SFOP Director Advocating Nationally for Small Farmers
William Crutchfield doesn’t consider himself royalty, but some of his colleagues, staff and friends have christened him “King Crutchfield.”
As director of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) at Virginia State University (VSU), the business-savvy Crutchfield has used his “Midas touch” and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) connections to build an agricultural “empire” that fiercely advocates for its subjects, small disadvantaged farmers.
The SFOP’s mission is to help new and beginning farmers, as well as minority, veteran, women and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, develop sustainable and profitable operations. SFOP holds nearly 300 programs and educational workshops annually for small farmers and ranchers on VSU’s 416-acre Randolph Farm and around the Commonwealth.
Crutchfield became part-time director in 2012, and was hired full-time a year later. Since taking the reigns, he’s expanded the once struggling small operation into a thriving, million-dollar enterprise. When asked about his royal title, he just laughs. “I’m totally embarrassed, because I’m just a humble guy who grew up on a small farm in Southside Virginia.”
But he’s become a voice for disadvantaged farmers and ranchers around Virginia, and now he is advocating for disenfranchised farmers nationally. Crutchfield was recently appointed to the advisory board of the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR) Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University. The center was authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill to be a voice and advocate for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Eloris D. Speight, the center’s director, said Crutchfield was chosen to represent the 1890 land-grant community because of his success working with small farmers and his leadership in implementing outreach initiatives.
Crutchfield spent 35 years working for five agencies within the USDA, where he served in several high-ranking, senior-level positions before retiring in 2009.
His passion for agriculture began as a boy in Mecklenburg County, where his father farmed tobacco and his uncles raised beef cattle. Active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, he aspired to follow in his family’s agricultural footsteps, and applied to a two-year agriculture certification program at North Carolina State University after graduation. Crutchfield, a C-average student, wasn’t interested in a four-year college degree. He just wanted to farm. “When I met with my high school counselor,” she said, ‘My going to college would be like throwing someone to the wolves.’ ”
His mother, along with his vocational agriculture teacher and his local 4-H agent, all wanted him to attend VSU. “I didn’t want to come to VSU. They conspired to get me into VSU because they felt I had great potential, so off I went to VSU in 1972 screaming and fighting all the way.”
He majored in agriculture education, taking remedial classes the first year to catch up. Crutchfield did well, graduating early with a 3.8 grade point average, and credits his VSU agriculture professors for setting him on a path for success. “All of those professors took me under their wing. They nurtured me.”
He was being groomed to become a vocational agriculture teacher and was student teaching in Mecklenburg when he was offered a job with the USDA, a decision he struggled with until his mother encouraged him to spread his wings beyond Mecklenburg and VSU. She died a few weeks later.
Crutchfield soared to unexpected heights, landing one promotion after another. He also farmed with his father before being transferred out of state, but it was during the 1980s farm crisis - one of the toughest times to be in farming. He learned firsthand the challenges small minority farmers face.
Crutchfield admits that VSU changed his life. Not only was it the springboard for his successful USDA career that took him around the country, but also the place where he met his wife, Stephannie, a VSU alumna. The college sweethearts have two children and two grandchildren.
After retiring, he earned an online master’s degree in public administration and connected with the VSU College of Agriculture’s Alumni Association, serving on advisory boards and consulting on projects. Crutchfield mentioned to the college’s dean at that time, Dr. Jewel Bronaugh (now Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services), that he was bored and looking to teach a class. She offered him the job as SFOP director.
“Mr. Crutchfield is a one-of-a-kind leader and innovative problem solver who makes people feel engaged and confident in his ability to produce results,” Bronaugh said. “He’s built valuable relationships and worked diligently to garner federal, state and local resources to create agricultural programs that have advanced the operations of small and limited-resource farmers throughout Virginia, changing the way Extension programs are delivered,” she said. “Many throughout Virginia can credit him for their success in agriculture.”
Crutchfield inherited a staff of nine part-time small farm agents who worked remotely and a part-time administrative assistant. He quickly began improving staff communications, upgrading technology and tools needed to do greater outreach and putting more boots on the ground to assist socially disadvantaged farmers.
