On Saturday, the Pendleton County Farm Bureau held its annual meeting and dinner at the Harold Michael Building in Circleville. Members and guests enjoyed delicious food provided by the North Fork 4-H Club. The invocation was given by Roger Dahmer.
The 37th annual Pendleton County Farm Bureau service award was presented to Paula Mitchell of Sugar Grove.
Mitchell’s early education happened in Papua New Guinea, where her parents were missionaries. She came back to the states usually once a year, sometimes making the trip alone at a very early age. In 1970, she completed her education at James Madison University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in education.
She is actively involved with St. John Lutheran Church, where she is the organist. She writes the Sugar Grove column for The Pendleton Times and has done so for the past 37 years. Those who read her column are always rewarded by learning about their ancestors, customers of yesteryear and usually some words to make one’s life and the community a better place to live.
She has been married for 52 years to Tom Mitchell, and they have three children, Jennifer, Brandon and Janelle, and five grandchildren and one foster grandchild.
Mitchell is chair of the Pendleton County Farm Bureau women’s committee where she is responsible for the logistics of the organization’s annual meeting and overseer of the annual farm bureau poster contest which is open to all fourth-grade students in the county. She is also a member of the board, helps the county meet membership quota and is a solid thinker when it comes to farm bureau issues.
A retired school teacher having taught 39 years, she was awarded the Arch Cole Achievement Award, given annually to outstanding West Virginia educators. However, not content to sit at home and rest on her laurels, she is currently tutoring students twice a week in the first and second grades at Brandywine Elementary School.
Other county activities include the Pendleton County Nursing Home Auxiliary, trash pickup in the Adopt-a-Highway program, Pendleton County Historical Society and the Sugar Grove Lions Club where she helps in the food booth during the Treasure Mountain Festival. She and her husband love to travel, and she is an avid gardener.
Guest speaker was Dwayne O’Dell, West Virginia Farm Bureau Director of Governmental Affairs. “I love America and enjoy the freedoms we have, but America has its share of problems,” he said. He went on to say that “Farm bureau is the organization that needs to ensure these freedoms will continue.”
O’Dell cited challenges for farmers coming from the national and state levels.
National issues include the Environmental Protection Agency releasing new rules regarding the definition of the “Waters of the United States,” and California’s Proposition 12 which imposes minimum requirements on farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and calves raised for veal. Because California has such a large population, this has the potential to set these restrictions in other states if they want to access to their market. He also cited the review by EPA of more than 700 herbicides/pesticides for compliance under the Endangered Species Act, which will undoubtedly take some of our main-line products off the market.
The Security and Exchange Commission’s “Scope 3” reporting climate disclosures, if implemented, will cause increased costs to be absorbed by major agribusinesses that buy fed cattle or other species, which will ultimately lead to a lower price for farmers’ crops and livestock. Recent approval by the United States Department of Agriculture and Federal Drug Administration for cell cultured chicken will make fake chicken available for retail consumption.
Issues on the state level include the testing positive of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in more than 30 unfiltered water systems and can be found in certain firefighting products and paper.
Carbon Offset Agreements are private contracts between emitters of greenhouse gasses and owners of forested and farmlands. A bill allowing these contracts was opposed by West Virginia Farm Bureau during the recent legislative session due to it being an invasion of private property rights. Some of these carbon off-set agreements can last for up to 100 years and can severely restrict what a landowner can do with their property. Farm Bureau recommends that landowners choosing to enter into a carbon off-set agreement seek legal advice before signing on the dotted line.
O’Dell encouraged attendees to go back and read the United States Constitution as citizens should be concerned about their rights being restricted. Chief among those is the first amendment which guarantees freedom of religion, free speech and a free press.
In closing, he gave three things everyone could do: be informed, vote and keep engaging the future. He quoted a Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Steve Conrad, county president, announced that West Virginia Farm Bureau has joined with Kentucky Farm Bureau to provide farm bureau members insurance through Farm Bureau Insurance West Virginia. The company’s name is Farm Bureau Insurance, West Virginia. They are in the process of engaging a sales team and developing products to sell. The first products will be auto, followed by homeowners and a farm policy and will be available in the near future.
Michael Hott gave the nominating committee report. The following directors were elected for 2024: Eastern District – Steve Conrad and Brandon Mitchell; Central District – Greg Bowers and Ron Hudson; Western District – Kenneth Harper and Ben Heavner; and At Large – Mike Eye, Michael Hott and Greg Mitchell.
Membership pins and certificates were awarded to the following:
20 years – Barbara Bennett, Jack and Cynthia Bowers, Kevin and Michelle Gonshor, Ralph and Doris Huffman, Ricky Kuykendall and Teddy and Colleen Plaugher;
30 years – John D. and Janice Heavner, Carl Hevener, Gregg and Pammy Mitchell, Bill Rexrode and Gaylon Sponaugle;
40 years – Elise Bowers, Larry S. Raines, Donnie Vandevander and Carolyn Wimer;
50 years – Grey Cassell; and
60 years – Joeann R. Moyers.
The meeting concluded with the awarding of door prizes.
