When we think about revitalizing our state's economy and breathing life into our communities, many things come to mind.
And, while I can't speak to all of them, I do know a longstanding practice that is helping to spur rural economic and social development in communities across West Virginia.
It has an unlikely, less-stereotypical hero leading the charge.
Who is it? You may know her. Or you may know the other 9,319 scattered across all corners of our state. She is a small farm owner and operator - a vital piece in many puzzles helping West Virginia move forward.
One of the most exciting trends that I've seen the resurgence of in recent years is how people interact with their food. More specifically, the origins.
How was it grown? Where was it grown? And more importantly, who grew it? These are concerns that are becoming increasingly significant to the average consumer.
It's a trend that is driving people to farmers' markets across the state - something that's as much a meet and greet for producers and the public as it is the utility of buying goods. So who is selling that produce?
Sorry, boys. But increasingly, agriculture is no longer a man's world.
Women in West Virginia are entering farming at a rate that's three times the national average. It's a wonderful trend, and now we can boast that women operate roughly 30 percent of the farms in the state.
Running a small farm and giving life blood to an industry that was once in decline is no small task. It's also improving access to nutritious, locally-grown goods. It's taking a hard-earned dollar and reinvesting it into the community. It's giving people a reason to gather.
Perhaps most importantly, it's shaking stereotypical gender roles and investing not only in yourself, but the generations who will follow behind.
That's why the West Virginia University Extension Service is one of the first groups to empower and develop curriculum to support these women. In 2012, the "West Virginia Women in Agriculture" team was formed with the mission to address the needs of this growing demographic.
The team tailored curriculum and teaching methods to women who have the agricultural background, but want to become the full package, so to speak - a knowledgeable business manager who can tout profitability and is able to develop production while balancing planning and risk management.
In my position with the WVU Extension Service, I've had the privilege of collaborating with professionals to encourage women who already participate in farming in taking the next step.
It goes beyond just growing something. It's more than dirt under the fingernails. It's empowerment through knowledge.
The culmination of that is the Women in Agriculture conference. We intentionally designed it to be highly interactive and placed some of the learning back into their hands in a peer-to-peer learning environment.
Through mentoring, networking and tours, we've been able to provide a truly unique experience that many female farm owners find invaluable.
For example, our keynote address this year won't come from one of our people. It won't come from an academic who understands the theories behind business decisions. It will come from "Tootie" Jones, a multi-generational farmer who owns Lewisburg's Swift Level Farm.
She's been there and lived it. She has the insight from taking a traditional cattle farm and reinventing it. There's perspective there that is genuine, and with that, there's no better mentor.
So, the next time you're at a farmers' market, or run across local produce somewhere that one of these women is selling, take a minute to contemplate the gravity. Think of all the knowledge that went into producing that one item. Think about exactly whose pockets you're lining.
Know that you're doing more than buying fruits and vegetables. You're giving back to a grower. You're giving back to your community. Most of all, you're empowering someone. Think of your mom, or your grandma.
Think of your sister, or your daughter. That's exactly the new face of agriculture in West Virginia - familiar, no stranger to hard work, intelligent and distinctly feminine.
Doolarie Singh-Knights is an extension specialist in agricultural economics from West Virginia University. The 2015 Women in Agriculture Conference is Friday and Saturday at Canaan Valley Resort. Registration deadline is Wednesday. Learn more at anr.ext.wvu.edu/ag-women/wia-conference.