In a historic moment for Extension-based youth development across the nation, two leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have stepped onto the national stage to guide the future of 4-H. Nicole Swinson of Virginia State University and Teki Hunt of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are the first 1890 HBCU representatives to jointly advise the National 4-H Youth Leadership Team (YLT) for NIFA's National 4-H Conference. This was Hunt's final year serving the YLT, and next year, Swinson will assume her leadership role.

Both Swinson and Hunt are widely respected for leading dynamic, community-centered 4-H programs in their respective states. In Virginia, Swinson created the innovative "AgCulture" program, a combination of Jr. MANRRS and 4-H that supports and inspires students and young professionals pursuing careers in agriculture and other STEAM disciplines. In another creative move to connect youth to agriculture, Swinson launched "Harvest Heroes," a life-sized interactive game where youth work with peer leaders to participate in stations that explore different sides of the agricultural industry. Participants can explore agriculture and STEM careers while learning how food systems work and how they integrate into their own communities.

Dr. Chyer Kim, Professor and Enhance-FI System Lead with the Agricultural Research Station, is the 2026 recipient of the Star Award in the Category of Outstanding Research/Scholarship (50% or higher commitment). This accolade recognizes contributions to Virginia State University through excellence in research, scholarship, student mentorship, outreach, and professional service. In Dr. Kim's case, that excellence comes through the Food Safety and Microbiology program, which, under his leadership, focuses on food safety, microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and value-added agricultural innovations that support the agricultural industry and public health. "Through this work," says Dr. Kim, "I have secured competitive external funding, published peer-reviewed research, and shared findings at regional, national, and international conferences."

Emergency readiness for extreme summer storms

In Virginia, summer can bring sudden, strong storms, as high humidity contributes to thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rain. As Virginia enters peak storm season, it's important to be ready. You might be familiar with emergency preparedness, such as ensuring flashlights are fully charged in case of a power outage, storing a few days' worth of food and fresh water, or having plans to evacuate or seek shelter if the situation poses an immediate danger.

These are all critical components of emergency readiness, but there is one element some folks may not have considered: whether the trees on their property are storm-ready. Virginia State University's urban forestry specialist, Mr. Joel Koci, has tips to help homeowners protect trees and property from storm damage.

In late June, Virginia State University (VSU )'s College of Agriculture (COA) welcomed farmers to Randolph Farm for its Small Farmer-Focused Field Day, offering hands-on learning opportunities at the research and demonstration farm. The event gave growers the chance to see how crops and production systems perform under Virginia conditions and to speak with researchers and specialists who understand the current challenges facing Virginia growers and are working to solve them.

Almost 150 farmer participants visited research plots showcasing 27 blueberry cultivars grown in high tunnels, including the Northern Highbush, Southern Highbush, and Rabbiteye varieties, to compare plant performance and production potential and learn recommendations across Virginia's various USDA planting zones and soil conditions. In tours of other plots and high tunnels, visitors also learned practical organic tomato production techniques, including sustainable strategies for managing common foliar diseases that can negatively impact plant health and crop production.

Large swaths of Virginia are a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Rivers, streams and creeks of all sizes eventually flow into this unique estuary. The Chesapeake Bay is a vital economic resource for the region, with seafood industries, recreation opportunities and tourism generating significant revenue and job opportunities for states within the watershed. It's also a space where people, plants, and animals live in an interconnected system; where positive actions beget positive impacts across the system, and likewise for harmful actions, like pollution, which eventually flows into the bay. A healthy bay ecosystem protects our air and water quality, local food sources, and protects communities from flooding and erosion. Not to mention, thousands of species of plants and animals call the Chesapeake Bay watershed their home, just as people do. By protecting and increasing water resilience in Virginia, we protect our own communities. At Virginia State University, Extension specialists like urban and community forestry associate Joel Koci teach people how to protect and enhance water resilience in Virginia, thereby protecting their own communities.

