JACKSON MILLS, W.Va. – Associate Dean for Programs and Partnerships at the WVU Extension in Morgantown, Jennifer Ours Williams will be inducted into the Agriculture & Forestry Hall of Fame.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Science and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from WVU. In 2011, she received the Woman in Agriculture Award, the Susan Dew Hoff Award from the West Virginia Women’s Commission and in 2015 she was recognized with the Outstanding Extension Faculty Award of Merit.
“My career has been nothing but a blessing because I have worked with such wonderful colleagues and nothing I have done, I have done by myself,” Ours-Williams said.
Living on the farm is really all Ours-Williams has ever known. She grew up on the family farm in Hardy County which is now operated as Our Valley View Poultry Farm with more than 1 million birds and 400 acres of corn and soybeans.
“I had two hard working wonderful parents who worked the land and loved the farm and passed that love onto me,” Ours-Williams said.
According to Ours-Williams, West Virginia is a very agriculturally diverse state, however she said it’s largely untapped potential. A report from the U. S. Department of Agriculture there about 3.5 million acres of farm operations in the state.
“I do think West Virginia is ripe with opportunities to grow our agricultural economy and thrive,” Ours-Williams said.
Along with innovative land usage practices, Williams said more young people are needed to make careers in agriculture and forestry.
“We need the next generation of individuals to pick up that mantle and carry it forward to produce food and to love the land and feed the world,” Ours-Williams said.
Also honored at the Saturday, July 23 banquet at the WVU Jackson Mill campus will be William “Bill” Ingram from Tyler County, Thomas “Tom” McConnell of Preston County and Juergen Wildman of Monongalia County.