For Brittany Leggett, the newest West Virginia University Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Randolph and Upshur counties, the mission of Extension and her passion for education have always been integral to her personal and professional goals.
Raised on a family farm in Nicholas County, Leggett developed a deep love for agriculture and land stewardship from a young age. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal and nutritional sciences and a master’s in agriculture, forestry and consumer sciences from West Virginia University. Her career began in the veterinary industry, but with her extensive background, Leggett is eager to hit the ground running in her new role.
“I’m excited to work with young farmers to help them succeed and grow their businesses,” Leggett says. “I am passionate about community outreach and engagement, and I look forward to providing educational resources that will support businesses, organizations, youth and communities in Randolph and Upshur counties.”
According to USDA and Census data, the number of West Virginia farmers with fewer than 10 years of experience is on the rise, and beginning farmers in the state are younger than their counterparts nationwide.
Leggett believes that cultivating the next generation’s passion for farming begins in the classroom.
“I’ve already started working with local schools to launch Agriculture in the Classroom programs in both counties. I’m also collaborating with the Randolph and Upshur 4-H agents to offer classes that will help students with their livestock projects,” Leggett said.
Ronnie Helmondollar, director of West Virginia University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, praised Leggett’s skills and commitment to her community.
“Brittany’s experience, skills and passion for helping others will be a great asset to the farmers and growers in Randolph and Upshur counties, as well as the broader Tygarts Valley region. The local West Virginia University Extension office is a valuable resource for a wide variety of topics and connects individuals to important resources from WVU and the national land-grant system,” Helmondollar said. “I encourage everyone to get to know Brittany and tap into these resources to improve the profitability of their agricultural endeavors.”
It’s the strong sense of community in both counties that drew Leggett to this role, and it’s something she’s excited to engage with further.
“Both Randolph and Upshur counties offer endless opportunities for community involvement. There’s always something happening, and I look forward to participating,” Leggett shared. “I plan to host public dinner meetings on current topics that will help farms, businesses and producers achieve their goals and address challenges in a collaborative, community-focused setting.”
Randolph County Farm Bureau hosted a meet-and-greet at Camp Pioneer on Feb. 18, where Leggett met with local organizations and community members to spark new and evolving conversations about local concerns and collaboration.
If you want to learn more about West Virginia University Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, X and Instagram.
