Tuesday, August 5, 2025
62.5 F
Beckley
More

    W.Va. organizations form Veterans-to-Agriculture advisory council

    During the 2019 State Fair of West Virginia, a Veterans-and-Warriors-to-Agriculture Advisory Council was formed to establish a cooperative body to tackle veteran issues through agriculture in West Virginia.

    Advertisement

    The council will help streamline and coordinate efforts between many groups, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.

    "We found there are a lot of organizations focused on helping veterans through agriculture," Leonhardt said.

    "To accomplish our individual goals and maximize resources to interested veterans, we need to be working together. This is too important to worry about who gets credit."

    Advertisement

    Participants discussed current programs as well as services offered to veterans and servicemen and women.

    The council held a round-table discussion to examine ways members could work together to better serve their constituent groups, and feedback was also taken on the current activities of the WVDA program.

    Program coordinator Dane Gaiser said he hopes the new council will ensure that veterans are provided all possible help regardless of which organization they contact.

    “Our hope is to establish avenues of communications for veterans who want to pursue agriculture," Gaiser said. "That way, no matter the organization they first contact, they will obtain the proper information or aid they are seeking. We want to make this as easy as possible for the veteran community.”

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    The meeting ended as members established possible next steps for the council, which would include creating specific goals, as well as strategies for implementation.

    Members in attendance were the Farm Credit of the Virginians, the Herschel “Woody” Williams Huntington Veterans Medical Center, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, W.Va. Department of Veterans Affairs, W.Va. National Guard, W.Va. State Extension Service, and the West Virginia University Center for Veteran, Military, and Family Programs.

    Council members not in attendance included West Virginia Veteran producer Sky Edwards, Marshall University Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, and Joshua Thaxton of Walmart.

    For questions or more information, contact Dane Gaiser at vetstoag@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
    Clyde Craig
    Clyde Craighttp://wvexplorer.com
    Clyde Craig is a writer for West Virginia Explorer. Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he traveled with his family across the globe with the U.S. Army before returning to the Mountain State in 2011.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    Jackson’s Mill Jubilee set to crown best homemade pie in West Virginia

    WESTON, W.Va. — Nothing speaks to West Virginia tradition...

    Solar flowers capture attention along the Kanawha River at Buffalo

    BUFFALO, W.Va. — An array of five giant "solar...

    Thirty-three West Virginia companies receive award for global exports

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thirty-three West Virginia companies that export...

    The eastern panhandle of West Virginia: how it came to be

    SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The eastern panhandle of West Virginia...

    Unique northern panhandle of West Virginia created by historic dispute

    WEIRTON, W.Va — West Virginia's remarkable shape is partly...

    Topics

    Jackson’s Mill Jubilee set to crown best homemade pie in West Virginia

    WESTON, W.Va. — Nothing speaks to West Virginia tradition...

    Thirty-three West Virginia companies receive award for global exports

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thirty-three West Virginia companies that export...

    The eastern panhandle of West Virginia: how it came to be

    SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The eastern panhandle of West Virginia...

    Unique northern panhandle of West Virginia created by historic dispute

    WEIRTON, W.Va — West Virginia's remarkable shape is partly...

    August in West Virginia: When mountain customs come home

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a...

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories