Kent Leonhardt

Commissioner of Agriculture

Kent Leonhardt is a longtime farmer who began his passion for farming at a very young age, but got his start in the industry by reviving a farm that had sat abandoned for over 40 years located near Blacksville, West Virginia. The farm, that he still lives on today, was purchased in 1982 and started cultivating crops and raising livestock in 1997. As of 2017, the farm has grown from the original 205 acres to 380 contiguous acres. With the help of his wife, Shirley, Kent raises sheep, cattle and goats and sells hay when there is a surplus available.

Kent received his formal education in the science of agriculture by earning his Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Missouri. While earning his degree he took a variety of courses covering issues pertinent to the Department of Agriculture as well as the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Kent furthered his education by earning a Masters in Business Management from Central Michigan University.

Besides earning post-secondary degrees, Kent served in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1996. During that time, he served on multiple joint service assignments leading men and women in war and peace. Throughout his service, Kent received a variety of decorations including: Legion of Merit, Combat Action Ribbon and 8 other personal decorations.

In 2014, Kent was elected to the West Virginia State Senate to serve the people of the 2nd Senatorial District. The district he was chosen to represent in Charleston is one of the largest and most rural in West Virginia containing parts of or all of the following counties: Marshall, Wetzel, Gilmer, Marion, Monongalia, Tyler, Doddridge, Calhoun, and Ritchie. In 2016, he was elected as the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.

Kent and his wife Shirley still live on their farm in Western Monongalia County. Together, they have three sons and five grandchildren. Kent is a member of the Monongalia County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is a member of the Monongalia County Livestock Association.

Jason Hubbart, PhD

Associate Dean, Division for Land-Grant Engagement, WVU

Dr. Hubbart is the Associate Dean for Research for the Division for Land-Grant Engagement at West Virginia University, which includes the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, WVU Extension, and the Center for Community Engagement. He is also the Associate Director of the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station. As Associate Dean and Associate Director, Hubbart is the primary research point of contact for the Division's faculty, staff, and administrators. He oversees formula-funded projects, assigns faculty to NIMSS system projects, and submits annual reports for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Hubbart manages annual College research expenditures exceeding $25 million, leads Graduate Student Programming and International Programs, and supervises College facilities. He also leads Federal funding agency interactions and strategic research planning for the USDA Workplan and represents WVU in regional agricultural experiment station meetings. He further serves West Virginia as the gubernatorial appointee to the Science and Technical Advisory Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Program, represents West Virginia as a member of the Northeast Climate Hub, and is the state's ambassador to the World Bank Global Water Partnership. Dr. Hubbart is a formally trained forest and physical hydrologist and is a full professor in the School of Natural Resources and Environments of Davis College. Dr. Hubbart has been awarded (as PI or Co-PI) over $46M in external grants. He has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles ranging from hydrological processes to water quality, many with his nearly 30 completed M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students. He also studies and publishes on organizational development and change.

Jorge H. Atiles, Ph.D.

Dean, WVU Cooperative Extension Service

As Dean of Extension and Engagement and director of the WVU Extension Service, Jorge Atiles develops and executes a positive vision that supports and advances the comprehensive land-grant mission of WVU in all of West Virginia's 55 counties.

An innovative and dynamic leader, Dr. Atiles is committed to furthering WVU's mission of teaching, scholarship and engagement through strategic action, while creating opportunities associated with the diverse programs in the Extension Service. He is focused on strengthening communities by working collaboratively with key partners to expand outreach and programming opportunities that address the needs of West Virginians.

In addition to his role with WVU Extension Service, Dr. Atiles holds a faculty appointment as professor in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.

Dr. Atiles previously served as associate dean, Extension, engagement and continuing education for the Colleges of Education, Health, Aviation and Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University. During his 10-year career there, he served as coordinator of the University Network on Community Engagement and assistant director of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service-Family and Consumer Sciences State Program Leader. He also served as a professor in the Design, Housing and Merchandising department for the College of Human Sciences.

Prior to Oklahoma State, he served in various roles at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, including associate dean for outreach and Extension in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, professor in the Housing and Consumer Economics Department, and assistant professor and Extension specialist for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Before his academic career, Dr. Atiles worked in city and county government managing federally funded housing programs in the Department of Human and Economic Development, Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. He also worked in the banking industry with the Dominican Republic's National Housing Bank

Dr. Atiles completed his doctorate in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His dissertation topic was "Manufactured Housing: An Assessment of Community Attitudes." He completed his master's degree in urban and regional planning from the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech. He received his bachelor's degree in architecture from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena, Dominican Republic.

Harold Ward

Cabinet Secretary, Division of Environmental Protection

Ward recently served as the WVDEP's Deputy Secretary of Operations and Director of the Division of Mining and Reclamation (DMR), where he oversaw all operational components of the WVDEP, as well as the agency's mining regulatory program.

After earning his bachelor's degree in biology from West Virginia University, Ward started his career in state government in 1989 as an Inspector-in-Training with what is now known as the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). After a brief, six-month tenure with the WVDNR, he transferred to the state Division of Energy as a Surface Mining Reclamation Inspector-in-Training.

After the Division of Energy was incorporated into the WVDEP in 1991, Ward continued his career in DMR and was assigned to the agency's Logan office. There, he advanced from Inspector to Inspector Specialist to Inspector Supervisor, before serving as the Deputy Director ofDMR in 2011. Ward was promoted to Director ofDMR in 2013.

