Something to Think About
Don Michael, WVFB Director of Governmental Affairs
By the time you are
reading this article the dust
will be settling from the
81st Legislature, and people
from all walks will be
offering their assessment on
lawmakers’ efforts. To date
(March 20, day 36 of the
60-day Regular Session) one
thousand five hundred and ninety-eight bills have
been introduced. The last day to introduce bills is
March 25, and the total will likely approach 2000,
with approximately 10% of the bills being passed
and signed into law. Look for details in next
month’s column.
Last month I noted the wonderful opportunity
Farm Bureau had to participate in the “WV TEAM
Agricultural Education Summit” at Cedar Lakes.
Our mission was to brainstorm ideas in charting
a course of action to strengthen Agricultural
Education in West Virginia. Recently I received
a very professional finished product of the
TEAM’s efforts – a colorful, slick, gate-fold
brochure entitled, The Essentials of a Successful
West Virginia Agricultural Education Program.
The brochure details 35 essential components
to ensure program success through instruction,
FFA, supervised agricultural experience, program
planning, marketing, partnerships and professional
growth. We commend the Agriculture, Food and
Natural Resources staff with the WV Department
of Education for their efforts in coordinating the
project, and appreciate the support given by Dr.
James Phares, State Superintendent of Schools,
and other leaders within the Department’s Office
of Career and Technical Instruction, as well as the
Office of Child Nutrition.
Participants at the TEAM Ag Ed experience
gained insight into the exciting “Farm to School”
initiative spreading across West Virginia. “One
of the distinctions of ‘Farm to School’ in West
Virginia is that Agricultural Education/FFA
programs are encouraged to participate in the
program,” says Andrew Pense, Coordinator in
the Office of Child Nutrition. “Those that are
participating are actually growing produce,
becoming registered vendors and selling food to
the school(s). Not only are students learning the
nuts and bolts of farming, but they get to learn
about the business as well.” The Office of Child
Nutrition views partnering with Agricultural
Education on the “Farm to School” initiative as
a natural opportunity to grow future farmers and
source fresh local produce for schools-both of
which impact local economies throughout our
state.
When Ag Ed programs connect with their
school’s Food Service Director to provide food,
they are connecting their program and students
to a large market. Since marketing is often
one of the most challenging aspects of starting
a business, this initiative provides valuable
experience in a challenging arena. “Farm to
School” dovetails with the entrepreneurial
training agriculture teachers are receiving across
the state. The initiative is enhanced by a grant
program developed and issued by the Office of
Child Nutrition. Grants are for $7,200 with the
requirement that a minimum of $2,000 be used
as seed money for students to start a growing
operation with the goal of having the food served
in the school cafeteria.
“Farm to School has a lot of momentum,” said
Rick Goff, Executive Director of the Office of
Child Nutrition. “The program is designed to
bring fresh produce to kids, but it also allows the
farmer to direct market on a larger scale within
their own community. It’s really exciting on
both child nutrition and community development
levels.” To date schools in twenty-eight counties
have purchased and served locally produced
food in their school cafeterias with the economic
impact totaling over $270,000. Spearheading the
“Farm to School” initiative in West Virginia is
see Michael, page 17
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5