To assist small-scale farmers, Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University (VCE-VSU) designed a mobile processing unit (MPU) and developed an MPU Certification Program, which is funded by NIFA at USDA. The certification program consists of four online modules and a hands-on module at VCE-VSU’s Randolph Farm.

The last thing Erica Shambley, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for Virginia State University (VSU)’s College of Agriculture, wanted was a band-aid, check-the-box effort for diversity. An emerging partnership between VSU and Virginia Tech tapped Shambley, a self-identifying Black woman, to join at a time when people across the country protested George Floyd’s death and some residents of Richmond, Virginia, demanded the removal of local Confederate statues. Once she got involved, Shambley “found out not only was this extremely important and valuable, but I never thought we could have such open dialogue about diversity and coming together in the workplace the way that we do.”

At Virginia Cooperative Extension, we take concrete actions that advance the wellbeing of Virginia’s families, youth, community, health, economy and food systems. Virginia State University’s Urban Forestry Extension Associate, Joel Koci, supports all of these areas to shape a brighter future for Virginia through his work to improve the health of our state’s urban and suburban trees.

In a May 2020 interview with Future Farmers of America, Bronaugh said, “Taking the position in 4-H and youth development in VSU’s College of Agriculture changed the trajectory of my career; I was planning on building a career as a college professor.” Some of her outreach work in the community included program to address bullying in youth.

Virginia State University College of Agriculture’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Michelle Olgers, was one of two 1890 land-grant university (LGU) agricultural communicator professionals selected to serve on the 14-person National Impact Database (NIDB) writing and editing team this year.

Today, Cooperative Extension resources are offered in every state in the United States to advance the wellbeing of everyone. Empowering its communities, stewarding its resources and shaping a healthy future is at the heart of the nation’s Cooperative Extension program, launched in 1914 by the United States Department of Agriculture in partnership with land-grant universities. However, in the program’s early days, many Cooperative Extension programs and opportunities were offered to whites only.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture have provided funding to the Cooperative Extension system to address health disparities in underserved communities. Called the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE), the initiative offers two options for land-grant universities.

President Joe Biden announced his intent on January 13, 2022, to appoint our own Dr. Ronald Howell, Jr. as the Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Virginia. Dr. Howell was included in a shortlist of new USDA appointees about whom Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “As we work to build a better America, we need talented and experienced staff working in our state offices.” He added, “We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated individuals to USDA at such an important time in the Biden-Harris administration.”

The Virginia Cooperative Extension’s (VCE) emergency preparedness webpages are designed to help Virginia residents prepare for all types of disasters. The pages, part of the ext.vsu.edu website, were created in 2018, as hurricane Michael took aim at Virginia and was expected to make a direct hit.

Dr. Jewel Hairston Bronaugh is making history again as the first African-American Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

At the 78th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) Memorial Luncheon on December 8, 2020, two members of Virginia State University were honored.