In 201 7, Ward was asked to take on additional duties within the agency and oversaw the WVDEP's Division of Land Restoration. That role was expanded in 2018 to include all WVDEP operations.

John Pitsenbarger

President, WV Association of Conservation Districts

Born and raised in Nicholas County, John R. Pitsenbarger is the current Owner/Operator of his family's 160-year-old cattle farm. In 1992, John graduated from Glenville State College with a degree in Social Studies. John has been involved in many aspects of the agriculture community, such as, previously serving on the local FSA Committee and as Chairman on the Nicholas County Farmland Protection Board, and even produced and hosted his own weekly radio program of Agriculture Information. John was named as one of West Virginia's 11th District Senators in November 2019 and served until the end of 2020. While there he was Vice Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Before becoming Senator, John served 11 years on the WVFB State Board with 7 of those being Vice President of the organization. Currently John is again Vice President of the West Virginia Farm Bureau and the President of the Nicholas County Farm Bureau. John is also the Chair of the Elk Conservation District, President of the WV State Association of Conservation District's and a part time Field Enumerator for NASDA/NASS. Along with all of that, John is the Chairman of the WVU Extension Board of Governors in Nicholas County, on the board of the West Virginia Cattlemen's Association and on the WV Livestock Care Standards Board. John is a multi-award-winning DJ and has an Honorary West Virginia FFA Degree. John is married to his lovely wife of 30 years, Tanya, who along with his family, help run the daily operations of the farm.

Jerry Ours

Jerry is a graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Growing up on a beef cattle and sheep farm, he developed a strong foundation in agriculture that led him to pursue a career in the poultry industry. After completing his degree, Jerry held various positions within the poultry sector, gaining valuable experience and insight into the industry. He also served as a Poultry Specialist for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, where he played a key role in the state's nutrient management program. In this role, Jerry worked closely with farmers to implement best management practices, promoting sustainable farming and environmental stewardship across the state.

Currently, Jerry serves on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Poultry Association and is a board member of the Grant County Public Service District. He also previously served as the Grant County Assessor. In addition to his public service work, Jerry and his wife own a greenhouse and high tunnel business in Maysville, WV, where they contribute to local agriculture and promote sustainable farming practices.

Timothy VanReenen

Timothy is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics. He earned his M.S. Degree in Career and Technical Education in 2008. Timothy is a member of the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization where he has served as an alumni board member since 2010 and served as president from 2014-2016.

In 2008, Timothy was elected conservation district supervisor for Pocahontas County, Greenbrier Valley Conservation District. He has served as 2nd vice-president, 1st vice-president and president of the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts, and is currently the WVACD Legislative Committee Chairman. Timothy is an agent for the West Virginia Insurance Company.

Timothy has been a farmer all his life. He resides on a 280-acre farm in southern Pocahontas County, and also farms an additional 50 acres.

Rocky Peck

 

Mr. Peck holds a B.S. in Marketing from Marietta College, and he and and his wife, Dee, are beef cattle farmers and small business owners in Parkersburg. He is active in the agriculture community and understands the conservation needs of the farm industry. His curriculum vitae of membership in and service to a number of organizations include the WV Beef Expo Board, Wood County Beef Producers, past USDA FSA State Executive Committee, and past Chairman of the West Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers.

Douglas Cyphers

Doug is a graduate of West Virginia University with a BSA in Resource Management and a Master's Degree in Agricultural Economics. He began his 32-year professional career in agriculture with the Farmers Home Administration as an Assistant County Supervisor. He concluded with the Farm Service Agency as a District Director, while also serving in various capacities within those agencies throughout his career.

Doug has had a life-long interest in agriculture. With the help of his family and some great friends, he has spent much of his retirement working to improve the sustainability of his family's 7th-generation hay and beef cattle farm for future generations.

Doug and his wife Kim reside on the family farm near Mannington. They have three adult children.

Jon Bourdon

USDA-NRCS

Jon grew up in Lee, Mass., in the same house his parents and sister still reside. He graduated from Morehead State University in Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and agricultural business. Jon began his career with the SCS in 1988 as a Soil Conservationist in eastern Kentucky, after which he held the same position in Connecticut. In July 1992 he was selected to become the District Conservationist in Marietta, Ohio. He stayed in that position for almost 24 years. During his time as DC, Jon also served for 18 years as a lead instructor for the NRCS National Employment Development Center, where he taught approximately 75 management and interpersonal-related classes throughout the county to assist with employee development. He also helped develop similar courses for NEDS. Jon served on numerous state and national committees that were related to employee development or field office operations improvement, as well as numerous acting capacities throughout Ohio.

Jon became the acting Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations and Area Resource Conservationist in Ohio Area III in 2017 before he was selected as ASTC-FO for Ohio Area III in 2018. In FY 2020, Jon served as ASTC-FO for both Area II & Area III in Ohio. He also served as Ohio's acting State Conservationist for four months in 2020. Jon was selected as the State Conservationist for West Virginia and began his duties on Sept. 14, 2020.

Jon's wife Crysta is a native of West Virginia and they, along with their youngest son, Caden (16), are looking forward to relocating to the Morgantown area. Their other children are Josh (32), Traci (30), Brett (26) Alex (25), and Kensley (22). In his spare time Jon enjoys comedy, live music, vacations, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Celtics.