After months of fierce competition between counties, the West Virginia University Extension Family Nutrition Program will crown the winner of its inaugural Grow This Throwdown on Thursday, November 14, during a virtual awards ceremony.
The Family Nutrition Program will present the top three counties with a combined $22,500 in grant funding. The group also will make a special announcement about the 2025 edition of its popular Grow This seed giveaway.
“We could not have asked for a better first year for the Grow This Throwdown,” said Kristin McCartney, Extension specialist and SNAP-Ed coordinator with the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program. “Growers really embraced the competition and have pulled together to earn points for their counties — all while doing good things for their communities.”
Through this year’s challenges, Grow This participants created more 50 seed libraries around the state where the public can receive free seeds. Many participants also created “edible landscapes” in their communities, substituting ornamental plants in public areas for edible ones.
“Now, we’re excited to see how they use this grant funding to make their communities healthier places to live,” McCartney said.
The Grow This Throwdown Awards will be broadcast live on the Grow This Facebook page (facebook.com/growthiswv) at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The county who wins first prize will receive a $10,000 community improvement grant to sponsor community gardens, walking trails, playgrounds or other projects that improve the health of county residents. The second-place county will receive a $7,500 grant. Third prize is a $5,000 grant sponsored by the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.
Grow This will also present additional awards to individual growers who went above and beyond this year.
Three counties have arranged watch parties so teams can enjoy the festivities together:
Berkeley County — Martinsburg Daily Grind at 6 p.m.
Pocahontas County — Green Bank Public Library at 6 p.m.
Preston County — Preston County Chamber of Commerce, doors open at 5 p.m.
“Next, it’s time to get ready for round two,” McCartney said. “The 2025 Grow This Throwdown will be bigger and even more competitive. This time we’re shooting for the stars.”
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zrh/11/11/24
MEDIA CONTACT: Zackary Harold
Multimedia Specialist
WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program
304-550-2186;
Zackary.Harold@mail.wvu.edu
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