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Seasonal hiring underway for George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is hiring seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season and is encouraging local residents to apply.
“Our seasonal employees are the backbone of summer operations—keeping our campgrounds, trails and recreation sites open, safe and welcoming for visitors,” said Forest Supervisor Joby Timm. “These positions offer meaningful work, hands-on experience and the chance to support public lands close to home."
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is recruiting for a variety of roles, including:
• Recreation and visitor services;
• Trail and facility maintenance;
• Active forest management.
These positions are in addition to seasonal fire hire events, already underway. Bringing on seasonal employees will help improve trails, campgrounds and facilities for safer, reliable and enjoyable recreation experiences for all.
Seasonal employees will welcome visitors and help care for campgrounds at Sherando Lake, Trout Pond, Lake Moomaw, and many other special places across the Forest.
“Seasonal jobs can be a first step into a natural resources career, a way to build experience, or simply a chance to spend the summer working outside,” added Timm. “We encourage anyone interested to apply.”
How to Apply
Applicants can view open job announcements and submit applications through USAJOBS.gov.
Application periods, qualifications, and start dates vary by position. Applicants are encouraged to review job announcements carefully for deadlines and required materials.
Additional information about seasonal hiring including the location of available positions is available at this website.
Farm and Fun to host musical guests Jake Xerxes Fussell and Hannah Juanita
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum will present Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time, with musical guests Jake Xerxes Fussell and Hannah Juanita in the intimate performance theater at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12.
Hosted by Kris Truelsen and Country Casserole, Farm and Fun Time is a re-imagining of the classic WCYB Radio program of the same name that aired in the 1940s and 1950s.
Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time broadcasts live before a studio audience and recorded for television syndication on more than 143 PBS stations across the United States. It can be accessed on 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, or online at ListenRadioBristol.org and on Radio Bristol’s free mobile app. Viewers may also tune in to watch through Radio Bristol’s Facebook page.
Jake Xerxes Fussell was raised in Georgia and now resides in North Carolina. He has established himself as a devoted listener and contemplative interpreter of a vast array of so-called folk songs, lovingly sourced from a personal store of favorites. He has released five studio albums to date, beginning with his self-titled debut album which released in 2015. More recently, Fussell and James Elkington collaborated on the music for Rebuilding – a feature film directed by Max Walker-Silverman and starring Josh O’Connor. A soundtrack of the same name was released on Fat Possum Records in November 2025.
Hannah Juanita left her home state of Tennessee in her early twenties, excited to meet the world. She travelled in search of herself, worked odd jobs, and spent countless nights singing fireside under the stars with friends, never pursuing music as a career. Eventually, Juanita made it back to Tennessee, landing in Nashville with nothing but her dog Loretta, her guitar, and a handful of heartbreak songs.
She started singing around town and quickly became a staple live performer and a highly respected vocalist in the traditional country scene in Music City, known for her classic, old school sound. Self-proclaimed ramblin’ gal, Hannah Juanita has toured heavily around the country since 2021 headlining and supporting acts like Kaitlin Butts, Hayes Carll, Braxton Keith, Nick Shoulders, Emily Nenni, Summer Dean, and Jesse Daniel. Her debut record ‘Hardliner’ established her reputation as a full-hearted, free-spirited, and irresistibly genuine honky tonk angel.
Host Kris Truelsen has spent the better part of the last two decades touring across the U.S., honing his craft as a songwriter and performer. With his latest project fronting Country Casserole, he leans into the rock n’ roll side of country music. The band features an all-star lineup including JP Parsons (guitar), Rebecca Branson Jones (pedal steel), Sarah Griffin (bass), and Levi Trent (drums).
Tickets to the live show are $49.47 (includes applicable taxes and fees) and may be purchased through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
Farm Credit associations donate $17,500 to state FFA associations
Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Horizon Farm Credit – the Farm Credit Associations serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland – made a recent collaborative donation totaling $17,500 to the state FFA associations for Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland in honor of Give FFA Day, taking place on Feb. 26, during National FFA Week.
National FFA Week (Feb. 21-28) serves as a dedicated period to amplify the organization’s impact in developing future leaders and advancing agricultural education on a national level. Give FFA Day is a 24-hour fundraising endeavor that takes place annually during FFA Week to support the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Horizon Farm Credit say they are thrilled to provide this joint donation during Give FFA Day to help advance the efforts of Virginia FFA, West Virginia FFA and Maryland FFA. The three Farm Credit Associations also say they recognize the importance of FFA in their communities and are pleased to sponsor and attend local FFA programs and events throughout the year, as well.
Paul Franklin, CEO of Colonial Farm Credit, said, “It’s an honor to support FFA and its mission to develop leaders in agriculture. FFA is ‘near and dear’ to my heart, having served as a chapter officer, and competed in public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and crops judging. The skills, leadership, and relationships fostered by FFA ensure that our rural communities have a sustainable and thriving future.”
