PARKERSBURG - The Wood County Farm Bureau has stayed true to it mission and values throughout its 84-year history.
Sue Galloway, treasurer for the farm bureau, said the nonprofit organization's membership is growing, from 169 members in 1966 to 1,123 in 2011. The bureau remains a force in providing education, advocating legislation for fellow farmers, as well as sponsoring many educational and community service programs and projects.
Farm bureau secretary Janet Wigal has a farm in Lubeck where she raises horses, donkeys and goats. Galloway has a farm in Walker.
The women said regulations aimed at farmers have taken their toll, especially on the smaller farms. Galloway and Wigal said the majority of the working farms in the area have cattle and horses, and the number of small farms is getting smaller.
"All the changes in government are making it harder for the smaller farms, they just can't continue to operate the way they have in the past," Galloway said.
"Private property rights, subsidy issues, the Clean Water Act, a lot of regulations have had an effect. We do have a representative with the West Virginia Farm Bureau who keeps track of the legislation for us in Charleston. He let's us know about bills that might affect us, and we have a phone tree and newsletters to keep the membership informed," Wigal said.
According to the West Virginia Bulletin on Agriculture for Jan. 1, 2009-2010, Wood County's largest number of farms were in cattle and milk cows. The bulletin is published by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service. According to the bulletin, the percentage of family farms in West Virginia was 95.2 percent.
In the 2007 Census of Agriculture the percentage of small farms was 98.2 percent; the number of farms with cattle and milk cows was 8,000 all cattle in 2009; 7,000 in 2010 in West Virginia. The 2007 census is the last published agricultural census. It is published every five years. The census shows 902 farms in Wood County with more than 88,000 acres in farmland, the average size 99 acres. The average farm is between 50-179 acres, according to the census.
The farm bBureau started in 1928.
"The group was formed to provide agricultural education and we still try to do that today. We have programs and speakers at our monthly meetings, and offer a variety of agricultural, health and safety programs," Wigal said.
According to a history on the West Virginia Division of Culture and History's website the Wood County Farm Bureau was organized by the first county agent, H.S. Vandervort, with its purpose being "cooperation as the first service to the farmers of the county."
The farm bureau also is involved with a number of community service projects including collecting food for the Ronald McDonald House in Huntington; sponsoring poster and speech contests; providing scholarships, offering a safety fair and meet the candidates night as well as performing fund raising projects for the Mineral Wells campgrounds.
The earliest organizations of farmers in the country dates back to the late 1800s and included the Grange and Farmer's Alliance. The farm bureau grew out of the extension education movement occurring at the land grant colleges across the nation.
During the first weekend in February bureau members collect food for the Ronald McDonald House in Huntington.
"The members pass out lists of items they need to shoppers at the southside Foodland store. The shoppers are usually most generous with their donations of food," Wigal said. "Later in the month the bureau members join members of other county farm bureaus at the Kroger store in Huntington and purchase frozen goods and perishable food items, that same day all of the food is taken to the Ronald McDonald House. The food is used to help feed the families staying in the house while their loved ones receive medical treatment," Wigal said.
Other bureaus deliver food to the Charleston and Morgantown Ronald McDonald Houses.
Annually, the bureau sponsors an Agriculture in West Virginia poster contest in which fourth graders draw and color pictures depicting what a farm looks like. The Women's Leadership committee chooses the winners and the winning poster goes to the West Virginia Farm Bureau's annual meeting in Flatwoods for judging.
The bureau also awards a $500 scholarship. The scholarships are open to members of 4-H, Future Farmers of America or a dependent of a bureau family member. Applicants must be a Wood County resident planning to further their education in an agricultural field of study, graduating senior or college student majoring in an agricultural field of study, or a student enrolled in an accredited vocational or technical institution, pursuing a career in livestock production, research, marketing or related agricultural fields. Applications are available at the West Virginia University Extension Office, area high school guidance offices, FTA office at Parkersburg South High School or by contacting Dave Lawson at 304-863-3311. Applications are due March 9. The bureau also sponsors a speech competition each year for students 14-19 years old. The winner goes on to the annual meeting in Flatwoods to compete.
On the third Monday in April the bureau sponsors a Town and Country Dinner at the Mineral Wells campground for members. Toward the end of May, there is a two-day safety day program at the campgrounds sponsored by the Progressive Agricultural Foundations. Local sponsors are the Wood County Commission, Little Kanawha Conservation District and Parkersburg Womens Club. "Between 320-340 students from five local schools participate," Wigal said, "this project is near and dear to my heart." Sessions include electrical and fire safety and first aid, internet safety, sun and food safety, and ATV safety.
"We try to get the students involved in safety so they understand the importance of being careful and the importance of following the rules at home, school, and when they are out. It is important for the students to learn about safety not only for themselves but for friends and family," Wigal said.
"In September, members of the bureau's Women's Leadership Committee go to Mineral Wells School and present an agricultural program for the fourth grade students. The program could be a DVD about farming, a lesson on soy beans or a pass out agricultural books for the students to work in," Wigal said.
The bureau holds its annual meeting and covered dish dinner in September. Also in September, the bureau, Community Educational Outreach Service Clubs, 4-H leaders and WVU Extension Service sponsors a meet the candidate night ad pie baking contest at city council chambers.
"The event helps residents understand where the candidates stand and the pie backing contest is a fundraiser for the 4-H campground," Wigal said.
In mid-December the Women's Leadership Committee puts together fruit and gift baskets for the elderly members of the bureau. At the same time they bake cookies for the Nationwide Insurance agents who help with membership, Nationwide offers discounts to farm bureau members.
The bureau and Division of Forestry hold a dinner in January at the campground.
Ralph Blair serves as president of the Wood County Farm Bureau. Blair and his wife JoEllen are both on the West Virginia Farm Bureau State Board, and JoEllen is the State Women's Leadership chairwoman.
Anyone is eligible for membership in the farm bureau, but only property owners and farmers can serve on the board. Annual dues is $45.
For more information, call Wigal at 304-863-8631; Galloway at 304-679-3462, or farm bureau president, Ralph Blair at 304-863-5409.