The state budget allocates $500,000 for the SFOP, equating to $390,000 after a portion goes to the university. State funding hasn’t increased in over a decade, but the needs of disadvantaged farmers have grown. So Crutchfield began rekindling old connections and building new relationships with USDA agencies he previously worked for to secure more funding for programs. It led to increased federal funding through grants, partnerships and cooperative agreements. The SFOP’s budget is $1.5 million annually, and it has a staff of 40, including seven interns.
SFOP has grown from serving about 30 counties to now serving 74 of the Commonwealth’s 95 counties, with plans to expand in Southwest Virginia where there is still a need for assistance. “I enjoy seeing the program grow. I enjoy seeing the farmers becoming successful as a result of their interaction with the program. I’m particularly proud of what we’re doing with the veterans that are coming back home from service and getting them engaged in farming,” Crutchfield said.
“We try to deliver a very quality program, and we try to deliver to the farmers what they need with these changing times in agriculture,” he added. SFOP offers agricultural field days, farm tours and demonstrations, as well as workshops to educate new and beginning farmers about starting a business, USDA resources, and production and marketing practices aimed at making their operations profitable and sustainable. SFOP surveys about 4,000 farmers and ranchers in its database to get input on what programs are needed. Farmers travel from other nearby states to attend programs.
Hot topics include hemp production, small engine repair and livestock production. With some small farmers and ranchers in Virginia looking to expand their operations to include cattle, Crutchfield is starting a demonstration and experiential learning site for beef cattle production at Randolph Farm.
His innovative ideas are revolutionizing agriculture at VSU. A $500,000 high-tech high tunnel with solar panels, wind turbines and a rainwater collection system is under construction at the farm. The 100-foot-long, state-of-the-art tunnel will help extend the growing season for plants during the winter months and help to attract students interested in learning about agriculture or environmental science. Also new is a mobile educational unit that will travel around the state to showcase the importance of agriculture in the Commonwealth.
Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, dean of VSU’s College of Agriculture, said the SFOP and Randolph Farm are an integral part of what makes VSU stand out as a land-grant institution. “Crutchfield’s leadership and advocacy has helped VSU become a recognized and respected leader in the area of small farmer outreach and engagement within the field of agriculture and has advanced the university’s land-grant mission. He’s raised the profile of our SFOP to a level that now other universities, and not just land-grant institutions, see us as a model for outreach and education efforts.”
Crutchfield has built and strengthened partnerships locally and nationally. In 2016, SFOP collaborated with the USDA and VCE to host a National Small Farm Conference in Virginia Beach that drew 600 participants. Last year, SFOP partnered with the Minority Outreach Network, a Georgia-based, multistate agricultural advocacy and outreach group, to hold the first national conference for agricultural outreach professionals, drawing 200 attendees. He also collaborates with Virginia Tech (VT), the state’s other land-grant institution, to sponsor events and programs. Dr. Kim Niewolny, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership & Community Education at VT, has worked with Crutchfield as project director of both The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition and the Virginia AgrAbility Program.
“I feel very fortunate to collaborate with Mr. Crutchfield and the VSU SFOP. We have worked together in addressing the needs of Virginia’s small, minority and socially disadvantaged farmers for close to eight years,” Niewolny said. “Bill’s tireless commitment to the small and minority farmers of Virginia and his SFOP team stands out in everything he does.”
Crutchfield said he’s proud of his staff “because without them, none of this would be possible. I’m the dreamer. It’s the staff that does it all. What I’m really the proudest of is how well they work together as a team. They build relationships with the farmers within the communities they work in, and people know to go to them if they need assistance.”
Although most of the small farm agents are part-time employees, they represent a wealth of expertise. Many of them are retired vocational agriculture teachers, extension specialists and USDA employees. With most of them being retirees, Crutchfield is worried about the future of SFOP.
“What I’m most concerned about is the sustainability of the program. We need to be able to bring on younger people. We can’t get them interested in agriculture. They still have this mentality that you’ve got to be out there working in the sun all day long. They don’t realize that now farming is a very high-tech industry.”
It goes without saying he’s seen a lot of innovations in agriculture, and loves bringing new enhancements to his empire and alma mater.
“I have fun doing this job. I love my university. As long as I’m having fun, I’m going to do it. When I stop having fun, I’m going home.”
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