Revolutionizing Agriculture with Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance
Our Mission
Our Mission
To unite industrial hemp farmers, builders, and allied industries in Virginia to:
• Develop a sustainable, closed-loop hemp economy — from cultivation to construction.
• Promote hemp-lime (hempcrete) and other natural building technologies through education, training, and demonstration.
• Advocate for policy reform and code adoption, including Appendix BL, to expand hemp’s role in construction.
• Support regenerative agriculture and soil health through hemp cultivation.
• Build partnerships that strengthen local economies and empower rural communities
Our Story
Our Story
The Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance was born from a simple truth: industrial hemp deserves its own lane.
After years of advocacy through organizations like the Virginia Hemp Coalition, a group of dedicated farmers, builders, educators, and visionaries came together to form VIHA — an alliance focused solely on industrial hemp and its applications in sustainable agriculture and construction.
Our founders recognized that industrial hemp had been overshadowed by the cannabinoid sector. The Alliance was created to change that — to build a clear, unified voice for the farmers who grow it, the builders who use it, and the innovators who see its potential to transform our economy and environment.
Today, VIHA represents the next evolution of Virginia’s hemp movement: from grassroots advocacy to organized action.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
The Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance (VIHA) unites farmers, builders, and industry leaders to advance the industrial hemp sector in Virginia through collaboration, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to separate industrial hemp from cannabinoid politics and give it its rightful place as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture and construction. By connecting the people who grow, process, and build with hemp, VIHA is creating a circular economy rooted in soil health, renewable materials, and local prosperity — from seed to structure.
Scott McStacy
President
Scott McStacy is a lifelong advocate for sustainable agriculture and natural building. As the founder of Sativics Agricultural and Seed to Structure LLC, he focuses on regenerative farming, soil health, and using industrial hemp as both a crop and a construction material.
Through his work in hemp-lime (hempcrete) building and education, Scott promotes practical, earth-friendly solutions that connect farmers and builders in Virginia. As president of the Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance, he helps unite the state’s industrial hemp community and advance the use of hemp in sustainable agriculture and construction.
Nate Miller
Vice President
Nate Miller is a native of Rockingham County, VA. He is a Professor of Horticulture at PVCC where he is the first cannabis course professor in the state of Virginia and the South an instructor for JMU's Lifelong Learning Institute, a Landscape Designer at Messer Landscapes in Staunton and for his own business Simply Sustainable Landscapes in Bridgewater. Masters of Landscape Architecture from Clemson University and a BA in Art and Environmental Science from Bridgewater College. In 2020 he published his book Simply Sustainable Landscapes on ecological and permaculture practices for the general public.
Holly McPhail
Secretary
Holly McPhail has always followed her heart, which has led her to a life rooted in both science and service. Plants continue to teach her patience, adaptability, and the quiet brilliance of nature’s design. Her greatest joy comes from connecting people and plants—and watching both flourish.
She is the Secretary and a proud member of the Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance and believes her supporting role in advocating for hemp farmers, builders (hempcrete), and small business owners is vital for the future of Virginia’s industrial hemp industry. With a degree in horticulture and more than two decades in the agricultural research sector, Holly has cultivated a strong foundation in plant biotechnology, molecular biology, and chemistry—skills she applies when considering the most efficient, economically sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions for Virginia’s agricultural future.
