The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is a government agency of the U.S. state of West Virginia.
History The Department of Agriculture was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia State Board of Agriculture. In 1911, the West Virginia Legislature created the modern department.
Organization The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is managed by the agriculture commissioner, an elected official operating independently of the governor's authority.
Kent Leonhardt has served as the commissioner of the department since January 2017.
List of Commissioners No. Name Took office Left office Party 1 Howard E. Williams March 4, 1913 March 3, 1917 Republican 2 James H. Stewart March 4, 1917 March 3, 1925 Republican 3 John W. Smith March 4, 1925 January 10, 1931 Republican 4 Howard M. Gore February 4, 1931 March 3, 1933 Republican 5 James B. McLaughlin March 4, 1933 November 20, 1955 Democratic 6 John T. Johnson December 14, 1955 1965 Democratic 7 Gus R. Douglass 1965 1989 Democratic 8 Cleve Benedict 1989 1993 Republican 9 Gus R. Douglass 1993 2013 Democratic 10 Walt Helmick 2013 2017 Democratic 11 Kent Leonhardt 2017 Incumbent Republican
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