Shepherd University faculty awarded USDA grant

ISSUED: 25 September 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - A $17,000 federal grant recently awarded to two Shepherd University faculty members will sustain the promotion of agritourism in the Eastern Panhandle. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) supports a study conducted by Drs. Zahra Pourabedin and Jim Dovel, faculty in Shepherd University's College of Business, Recreation, and Education.

The study examines the adoption of agritourism by farms in West Virginia.  Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise connecting agricultural production with tourism. Farms generate additional revenue by attracting visitors for entertainment, recreation, or education.

Findings from this study provide implications for promoting agritourism in small areas in the early stages of development. 

Dr. Pourabedin traveled to Charleston, West Virginia, to promote the RBDG program funding and receive recognition for the award.

- 30 -