By Stephen Smoot
In mid December, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture opened its application period for the Specialty Crop Grant program.
As stated in a release, “the SCBG Program provides funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of West Virginia’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research initiatives. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. In FY2025, the WVDA awarded more than $302,000 in SCBG funding to projects across the state.”
Last October, a broad spectrum of organizations received grants covering a variety of fields. For example, West Virginia University received two separate awards to protect food plants from disease and also pests. The Mountaineer Beekeepers Association got assistance “to expand its Community-Based Honey Extraction Equipment Program statewide by adding five new kits and partnering with the West Virginia Farmers Market Association to enhance outreach, scheduling and long-term sustainability.”
Support also went to a Pocahontas County-based youth agriculture education project.
Said Kent Leonhardt, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, “The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is an important investment in West Virginia agriculture,” He added that. “These grants help growers, researchers, and organizations expand opportunities for specialty crops, strengthen local markets, and support innovation that keeps our agricultural economy growing.”
The release gave instructions on how to apply, stating Application materials, including instructions and required attachments, are available on the WVDA website at: https://agriculture.wv.gov/ag-business/specialty-crop-block-grant/
Completed applications must be submitted to the WVDA no later than 4 p.m. on January 30, 2026.
Another opportunity could help veteran entrepreneurs get their idea to productive purpose. According to a release, “the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Veterans & Heroes to Agriculture Agribusiness Pitch Competition, an annual event designed to support veterans and other emergency responders pursuing agricultural careers and small-business ventures in the Mountain State.”
It goes on to add that “the competition provides qualified applicants an opportunity to present their ideas for innovative, agriculture-focused projects and compete for funding to help launch or expand their operations.”
“Participants may submit concepts ranging from traditional farming and forestry to value-added food products, agritourism, technology, and other agriculture-related enterprises. The WVDA also provides technical assistance and business resources to help applicants refine their proposals.”
In this fashion, the contest loosely follows the model set by the television show “Shark Tank,” starring Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary, and more so a business promotion event held by the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and allied entities.
Applications are due by January 16, 2026. Finalists will present their pitches during the Pitch Competition, Saturday, March 7, at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV.
Eligibility requirements include the mandate that participants must be law enforcement, firefighter, emergency medical service, first responder, veteran, active-duty military, and/or their spouses and family, and must be a West Virginia resident
Also, the “proposed project must have an agriculture or food-based component.”
Interested individuals can access the application and additional details at https://agriculture.wv.gov/ag-business/veterans-and-heroes-to-agriculture/ or by contacting the WVDA Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture program at 304-558-2210.