Livestock Industry
Improved Farmland Assessment process for all 55 counties
Reworked all animal disease emergency action plans
Provided Animal ID readers to each livestock market- All Federal traceability laws must be in place by 2023Hired more livestock graders
Worked with Buzz Foods to open up a new slaughter creating an additional market for WV beef
Passed the Fresh Food Act mandating WV institutions source five percent of their beef commodities from WV farmers
Passed legislation allowing for increased on-farm slaughter for rabbits and poultry
Agency Improvements
Improved GAP certification process
Reduced waste and bureaucracy within Department structure
Worked with West Virginia Universities to find additional efficiencies saving taxpayer monies
Veterans
Signed the Home Grown By Heroes Trademark with the Veteran Farmer Coalition
Brought a $400,000 VA Agro-therapy project to WV
Secured $250,000 for the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program
Hosted veteran-focused trainings around the state
Specialty Crops
Maple Syrup production more than doubled
Industrial Hemp acreage more than quadrupled Growth in Farm-to-School programs
Passed the Fresh Food Act mandating state agencies must purchase five percent of produce, meat and poultry from WV farmers
Passed several Cottage Food Bills allowing more freedom to agri-businesses
Brought back the State Fair Country Store, more than doubling previous years in sales while creating a new market for small agri-businesses
Worked with West Virginia State Parks to source more specialty foods
Working with WV State University to grow lavender on state-farms
Other
Fostered the growth within FFA and 4-H programs. FFA has seen record enrollment
Reworked phyto sanitary inspection process saving logging operations time which resulted in increase exports for
WV Fought back against legislation to allow harvesting of lumber within State Parks
Modernized auctioneer regulations Secured money for WV food banks to handle additional food commodities
Helped increase the number of donations to WV food banks through Hunters Helping the Hungry program
Kent Leonhardt uses his military training to better plan agricultural distribution and availability to ensure that citizens have access to a safe food supply.
Kent Leonhardt understands the difficulty our veterans face when they transition out of the military. He has expanded the Homegrown by Heroes program to get more of our veterans established in agriculture.
West Virginia’s rural population has limited access to fresh foods. Kent Leonhardt has ensured these food deserts has nutritional food by linking locally grown produce through farm stands and markets to citizens.
Kent Leonhardt supports initiatives that teach consumers about where food comes from and champions programs that allow non-farmers to develop a stronger connection to West Virginia’s farms.
Kent Leonhardt has encouraged expanding agriculture in urban areas. He has also helped promote and grow our specialty food businesses to better enable West Virginia products to be sold within and outside of West Virginia.
Kent Leonhardt supports efforts to grow the Tourism industry within West Virginia by expanding the opportunities for Agritourism. Agritourism is currently one of the fastest growing sources of farm revenue in the United States.
Kent Leonhardt believes the job of our government is to work to encourage a free market that will create growth of all businesses, rather than cavalierly eliminating jobs and destroying local economies with lawsuits and burdensome regulations.
Kent Leonhardt supports agricultural education in every way possible. He is an advocate for FFA, the Beginner Farmer Program, and 4-H all across West Virginia. These programs not only prepare West Virginia’s young people for successful careers in agriculture, but they teach students leadership skills that will benefit them in all facets of life, no matter what careers they choose.
With his years of education and experience, find out why Kent Leonhardt is the best candidate for West Virginia.
Learn More About KentCommitted to the issues at hand, Kent looks to the future and what is in the best interest of West Virginia and it's rural communities.
Learn More About The IssuesHave a question or need more information? Kent wants to hear from you. Contact our campaign by mail, email or phone today.
Contact NowInvest in West Virginia when you donate to the Kent Leonhardt for Agricultural Commissioner campaign.
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For a better tomorrow!
Kent for WV
P.O. Box 18
Morgantown, WV 26507
© 2024 Kent Leonhardt for West Virginia : Official Campaign Site for Kent for WV
Paid for by Kent for WV, Kevin Scott Poe - Treasurer.
Kent for WV, PO Box 18, Morgantown, WV 26507