Alleghany
Highlands Agricultural Center
Supporting
Our
Farming Communities
Agricultural
interests remain the heart and
soul of the Alleghany Highlands region (
Since
the project’s inception in 2005 with
financial and technical assistance from the USDA and Appalachian
Regional
Commission, representatives from The Highland Center, Virginia
Cooperative
Extension, West Virginia Cooperative Extension, local Sheep and Cattle
producer
associations, and producers have documented the need for such a
facility and
its impact in adding profitability to local farm enterprises. Through
intensive
study, the Ag Center steering committee concluded that the project is
viable
for the region.
The
Ag Center will have a direct economic
impact on our community:
· 4
-5 jobs created paying a livable wage
· $1
million infrastructure investment in local community
· Increased
revenue of a large number of farms through sales on
value-added
markets rather than on a commodity market
· Giving
sales to local businesses that support farm operations (feed &
seed, fence supplies, extra labor to
increase farm operations)
· Maintaining
the pastoral look of the area, which attracts many tourists each
year
2008
was an exciting year for the Ag Center, with several developments
moving the
project from concept to reality. A site location was purchased north of
Monterey in Highland County, and the Steering Committee spent most the
year
working with partners including ACS Design, Virginia Farm Bureau
Federation,
VA-FAIRS, First and Citizen’s Bank, Spruce Hill Excavating Co.,The
Highland-Bath Cattle Association, Rockingham Livestock, and many more
(please
see our partner list page) to ready the site for Phase I of
development, the
construction of the live animal marketing infrastructure. This
component came
on line in October, and has already facilitated the marketing of 700
head in 2008 and over 1200 head in 2009.
The
Steering Committee is now moving forward on Phase II, raising capital for
construction and operation of the abattoir/meat processing component. Architectural
plans for the Ag Center building are near completion, and
the
committee is engaged in the establishment of legal entities and finalizing an
investment package.
