George Washington Carver Agriculture Research...

George Washington Carver Agriculture Research Center

Jim Hoy, Chairman GWCARC Boardjim.hoy@comcast.net

Carl Stafford ccstaffo@vt.eduSenior Extension Agent, Vice Chairman

540-727-3435, ext. 351

Overview• Organization and Mission• Progress Update• Facility and Concept• Carver Ideals• Educational Exchange• Focus Areas:

– Horticulture– Crops and Forages– Student Exchange and Education– Commercial Kitchen

• Partners• Q & A

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Organization and Mission

• Organized with a Board of Directors in 2012

• Mission - Agriculture Research and Education

• Incorporated in Virginia in 2013

• Registered as a 501.c.(3) charity in 2013

• Expandable lease in effect with Culpeper County in 2013

• Planned lease with Battle Park Farms in 2014

• Submitted Feasibility Study Grant Proposal in 2014

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Mission: 501.c.(3) Narrative

• Commercial Horticulture

• Grain and Forage

• Consumer Horticulture

• Workforce Development

• Commercial Kitchen/Food Enterprise Center

• Alternative Agriculture

• History

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Progress Update

• By Laws and Articles of Incorporation Adopted

• Monthly Board Meetings since 2013

• Bank Account Opened, $13,700 raised from private local donations

• First Annual Meeting held in 2014

• Conflict of Interest Policy Adopted in 2014

• Participation in 2014 Culpeper Farm Tour

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Facility

• Built in 1947, the former segregated regional high school consists of 72,000 sq. feet of space on 11 acres.

• Located 6 miles southeast of Culpeper on U.S. Route 15.

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Concept: Facility Repurposing

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Carver Ideals

• George Washington Carver advocated sustainable agricultural practices while promoting the importance of continuing education needed for adapting to future demands.

• He understood the process of innovation and pioneered the critical research that has advanced modern agriculture on a global scale.

• Dr. Carver realized the value of providing educational resources and applied research that advance sustainable farming practices, product development, food security and environmental stewardship.

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Educational Exchange

• The GWCARC will foster an educational exchange with Virginia academic institutions for sponsoring student internships as well as a venue for field and pilot research.

• Planned Memoranda of Understanding– Virginia State University

– Virginia Tech

– Germanna Community College

– Culpeper and other County Schools

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Focus Areas

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Horticulture

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Students at Work

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Grains and Forages

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Student at Work

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Commercial KitchenFood Enterprise Center

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Students at Work

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Alternative AgricultureEmulating Carver Ideals

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Questions?

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