Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WVU TODAY – WVU student charts course toward music industry career Audrey Hasley, a West Virginia University junior from Morgantown, always loved music but knew her passion lay behind the scenes rather than in teaching or performing. Raised by parents who served as her middle school choir and band directors, her path came into focus during her senior year of high school. Through a mentorship class shadowing Joshua Swiger, director of WVU's music business and industry program, she discovered a supportive academic environment dedicated to preparing students for the business side of the industry. Through WVU's program, Hasley has gained valuable hands-on experience, including a spring 2026 internship at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville alongside two fellow majors. The experience reinforced key industry lessons about the importance of networking backed by genuine skill, as well as the rising need for trained professionals to help navigate social media influencers through the complexities of the music business. Read more: https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/resources/wvu-student-charts-course-toward-music-industry-career?fbclid=IwdGRleAVDMs5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUQl2tDWLI2qQBc8ZCmPX10XNGKkYMHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4mlHJfUJEsQSEYi5s6DK3G5ADNfP8BL64XER2mZIimxDj8H_FFrBj2kaZJYA_aem_7J-6CrCJ5raEW9Fy-vlvrw #2 – From WV PRESS ASSOCIATION – WV Farmers Market Association receives $25,000 grant to strengthen organizational capacity The West Virginia Farmers Market Association has secured a $25,000 grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission's READY Nonprofits program. To qualify for the funding, WVFMA Executive Director Holly Morgan and Vice President Kacey Gantzer completed a 10-week virtual training program alongside other Appalachian nonprofits, focusing on board development, strategic planning, human resources, and operations. The association will use the grant to build a formal asset management and governance framework for its statewide shared agricultural infrastructure. This includes setting up standardized systems for tracking, maintaining, and scheduling shared equipment, ranging from poultry processing trailers to honey extractors, to streamline rental and free-use access for local producers. By enhancing internal recordkeeping and operational stewardship, WVFMA aims to strengthen its organizational capacity and board oversight. Ultimately, this ARC-funded project supports WVFMA's broader mission to empower local farmers markets and agricultural producers, driving economic development and improving access to healthy, locally grown food across West Virginia. Read more: https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/west-virginia-farmers-market-association-receives-25000-from-appalachian-regional-commission-to-strengthen-organizational-capacity/ #3 – From WV EXPLORER – 'American Pickers' returning to West Virginia in search of historic treasures Producers of the History Channel's popular television series "American Pickers" are heading to West Virginia in November to hunt for rare antiques and unique private collections. According to West Virginia Film Office Executive Director David Lavender, the show is drawn to the state's rich industrial history, do-it-yourself culture, and resourceful residents who have preserved historically significant pieces in barns and outbuildings across the Mountain State. The production team is specifically seeking large, privately held collections containing unusual objects with interesting backstories whose owners are ready to sell. To maintain the show's signature treasure-hunting style, the show strictly excludes commercial venues such as antique malls, flea markets, museums, and auction houses, relying instead on submissions directly from collectors, their families, or neighbors. The upcoming visit builds on a long history of West Virginia features on the show, which have previously highlighted sites like the Heritage Farm Museum and Village, the former Marx Toy Museum, and historic homesteads. Lavender emphasized that these media appearances provide long-lasting benefits for the state, serving as "evergreen tourism postcards" that continuously draw curious visitors to explore local communities and attractions. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/american-pickers-returning-west-virginia-2026/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
