West Virginia Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture in West Virginia is managed by the agriculture commissioner, an elected official operating independently of the governor’s authority. The commissioner shall manage all institutional farms, equipment, and other property to most efficiently produce food products for state institutions and advance the agricultural interests of the state.
Kent Leonhardt – West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture
Kent Leonhardt has been serving as the Commissioner of Agriculture for West Virginia since January 2017. He was first elected in 2014 to the West Virginia State Senate and was elected as the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture in 2016, then reelected in 2020. Leonhardt and his wife, Shirley, live on a farm near Blacksville, West Virginia, where they raise cattle, goats, sheep, and hay.
West Virginia State Fair
The State Fair of West Virginia will reopen on August 12 for ten days, aiming to continue the state’s traditions as a step towards returning to normalcy.
The office of agriculture commissioner is established by Article VII of the West Virginia Constitution to advance the agricultural interests of the state and prevent the spread of plant and animal diseases. The commissioner oversees the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
Kent Leonhardt is seeking a third term as Commissioner of Agriculture in 2024, believing that his policies have contributed to making West Virginia a better place to live, raise a family, and start a business.