Veterans and Warriors Agriculture Program Story Archives

WVU Parkersburg Aims to Get More Vets Farming

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is joining a statewide effort to bring more veterans into farming or a related agribusiness.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture says Parkersburg is the first college to participate in the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture project.

Started in 2009, the program is aimed at helping veterans feed themselves and their neighbors. Since then, the program has grown to more than 100 West Virginia veterans who are now farmers or involved in agribusiness.

Veterans and Warriors is already partnering with beekeepers and educational farms.

The idea behind the program is to ease the emotional stress of veterans through farming.

WVU Parkersburg has an agricultural program leading to a one-year certificate or two-year associate degree.

W.Va. Vets Lost in Iraq, Afghanistan to be Honored With Trees

A Fairmont farm will plant 38 trees Saturday representing the West Virginians who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001.

The Times West Virginian reports that the tree planting is a cooperative effort between Zion Heritage Farm and Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is also participating.

Heather Neill is owner of Zion Heritage Farm. She said an apple tree will be planted for the 37 men and one woman who died serving their country.

The ceremony will include Gold Star families, which are parents, spouses, siblings and children of deceased veterans.

Neill said these families will pick out a tree to represent their fallen loved one. The will be planted by volunteers.

Senate Ramps Up Voting as Session Winds Down

Members of the state Senate had 25 bills on their morning calendar Monday, passing almost all unanimously. Those bills included:

Senate Bill 623

The bill requires employers in the mining industry to report all positive drug and alcohol tests to the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. Currently, notification is only required if a miner is discharged.

Senate Bill 476

The bill sets regulations and standards for vehicles being altered to run on alternative fuels. The bill states that no diesel engine modifications for dual fuel retrofit can change the original engine in any way. A similar piece of legislation was passed by the chamber last year, but died in the House of Delegates.

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Cecelia Mason reports on the bill.

Senate Bill 431

The bill lengthens the driver’s license renewal cycle from 5 to 8 years. The bill also allows for the development of an online renewal process and permits individuals with expiring licenses to be notified electronically.

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Ashton Marra reports on the bill.

Senate Bill 469

The bill creates the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program under the Department of Agriculture as a tool to integrate veterans into agriculture jobs. It aims to help West Virginia veterans find employment after returning from combat as well as strengthen the future of the state’s agriculture economy.

All four bills will now move to the House for further consideration.