Épisodes

  • Harness Racing is a Buckeye Thing, Casto Farm Wins Award and Healthy Eating

    Harness Racing is a Buckeye Thing, Casto Farm Wins Award and Healthy Eating
    Aug 17 2025
    This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Mandy Curry, co-founder of Healthy Kids Inc. In this segment, Mandy shares the family and community mission behind their company and explains why it's about more than food security — it's about ensuring nutrition security too.

    The Casto Family Farm in Jackson County received the Heritage Farm Award presented by the West Virginia Farm Bureau and the State Fair of WV. We hear from Joe Casto about the farm.

    Harness Racing in the Buckeye State is a big deal. Tom Susman files a report where he talks with a several individuals involved in the sport. Including a gentleman Roger Houston that has called more harness races than anyone. Many of these races are held during county fairs, the interviews were recorded at the Historic Rock Springs Track at the Meigs County Fair.
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    30 min
  • Cool Face, Pack Leadership, Carnival Workers, Capito on ACA & Cute Kids

    Cool Face, Pack Leadership, Carnival Workers, Capito on ACA & Cute Kids
    Aug 11 2025
    Welcome to Appalachia Matters we have a great show lined up for you today. This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Larry Pack, Treasurer of the State of West Virginia. Larry was a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, advisor to then Governor Jim Justice and Secretary of Revenue., Larry discusses his history of entrepreneurship, the journey to becoming our state’s Treasurer, and his advice for young leaders in the Mountain State.

    The West Virginia Grown program supported by the department of agriculture works to promote the purchase of West Virginia made products. One way they do it is each year at the State Fair of West Virginia they operate a country store and sell WV products. While this year’s fair may be over by the time you hear this report make a mental note to stop in next year. The main take away is to buy locally sourced products if you can help our local economy.

    President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is now law , and I talked with US Senator Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia about two related health items, the health transformation fund and a health item that is not in the bill. The issue not dealt with is the health exchange tax subsidies and the current level of subsidies expire on December 31 and without federal intervention 65,000 west Virginians will see a significant increase in premiums, for some it could be a 300% increase.

    At fairs and festivals, you see different kinds of exhibits, this past week at a county fair I talked with a face painting artist. Her work is amazing, and she grew up in Point Pleasant but lives in Buckhannon WV. She was at the Mason County Fair, and we will get to meet the artist.

    For those who play carnival games have you ever wondered about the folks who operate the games? I talked with two individuals who do, one is a musician who is fulfilling a bucket list item traveling with the carnival, the second is a person who seems his life has been saved from addiction by being part of the traveling carnival.

    The final bit is a discussion I had with a brother and sister who were showing animals at the Mason County Fair. They are 110% cute.
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    30 min
  • Fair is 100, VOAD, Path Shows the Way & Three Fair Food Vendors

    Fair is 100, VOAD, Path Shows the Way & Three Fair Food Vendors
    Aug 3 2025
    At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with David Lumsden, Chair of the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). In this episode, Dave shares his journey from the military to the West Virginia non-profit space, and how the folks at VOAD support our communities surrounding disasters such as the recent flooding we’ve seen here in the Mountain State.

    The State Fair opens soon and runs through August 16, 2025. It is the 100th WV State Fair. Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt talks about the fair in the Rooted in the Mountain State segment submitted by the WV Department of Agriculture.

    Randy Smith is a former Meigs County Commissioner and now provides mental health and substance use treatment for Path Behavioral Health. He and Tom had a discussion at the Meigs County back to school event.

    In our final segment, Tom Susman talks with three local food vendors who set up at area fairs and festivals.
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    30 min
  • Learning Life Lessons at the Fair & Teaching Leadership with The Chamber

    Learning Life Lessons at the Fair & Teaching Leadership with The Chamber
    Jul 27 2025
    This Week’s Appalachia Matters:

    At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Pam Farris, the recently retired Executive Director of Leadership West Virginia. The General and Pam discuss the power of connection and trust in leadership, the impact of the Leadership West Virginia program on developing and empowering statewide leaders, and the importance of education and second chances for building a stronger future.
    We will talk with leaders, youth and parents who are involved in the Jackson County Junior Fair which is held every year in Cottageville WV. The passion shown at Jackson County can be found at most county fairs when it comes to the youth who are showing livestock. The highlight at most fairs is the market sale. The prices paid exceed market rates because the buyers want to support the youth. We provide you a snapshot of the Jackson County Junior Fair livestock operation.
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    30 min
  • Rural Hospitals & The Big Beautiful Bill, Ihlenfeld Part 2, and Rooted in Mountain State

    Rural Hospitals & The Big Beautiful Bill, Ihlenfeld Part 2, and Rooted in Mountain State
    Jul 20 2025
    Last week, on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sat down with William Ihlenfeld, a former U.S. Attorney and West Virginia State Senator, and currently a partner at the legal firm Flannery Georgalis. This week, they conclude their two-part interview by discussing the fentanyl crisis and how Ihlenfeld is leading the expansion of Flannery Georgalis’ legal services into West Virginia.