“FFA is an organization that is incredibly special to many of us here at Farm Credit of the Virginias. Many of our team members, including myself, have fond memories of wearing the blue jacket and competing in various FFA contests, so we are proud to be able to support the dedication of this organization to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said Pete Cypret, CEO of Farm Credit of the Virginias.
“Supporting the next generation of agriculturalists is core to the Farm Credit mission,” said Tom Truitt, CEO of Horizon Farm Credit. “FFA continues to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and hands on experiences they need to strengthen the future of agriculture in our region and beyond. We’re proud to partner with fellow Farm Credit Associations by investing in the students who will lead our industry forward.”
CCA launches medical cannabis dashboard
Want a clearer picture of Virginia’s medical cannabis program? The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) has launched a new interactive dashboard that puts key program data front and center.
The Medical Cannabis Program Dashboard, now live on the CCA website, gives the public and stakeholders timely insights into how the program is operating across the Commonwealth. The dashboard is updated using data from Virginia’s seed-to-sale tracking system.
The goal is simple: increase transparency and make it easier for the public to understand the medical cannabis program.
“This dashboard gives Virginians a clear, accessible look at how the medical cannabis program is performing,” said Jamie Patten, acting head and Chief Administrative Officer of the CCA. “By sharing this data publicly, we are supporting transparency and helping patients, providers, and policymakers make informed decisions.”
The dashboard displays key metrics, including:
• Total medical cannabis sales;
• Average price per gram of flower;
• Sales by product type’
• Number of plants harvested.
By visualizing this information in one place, the dashboard provides a straightforward snapshot of program activity and trends over time.
The dashboard is available to the public on the CCA’s website. Members of the public and stakeholders who want additional data about Virginia’s medical cannabis program, or other agency data, can email data@cca.virginia.gov or submit a data request form through the CCA website.
Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon to raise funds for pediatric surgery
Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon returns for its 14th year March 5-6, raising funds to support pediatric surgery services for children across the Appalachian Highlands.
Over its 13-year history, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon has raised more than $4 million, bringing critical healthcare services, equipment and expansions to the Appalachian Highlands. This year’s fundraiser will benefit pediatric surgery services at the hospital, furthering plans to repurpose two rooms for pediatric surgical use.
“As our region grows and demand for pediatric services increases, we have to grow along with our community to continue providing the essential services that every child is entitled to,” said Chris Jett, chief executive officer of the Niswonger Children’s Network. “This project will ensure that our teams can accommodate more patients and meet the growing demand for pediatric surgical care.”
As the only children’s hospital in the region, Niswonger Children’s Hospital provides essential pediatric surgical services that would otherwise force thousands of families to travel outside the region for care each year. Thanks to continuous investment from donors and the community, Niswonger Children’s Hospital offers a wide array of surgical services, including orthopedic, gastroenterological, dental, pulmonology, ophthalmological (eye procedures), otolaryngological (ear, nose and throat) and general surgery.
“As we continue to grow our network and the services we offer, we ensure that more families can get the care they need close to home, and this is especially important for children who need surgery,” said Dr. Seth Brown, chief medical officer of the Niswonger Children’s Network. “No family wants to hear that their child needs surgery, but our teams are proud to be here to make the process as safe and smooth as possible. With these upgrades, our teams will be able to provide an even smoother experience for our smallest surgery patients.”
Previous years of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon have benefited diverse areas of pediatric care. Notably, the fundraiser helped raise nearly $2.7 million toward the expansion of the hospital, which will introduce the newest neonatal intensive care unit in Tennessee and Virginia to the region. Previous fundraisers have also helped purchase a neonatal transport unit, recruit additional pediatric subspecialists and boost crucial child safety education services around the region.
“There’s a lot to love about Radiothon,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “For one, it brings our community together to help our kids and build our future. I can always count on this community to help us reach our goals, and it’s also one of my favorite things about living in this region.
“Secondly, it’s truly encouraging to see the investment in our children build year after year. We’ve grown from a children’s hospital into a network of pediatric care; we’ve expanded the hospital, added specialty services and recruited more specialists, all of which have helped our teams provide more surgical services, which this year’s fundraiser supports. Radiothon is always a lot of work for our volunteers, but it always brings us a step closer to a healthier future for our children.”
The fundraiser will officially kick off at 7 a.m. Thursday, March 5, and conclude at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6. During that time, volunteer teams will answer incoming calls and collect donations from community members to benefit Niswonger Children’s Hospital’s pediatric surgery services. Donations can be made by calling 855.611.KIDS (5437) or by visiting www.niswongerchildrensradiothon.org.
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