The West Virginia University Extension is happy to announce Maryanna Milleson as the new agriculture and natural resources agent for Hampshire County, bringing a wealth of educational and environmental knowledge to the area.
Milleson is a Hampshire County native who grew up in Springfield, West Virginia. After graduating summa cum laude from Shepherd University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Milleson worked for three years as an environmental resource specialist for the West Virginia Division of Highways. She also earned minors in education and environmental science and worked as a substitute teacher in Hampshire County.
Growing up on a beef cattle farm, Milleson has been involved in agriculture for as long as she can remember. She was an FFA and 4-H member and even participated in Extension programming as a child. Most of all, she looks back fondly on growing up in an area with strong community ties.
“It's a community where everybody cares about one another, which is really nice,” Milleson said. “Whenever there's support needed, people don't hesitate to show up and support one another, and I think that's a really beautiful thing about West Virginia in general.”
In her new role, Milleson is looking forward to meeting and helping the many farmers and small-scale producers in the area. While she has experience educating youth, Milleson believes adult education is just as important, and hopes to offer a mix of programming that will be helpful to people no matter their age. Whether it’s holding a workshop on the basics of beef cattle nutrition, or hosting livestock judging events for youth, Milleson wants to create more opportunities to learn in Hampshire County.
“I think a lot of the time everybody's really focused on the youth. The youth are very important, and I don't want to leave them out, but education in adults is super important too,” Milleson said.
As a former FFA and 4-H member, Milleson has also come to appreciate the importance of getting kids out of their comfort zone to learn valuable skills like teamwork, critical thinking and leadership. As a kid, Milleson said it was easy for her to discount the time she spent in youth programming. In reality, Milleson says the lessons she learned helped her better work with others and set her up for future success.
“I see the benefit much more now as an adult than I did as a kid. As a kid, I was like, ‘I don’t want to go to a 4-H meeting tonight,’ but you get to have some structure and learn how groups of people function,” Milleson said. “When you say, ‘I was in 4-H and FFA,’ people respect you a little bit more right off the bat, because they know what those programs are about.”
Above all, Milleson wants people to know that her biggest goal is to be a helpful and positive force in Hampshire County.
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
-WVU-
sg/09/10/26
CONTACT: Sam Gorski
Content Strategist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
sbg0004@mail.wvu.edu