I want to follow up with. Can you tell me a little bit about the day-to-days, and the responsibilities and what exactly being Miss West Virginia entails? Not just preparing for the events themselves, but all the work and advocacy that kind of comes with that title?

Lynch: So for me, I get to talk about the Miss America organization and the Miss West Virginia organization and my day to day job. I get to advocate for agriculture. And a lot of people are like, ‘Well, you have a crown and a sash. So what do you really do? You kiss babies’ foreheads and ride in parades and call it a day.’ And that’s not it. So my job really entails a lot of public speaking. I do a ton of keynote speeches, I’ve actually been involved in the West Virginia Farm Bureau. And I’ve spoken at different county level Farm Bureau banquets, as well as the state convention. And I was actually recently asked to go speak at the North Carolina Farm Bureau meeting as well. So I’m going to head out there in February and be their keynote speaker. So it’s, again, a lot of public speaking work.

A lot of time for me is working on my social impact initiative and doing my Farmer Friday interviews, visiting farms, visiting farmers markets, lots of social media. And then of course, just trying to make sure that I can recruit young women for this organization, because it’s helped me so much. So why can’t it help somebody else? This is really a job. People don’t look at it like that. But as soon as you get put in this position, you’ll understand that it’s a daily job and something that you have to work at all the time. And that’s not to mention all of the practice before Miss America as well.

Snyder: Yeah, you seem very, very busy both inside and outside of your Miss America, Miss West Virginia duties. You’re mentioning your broadcast series, I saw that you help research feed manufacturing with poultry activists at WVU, or you had in the past. Can you tell me a little bit about some of those extra programs or initiatives you’ve helped get off the ground?

Lynch: Oh my goodness. So I’ve been involved in the Miss West Virginia organization for five years now. And I can’t even begin to tell you how many things I’ve been able to do, how many doors that this has opened for me. And that’s, you know, on top of the organization, on top of my time at WVU, and DSU. So it’s helping out with extension work through the university and teaching different agricultural courses. And it’s working directly with our farmers’ markets to get their names out there. It’s working with our kids and starting the Miss West Virginia Grown Challenge, where they get to grow their own plants and figure out how to get their hands dirty, too. So there’s so many different things I feel like I’ve done, it’s kind of hard to put it all in a list. But there’s a lot, and like I’ve said, this organization has really opened up so many doors for me.

Snyder: Pivoting to just the field of agriculture, you’re an advocate for Appalachian agriculture, specifically. How is that different than agriculture in the Midwest, or the heartland or any other region of the country? Are there any special issues or challenges that come from farming in our neck of the woods?

Lynch: So I actually advocate for both Appalachian and American agriculture. So if you notice, on the Miss America stage, I kind of tried to make sure that I could scale it to the national level, as opposed to just keeping it regional.

So looking at Appalachian agriculture, specifically, we’re looking at a very mountainous region. And that can be a little difficult. So you’ve got more specialty crops in these areas, as opposed to things like big ranges, like you see in the Midwest. So you’ve got more cattle production, more corn production, where there’s a lot flatter land. Where in the Appalachian region, again, very mountainous things. So in West Virginia, specifically, we’ve got a really strong hold on hay and fruit production, as well as poultry production. I know that in 2019, we had 75.5 million broiler chickens that were produced just in the state of West Virginia alone. So it’s insane the amount of work that goes into each individual state that you can pull out that information from.

Snyder: Right. And you mentioned earlier in the interview, you’re actually a first generation farmer. You might be uniquely qualified to answer this question. Why should people who aren’t as familiar with, or aren’t around the world of agriculture, care about the field? Why should they be interested?

Lynch: Oh, this is a really good question. I love talking about this. Why should anybody else care about this? So there’s less than 2 percent of our nation that’s responsible for providing the food, the fuel and the fiber that we utilize every day. Did you have breakfast this morning?

Snyder: I did.

Lynch: You did? What did you eat?

Snyder: I had, let me think… I had some yogurt and a banana.

Lynch: Oh, okay, so there’s two right there. Did you have any coffee, orange juice?

Snyder: I did, I had a cup of coffee.

Lynch: Sugar and cream in that?

Snyder: Just black coffee.

Lynch: That’s okay, that’s okay. And I see that you’re wearing clothes, obviously that’s pretty important. And then you had fuel in your vehicle to get you here, right?

Snyder: Yeah.

Lynch: Okay. So in one short morning, you’ve utilized five different agricultural commodities. Think about how many times you might utilize that in a day, or how many times you might utilize agriculture in a month. Now think about how many times you would struggle if you didn’t have that resource readily available to you. That’s why it matters. We are so reliant on our agriculturists to make sure that we have things every single day that we have the ability to eat, that we have this table that we’re sitting at that’s made of wood, that is all agriculture. And people tend to really take that for granted. So that’s why people should care. That’s why it’s important.