[ workforce ]
Riverhawk Farm
Creating Jobs and Changing Perceptions
CATHY BONNSTETTER JARED BAILEY
West Virginia University Parkersburg ’ s ( WVUP ) Riverhawk Farm is not just growing potatoes — it is growing an agribusiness program while simultaneously creating jobs and inspiring a new mind set about agribusiness in the Mid-Ohio Valley .
The catalyst for this initiative , which began last year , was a partnership with West Virginia Potato Chip Company , the producer of Mister Bee potato chips .
This local partnership between the private and public sectors was the brainchild of WVUP President Chris Gilmer , Ph . D ., and Mary Anne Ketelsen , WVUP alumna and president of the West Virginia Potato Chip Company in Parkersburg . These state leaders realized they could join forces to create an alliance with far-reaching implications . As a result , local farmers , WVUP students and community volunteers are now growing potatoes at Riverhawk Farm that are being used in the production of Mister Bee potato chips , thanks to a private donation from Ketelsen .
Ketelsen ’ s donation was combined with an award from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System to get the farm up and running again , as it was , which was fallow when Gilmer began his tenure three years ago . In fact , the school was considering putting the property up for sale .
The West Virginia Potato Chip Company will pay for the local potatoes , which will reduce the company ’ s freight costs from shipping potatoes in from other states . According to sales manager Rob Graham , the company uses about 5 million pounds of potatoes per year . Depending on production , the company can use as much as 80,000 to 100,000 pounds in a week .
Even though Gilmer realizes WVUP ’ s potato crop is miniscule in comparison with what the company needs , both entities are hoping that local farmers , encouraged by the success at Riverhawk Farm , will start growing potatoes for Mister Bee as well , making the potential reach of this program well beyond WVUP ’ s 25-acre farm .
“ When I came here three years ago , my dream was to get the Riverhawk Farm back into production ,” Gilmer says . “ Mary Anne and I began talking , and this came about through her generosity . Growing all their potatoes at WVUP is not the expectation . However , we saw the value of using West Virginia potatoes for the chips .”
That value goes beyond potatoes and even beyond the partnership . Through the farm and its production , WVUP is encouraging people to rethink how to make a living in the area .
“ We want to build a sustainable agribusiness program that provides additional learning opportunities for the Mid-Ohio
34
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE