West Virginia University Parkersburg’s Riverhawk Farms receives $150,000 gift
The contribution toward the university’s hands-on agricultural education facility comes from Mike and Brenda Miller.
West Virginia University Parkersburg has received a donation of $150,000 for its Riverhawk Farms facility, which provides hands-on agricultural education, from Mike and Brenda Miller, local farmers, education advocates, and supporters of West Virginia University Parkersburg. The donation will allow Riverhawk Farms to expand its livestock education program.
According to an article on West Virginia University Parkersburg’s website, John Riggs, who serves as the university’s Director of Agriculture, commented on the Millers’ donation, saying, “This gift will allow us to expand hands-on learning opportunities for our students, providing them with real-world experience in livestock and sustainable agriculture. Their commitment to agricultural education will have a lasting impact on our students and the future of farming in our region.”
The expansion of the livestock education program at Riverhawk Farms will give students more opportunities for hands-on experiences with animals, like pigs, goats, cattle, and chickens. The expansion is expected to draw more students into the agricultural education program by broadening the opportunities for learning it can offer students.
Mike Miller said, “Agriculture education is about more than just growing crops. For young people in FFA and related programs, livestock is what draws them in. If we want to encourage students to pursue careers in agriculture, we need to give them hands-on experience with different types of animals.”
The Riverhawk Farms program helps students learn essential skills to pursue careers in agriculture, including agribusiness, farming, and sustainability in farming. The Millers are no strangers to these concepts, as the two run a 300-acre farm and are passionate about what they do.
Additionally, Mike Miller used to serve on the board of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, giving him a deeper understanding of what students need to be successful. He said, “I’ve served on the Foundation before, so I’m familiar with students who need opportunities. A lot of kids today don’t have the chance to get hands-on experience like they used to, and this (donation) gives them that opportunity.”
For more information about West Virginia University at Parkersburg, visit the school’s website.