Ohio Valley woman honored with 2024 West Virginia Woman in Agriculture Award

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Each year the West Virginia Department of Agriculture honors outstanding women who have made significant contributions to the agriculture industry, whether it be on the farm, in the classroom, in the lab or through outreach.

Organizers say the six recipients of the 2024 West Virginia Woman in Agriculture Award are truly outstanding in their fields.

They will be recognized during a ceremony at the State Fair of West Virginia on Sunday, August 11, at 11 a.m.

One of the women being recognized is local, from Marshall County.

ESTHER ALLEN – MARSHALL COUNTY – Esther Allen is a city girl turned farmer. She and her late husband Gary raised 12 children on a 112-acre family farm. She instilled the love of agriculture in all her children. Esther was a 4-H leader for many years and understands the importance of introducing agriculture to young folks. She raises flowers and vegetables in her greenhouse, makes baked goods, and is the president of the local farmer’s market (her true passion), where she has implemented handwashing stations, children’s activities, and monthly events. Esther takes pride in being self-sufficient, from pulling a calf, to fixing a fence, to planting a garden.

HEATHER DUNCAN – JEFFERSON COUNTY – Agriculture is in Heather Duncan’s blood. She was a member of Jefferson High School FFA, earning her American Degree. She attended Wilson College, earning a dual major in Equine Management/Equestrian Studies and Religious Studies. She received the coveted Wilson Equestrian Award for excellence in academics and horsemanship. Heather is married to Michael Duncan, Jr. and is raising three daughters on Linden Spring Farm, which consists of 180 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and pasture. They run approximately 40 Hereford cow/calf pairs. In 2021 Heather accepted the position as Executive Director of the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts, where she works with Conservation Districts and farmers to expand conservation in West Virginia.

CINDY JENKS – HARDY COUNTY – Born and raised into agriculture, Cindy knows the hard work that it entails. She takes care of the bookkeeping, planning, scheduling, and ordering, as well as the day-to-day animal care, feeding, watering, and health issues on Mt. Morgans Farm. Currently, the farm produces pasture chickens, broilers, ducks, heritage turkeys, broad-breast turkeys, rabbits, pigs, sows, piglets, and 40 head of cattle. Cindy has worked diligently to sell her USDA-inspected meat at farmers markets, retail locations, and restaurants in surrounding counties. Cindy was instrumental in helping build the foundation of the Wardensville Garden Market.

TERRI MCCOY – PENDLETON COUNTY – Terri was raised on a family farm in Greenbrier County. She showed her first sheep at the age of three and first calf at age eight. She was active in 4-H and FFA. She attended Virginia Tech majoring in Animal Science and received her Master’s in reproductive psychology. Terri and husband John own and operate Brookwood Farms where they maintain 130 purebred Angus Cows, 25 Herefords and 200 crossbred club lamb-producing sheep. They have shown and sold lambs all over the United States, and in 2023 had the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the Iowa State Fair, Missouri State Fair, and the State Fair of West Virginia, all in the same week.

CAROL D. MILLER – CABELL COUNTY – Congresswoman Miller has been involved in the West Virginia agriculture community for decades. Along with her husband Matt, she started Swan Ridge Bison Farm in 1993. In addition to 40 bison, the farm is home to pigs, chickens and bees. She sells her bison products locally at the Wild Ramp in Huntington and Call’s Meats in Hurricane. She served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2018, where she advocated for farmers and moved legislation to strengthen agriculture. In 2018, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She is happiest when all three generations of the Miller family are together on the farm.

CAROL D. MILLER – CABELL COUNTY – Congresswoman Miller has been involved in the West Virginia agriculture community for decades. Along with her husband Matt, she started Swan Ridge Bison Farm in 1993. In addition to 40 bison, the farm is home to pigs, chickens and bees. She sells her bison products locally at the Wild Ramp in Huntington and Call’s Meats in Hurricane. She served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2018, where she advocated for farmers and moved legislation to strengthen agriculture. In 2018, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She is happiest when all three generations of the Miller family are together on the farm.

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