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WVU Extension briefs Fayette County on local agriculture, 4-H and community programs
Summary
WVU Extension agents presented an overview of county programming — including soil testing, master gardeners, school-based agriculture education, nutrition work in schools and volunteer service — and estimated the university's annual financial value to Fayette County at roughly $908,000.
WVU Extension staff told the Fayette County Commission about the extension’s agriculture, natural-resources and 4-H programs and outlined services available to residents and farmers.
Brian Sparks (WVU Extension, agriculture and natural resources) and JR Davis (4-H and youth development) described services including soil testing, plant and pest diagnostics, master gardener volunteer training and K–4 agriculture education that reaches every fourth grader in the county. Sparks said the office supports school garden projects, offers a community educational site at Honeysuckle greenhouses, and runs programs to improve food-production knowledge.
The presenters provided a county-level financial-value statement estimating that WVU Extension activity brings about $908,000 to Fayette County annually, accounting for salaries, grants and in-kind volunteer hours (they cited 906 master-volunteer hours valued at $31.80 per hour). Extension staff highlighted nutrition education in schools led by grant-supported staff and offered resources for orchard and seed selection.
Staff encouraged local officials to refer residents to WVU Extension for technical assistance (variety recommendations, soil testing and pest diagnostics) and pointed to ongoing community initiatives such as a gardening challenge and the Fayette County Master Gardeners’ outreach work at libraries and school gardens.
The commission thanked the presenters and asked staff to share materials with schools and local outlets. The presentation included invitations for volunteers and noted coordination with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture on senior farmers-market coupon distribution and training.
