MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Athletics has solidified a new multi-year partnership with Grant County Mulch, deeming the country's largest bulk mulch supplier as the "Official Mulch Supplier."

WVU Athletics is also excited to announce that Grant County Mulch will be wrapping a WVU themed truck to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the Richmond Raceway on Aug.15. The sponsored truck is owned by CR7 Motorsports and will be driven by Grant Enfinger.

Coverage of the race begins at 7:30 pm EST on FS1.

"We're incredibly proud to partner with WVU Athletics. Both of us—and our parents—were born and raised in West Virginia, so this partnership means more than business to us," Larry and Janie Berg, founders of Grant County Mulch, said. "It's about honoring our roots, supporting our home state, and being part of something that represents the pride and spirit of West Virginians everywhere."

"I've spent years in Morgantown, tailgating and cheering from the stands at Milan Puskar Stadium. Partnering with WVU Athletics is surreal—it's something I've dreamed about since I was a kid," Stacey Berg, Sales Manager at Grant County Mulch, said. "This is a full-circle moment for me and our family."

The partnership will deliver various traditional and digital assets, including in-state use of university marks, football ribbon LED board, basketball center hung lower LED, baseball outfield wall, vehicle display at one football game, and in-game baseball live mention.

The new partnership marks the start of Grant County Mulch being featured in the MSN Radio Post-Game Show for Football and Men's Basketball through the awarding of "Tough as Mulch" Player of the Game.

"We are very excited to welcome Grant County Mulch as the Official Mulch Supplier of WVU Athletics and to partner with them on the CR7 Motorsports entry in the upcoming NCTS race at Richmond," Matt Wells, WVU's Deputy Director of Athletics for External Affairs, said. "Grant County Mulch is a family-owned, West Virginia-based company whose history and brand fit perfectly with WVU Athletics.

"This partnership presents a unique opportunity to highlight our WVU pride in a great way," Evan Hawkins, General Manager of Mountaineer Sports Properties, said. "We are extremely proud to align with Grant County Mulch, which shares such similar values and roots."

Grant County Mulch is committed to providing 100% all natural mulch products through its process of composing organic waste. Grant County Mulch specializes in innovation and utilizing cutting-edge technologies to supply the highest quality mulch.

Mountaineer Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for WVU Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Mountaineers.

About Grant County Mulch
Founded in 1986 by Verlin Larry Berg and his wife Janie, Grant County Mulch (GCM) began on a small hill in the mountains of West Virginia with just the two of them and a simple philosophy: Work hard, treat people right, and have strong faith.

That philosophy laid the foundation for what would become the largest bulk mulch manufacturer in the country, now distributing over three million yards annually. Within six months of opening, GCM hired its first employee and soon relocated to what is now the company's headquarters in Petersburg, WV. Through decades of dedication and growth, GCM expanded to ten plants and distribution centers across WV, MD, PA, and VA. The company was honored with the WV Small Businessperson of the Year Award and continues to adapt to an evolving marketplace. Despite the changes, GCM's core values remain unchanged—values deeply rooted in West Virginia pride. As Coach Bill Stewart once said, "It's Mountaineer pride, nothing cheap, from the heart. Man, I am proud to be from West Virginia."

About West Virginia Athletics 
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at West Virginia University sponsors 18 varsity sports with more than 500 student-athletes competing in baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's cross country, football, men's golf, women's gymnastics, women's indoor and outdoor track, rifle, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, women's volleyball, women's rowing and wrestling. West Virginia University competes in the Big 12 Conference in all sports except men's soccer (Sun Belt Conference) and rifle (Great American Rifle Conference) and strives in its athletics program for national excellence and prominence.
 
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.