Virginia Tech® home

Local Programs

Danville Associate ANR Agent Corey Riedel assists numerous residents and property owners with a wide array of lawn, garden, and landscape problems. From having soils tested for lime and fertilizer needs to pest identification and control recommendations the Horticulture Agent assists hundreds of people every year. Current Virginia Cooperative Extension Publications are made available through the Danville office to provide more detailed, research-based information to help local residents to become more effective and more environmentally responsible gardeners.

Click here for information about horticulture programs in our area.

Click here for information for forestry and natural resources in the central district.

Any person who needs assistance with a horticulture related topic should contact the Danville Horticulture Extension Agent at (434)799-6558, send your questions (with a digital picture of your problem if applicable) on our contact us page or check out our ANR Publications.

Since the 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent position was established in September 2007, many new programs have been started for youth in Danville. The 4-H Extension Agent has personally delivered programs or otherwise assisted over 2700 of Danville’s youth.

4-H programming has partnered with youth organizations such as United Way, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Danville, Danville Public Schools, and local faith based organizations to offer before and after school programming for youth.  4-H’s vision has been to offer programs to help keep area youth involved in positive youth development activities. These programs include: Youth Leadership Development, Agriculture in- school programming, Youth Entrepreneurship, Nutrition Education, and 4-H Resident Camp.  Currently there are six 4-H clubs mainly which offer before/ after school programming and positive activities for youth to participate, two of these clubs meet year around. 

4-H clubs are located at various elementary and middle schools, after-school centers and community centers. These clubs offer community activities throughout the year, which are not limited to just monthly club meetings. 4-H will focus its attention in the upcoming year on teen leadership development, nutrition education, youth entrepreneurship, agriculture and environmental education, life skills development and decision making.

For details on 4-H Programs, click here.

The Virginia Family Nutrition Program is a program within Virginia Cooperative Extension that extends the land-grant education and outreach mission of Virginia Tech by offering a comprehensive collection of resources, educational programs, and services across the Commonwealth to improve the health of families. The motto of the Virginia Family Nutrition Program is Eat Smart, Move More.

The Virginia Family Nutrition Program has a specific focus of addressing food security and the prevention of costly chronic diseases. Our commitment to finding real solutions for our communities is showcased through a variety of programs and initiatives that impact community health.

Our funding comes from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to offer the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to offer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) in Virginia.

Engaging with Communities

Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:   

Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.

Do you have a question about Community Viability?

Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expertsystem. 

Community Viability Specialists