    In the Rooted in the Mountain State from the WV Department of Agriculture we hear from WV Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt about grants to help producers.

    In our final segment ,Tom Susman talks with Debbie Hill, CEO of Montgomery General Hospital and Jim Kaufman President of the West Virginia Hospital Association about the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on rural hospitals.
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    30 min
  • The Orginal Analog, William Ihlenfeld talks to the General, Bees & Maple Syrup and Lazy Susans

    The Orginal Analog, William Ihlenfeld talks to the General, Bees & Maple Syrup and Lazy Susans
    Jul 13 2025
    This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with William Ihlenfeld, a former U.S. Attorney and West Virginia State Senator, and currently a partner at the legal firm Flannery Georgalis. This is a two-part episode packed with insights and information. Part one this week includes leadership insights from Ihlenfeld’s time prosecuting crimes in Ohio County, including information about elder abuse, AI scams, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Tune in for part two next week on addressing the fentanyl crisis and how Ihlenfeld is working to expand Flannery Georgalis legal services right here in West Virginia.

    In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment from the Department of Agriculture we will hear from Frank Dix of Summersville he operates Kirkwood Winery and Isaiah Morgan Distillery

    In our final group of interviews, Tom Susman attended the Mountain Art and Craft Fair and he talked with some of the participants. In the first interview we will learn about fly wheel tractors with Earl Hudkins and Rick Miller, in the second interview he spent time with Gregg Bannon who markets honey and maple syrup. In the final interview we spend time with Donna Onderko, an who makes and sells beautiful lazy Susan’s.
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    30 min
  • Growth @ Rio, Gold Star Parents, A WV Healer and A Great Beef Story

    Growth @ Rio, Gold Star Parents, A WV Healer and A Great Beef Story
    Jul 7 2025
    Last fall we aired a special gold star family segment as part of Gold Star Family Awareness Month. The last Sunday of September is recognized as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day in West Virginia. In honor of that, At the Leadership Table with General Hoyer were veteran advocates and Gold Star Parents Shirley and Stan White. They discussed what a Gold Star Family really is and offer insight into several important initiatives going on throughout the state to help support veterans and military families.

    In the Rooted in the Mountain State for the department of agriculture we will replay a segment on Mountain Steer Meat Company outside of Lewisburg WV. As local sourcing of food becomes a major concern in this country you learn how this local business is building an organization to meet that concern.

    Just outside of Gallipolis Ohio is the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. Unlike many small institutions of higher learning this school is growing and thriving. This fall they are bringing back football and there is an amazing amount of capital investment. I talked with Ryan Smith who is President and number one cheerleader for his school.

    Do you watch the show Outlander? A larger portion of the show is set in Scotland and the American colonies in the 1700s. Instead of doctors, they have healers who use roots and herbs to help fight illness. In this next segment we will replay Tom Susman’s discussion with a West Virginia healer.
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    30 min
  • Doctor Gee with the General, Fireworks & Food, and Christmas Trees

    Doctor Gee with the General, Fireworks & Food, and Christmas Trees
    Jun 29 2025
    At the Leadership Table this week, General Hoyer sits down with West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee, as Dr. Gee gets ready to head into retirement after a storied and prestigious 45-year career in higher education.

    On Rooted in the Mountain State from the Department of Agriculture we give you a Christmas in July treat as we replay a segment from November on Christmas Trees. Maybe thinking about December when temperatures are 90 degrees will make it feel cooler.

    In the final segment, we have three interviews to get you ready for the fourth, the first is with Amy Haskins of the Jackson County Health Department on how to stay safe when grilling out or having a picnic. The second interview is with a Marshall University student who works at roadside produce stand and we get insight on what is a good choice for summer produce and the final interview is with firework vendor, Chris Hupp who operates a fireworks tent, and she shares her thoughts on fireworks.
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    30 min