One natural way to protect water quality is to bolster or plant a riparian buffer. A riparian buffer is the area next to a body of water where native trees, shrubs and other plants grow. Riparian buffers can be an important feature in agricultural, range, suburban and urban settings. Regardless of where you might find one, a riparian buffer's job is the same. They stabilize eroding banks, provide shelter and habitat, and filter harmful substances from the water body adjacent to the buffer.

Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU) is helping build healthier families and communities through nutrition education, food safety and youth wellness initiatives despite recent and real challenges facing Virginia families. Addison Caldwell is VSU’s Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program Extension associate in the family nutrition program. Serving with Extension for nearly three years, Caldwell combines her background in dietetics and nutrition with a passion for empowering young people to make healthier choices.

Caldwell is a proud Trojan who earned her Bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences with a concentration in dietetics. With personal experience witnessing nutrition-related chronic diseases, Caldwell felt driven to pursue further education and a career in the nutrition field. She took a position with VSU Extension while completing her master’s degree in nutrition, and quickly started bringing nutrition and healthy lifestyle education into local communities through Extension programming.

The 1890 Association of Research Directors (ARD) Biennial Research Symposium in New Orleans showcased the very best of Virginia State University (VSU)’s College of Agriculture, with award-winning student research, innovation, and mentorship on display. From oral presentations to the AgTech Hack-a-thon and data competition, the VSU delegation proudly demonstrated the many ways in which Greater Grows here.

The college’s success at the ARD Symposium reflects a broad team effort of research, Extension, academics, leadership and administration. Preparations for the event were long in the making, and the team’s hard work shone through professional-looking posters, engaging displays and fine-tuned oral presentations. VSU’s interactive display featuring hologram messages from COA students and leaders, along with bold research priorities, generated significant buzz at the symposium. Faculty and students presented research orally, and, notably, two VSU students earned top honors for their posters and oral presentations.

4th Annual AgFest Highlights Innovation and Education in Virginia Agriculture

On Tuesday, March 24, Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture (COA) hosted its 4th Annual AgFest in honor of National Agriculture Day. This vibrant event brought together students, farmers, local businesses, families, and community members for a celebration of the many ways in which agriculture impacts all of us.

The festivities kicked off at 11:00 a.m. with an energetic drumline performance, followed by a steady flow of school groups and community visitors. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed live entertainment, student performances and a wide range of activities for all ages. As one of COA’s largest events of the year, AgFest showcased the many ways agriculture shapes everyday life. From the bustling Trojan Farmers Market, featuring local producers from across Virginia, to hands-on educational exhibits and farm-to-table food, the event offered ample opportunities for learning and engagement.

At Virginia State University (VSU), Extension is fortunate to have leaders who bring experience, heart and dedication to their jobs. To celebrate Women's History Month, we sat down with three women in leadership positions to learn more about their journey, who and what inspire them, and how they're rising to meet modern challenges as they advance the mission of Extension at VSU.

Reflecting on Extension’s Legacy of Impact in Virginia

Today, Cooperative Extension programs are woven into the fabric of Virginia communities. Through 4-H youth development, agricultural education, family and consumer sciences and community resource development, Extension connects research-based knowledge and solutions with individuals, families and communities across the Commonwealth. Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU) continues to practice and expand a long tradition of outreach. Today, this work reflects more than a century of vision, persistence and leadership born from a need to dedicate resources to solve Virginians’ real-world problems.

Early Agriculture Education in Virginia

In the early 1800s, there were limited opportunities to learn and study agriculture, despite a growing need for workers with this practical knowledge. Educational opportunities that did exist were not open to all. The story of Extension in Virginia began with the first Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, a piece of legislation that sold federal land to states for the clear purpose of establishing institutions focused on teaching agriculture and mechanical arts as well as classical and scientific studies. The goal was revolutionary for its time: to educate the working class and dedicate scholarly resources to solving pressing issues. In 1872, the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, received funds from the Morrill Land Grant Act for its founding and would later become home to agricultural outreach and demonstration work.