Shepherd University Launches Farm Incubator to Grow the Next Generation of Farmers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle

Shepherd University launches farm incubator to support beginning farmers

The Tabler Farm at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown is now home to an Agricultural Small Business Incubator designed to help new and early-stage farmers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The incubator is accepting applications for the 2026 growing season.

Program coordinator Molly Sutter says participants will receive mentorship, up to a quarter-acre plot to cultivate, and shared access to cold storage, greenhouse space, a tractor and other specialty equipment. The program also provides assistance with business planning, marketing, infrastructure and irrigation.

We’re just trying to help out farmers, especially as development pressure — from housing to planned data centers — reduces available farmland in Jefferson County, said Sutter. The incubator aims to support small farmers who want to stay in production.

Leaders say ideal applicants have some farming experience and a clear business idea but lack land. The program lets growers lease inexpensive plots while they establish operations and build capital, helping offset the high upfront costs of equipment and startup.

Brooke Comer, assistant professor of environmental science and the incubator lead, said the program's main goal is to lower barriers for those who are not inheriting land. The incubator generally supports participants for up to five years, a timeline intended to allow growers to build a customer base, refine a business plan and stabilize finances before 'graduating' to their own land.

The incubator currently occupies about 10 fenced acres of Shepherd's roughly 160-acre Tabler Farm. An additional 40 acres are being prepared for potential rotational grazing. Funded by a grant from the federal Small Business Administration, the site will host educational programming and promote peer learning among growers experimenting with different crops and techniques.

Capacity is available for 18 participants; four people have applied so far for the 2026 season. According to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the state has nearly 23,000 farms covering about 3.5 million acres, and more than 90% of farms are family-owned and operated. Beth Southern, a department spokeswoman, said the agency is not aware of other farm incubators in the state and praised Shepherd's program as a valuable model for training new producers.

Applications and program details are available on Shepherd University's website. For more information, contact Brooke Comer at bcomer@shepherd.edu or Molly Sutter at msutter@shepherd.edu.