Extension

Agriculture continues to grow in West Virginia; however, for the state’s food producers, there are barriers to safely producing, marketing and selling their products. To help break down those barriers, faculty from the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and WVU Extension Service are partnering with the WV Department of Agriculture to create a customized food safety education and outreach program geared toward extension agents, commercial kitchens, home kitchens, incubator kitchens and food producers.

Supporters of West Virginia University donated more than $6 million Wednesday (Nov. 14) during the University’s second annual Day of Giving, more than doubling last year’s total. It was promoted as “One Day to Give Back” and donors responded making 3,001 gifts during the 24-hour online giving event totaling over $6.2 million.

WVU Jackson’s Mill has been an integral part of the history of West Virginia and has played host to hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout its nearly 100-year history. Looking toward the future of facility, WVU Extension Service is planning for the next century of camping and education to meet the evolving needs and interests of youths and other visitors in West Virginia and beyond.

It’s no secret that West Virginia has some of the highest rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease in the country. But to create a healthier landscape in some of our state’s unhealthiest counties, a few West Virginia University faculty believe you have to empower the entire community.

West Virginia University’s quest for innovation can be seen in the way it addresses curriculum for students who face an ever-changing job market, the issues facing the Mountain State and in its groundbreaking research, President Gordon Gee said Monday in his annual State of the University address.

West Virginia youths can join 75,000 of their peers in “discovering the treasures of 4-H” during National 4-H Week, held Oct. 7-13. Youths can go on a treasure hunt to explore the joys of 4-H, trying new experiences, serving their neighbors, gaining life skills and more along the way, by signing up for the West Virginia 4-H Youth Development program.

It could be argued West Virginians in rural communities need more prevalent access to healthcare and medical professionals — winding mountain roads and rivers can make it difficult for many to make appointments and maintain an active relationship with primary-care providers. Many small communities may not have a physician to provide routine guidance on simple, but serious, chronic ailments.

West Virginia University Extension Service is helping local farmers and agribusiness owners navigate new safety regulations and procedures while providing education and training to increase consumer safety from these foodborne illnesses. Teaming up with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and West Virginia State University, WVU Extension Service is offering a series of Food Safety Modernization Act training sessions for fruit and vegetable growers, as well as others interested in learning about produce safety.

The old saying goes “where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” and a few West Virginia University faculty believe the adage holds true when looking at the potential for West Virginia’s apple growers to develop and market a unique food item that could become the hottest new snack — dried, smoked apple chunks.

The West Virginia University Extension Service will offer up a 10-day blend of tradition and future at the State Fair of West Virginia in Fairlea from Thursday (Aug. 9) to Aug. 18 through everything from time-honored livestock 4-H projects to the innovation of a championship robotics team.