By Stephen Smoot
At the close of a summer that brought both challenges and blessings from sometimes wild and generally fickle weather, the Pendleton County Farm Bureau gathered Saturday night. Attendees came for fellowship, but also to listen to an update from the West Virginia Farm Bureau, conduct organizational business, and enjoy a delicious dinner courtesy of Potomac Highlands Recreation Center.
New to the regular proceedings was the invitation issued to House of Delegates candidates running for districts that will represent Pendleton County. Mandy Weirich is running in District 67 for the seat that Elias Coop-Gonzales currently holds and attended as the Democratic nominee. Republican nominee Les Mallow could not attend due to a death in the family.
Betsy Orndoff-Sayers is running as the Democratic nominee for District 86, currently held by Bryan Ward. He has also declined to run again. Steven Schetrom is the Republican nominee for that seat. Locally, the Pendleton County Commission was represented by Carl Hevener and Roger Dahmer.
Greg Bowers, the master of ceremonies, stated that “we’ve never done this before, but since both seats are open, members here have the opportunity to speak to the candidates.”
It was also announced that the Pendleton County Farm Bureau would follow the example of the American Legion and start offering scholarships for skills education in the trades. Shortages in fields such as plumbing, electrician work, diesel mechanics, and many other fields locally and across the nation spurred the move.
Another novelty was introduced as part of this initiative. A large blue bucket was brought to the front of the room. Attendees were asked to donate what they could, but the total amount within would remain secret. At the close of the meeting, those who wished bid on the bucket. They took the risk that the bid might outstrip the amount actually in the bucket. As it turned out, that didn’t matter.
Dahmer offered the invocation, in which he prayed, “We thank You for the opportunity to celebrate farmers.”
While the annual gathering conducts serious business, the tone of the meeting is always playful with the familiarity of friends and family who have worked with and known each other for decades. Bowers led the charge, telling stories of questionable validity, but deadpanned, yet laughable comedy.
Steve Conrad took the podium to introduce Dwayne O’Dell, telling another story more humorous than accurate about the keynote speaker. O’Dell, government affairs director for the West Virginia Farm Bureau, laughed and said, “I’m always nervous when Steve Conrad tells stories on me.” He then joked that the three things to fear in life are “honeybees, bulls, and lobbyists.”
O’Dell then discussed some of the interests and business of the West Virginia Farm Bureau.
He noted that the West Virginia State Legislature had achieved notable successes in reducing the income tax burden on taxpayers by 30 percent. Later in his presentation, he revealed that state leaders envisioned the shifting of the rest of the income tax burden from individuals to private sector data centers constructed and operated in the state.
Half of the state’s share of data center tax revenues will go towards eliminating personal income taxation in West Virginia.
West Virginia currently is host to a number of powerful data centers, mostly operated by the United States government. In recent years, private sector firms have seen the Mountain State as a lucrative place to build these facilities.
Other states have eliminated income taxes by shifting revenue collection to sales taxes. Economists consider sales taxes a more difficult burden on the poor and working classes.
He also discussed legislation addressing access to privately held farm and forest lands by law enforcement or government regulatory workers. Senate Bill 84, passed this year, forbids placement of a camera on private property for surveillance purposes without a warrant or consent. Law enforcement or regulatory workers may place the camera outside of the property, but may not view into it.
O’Dell also explained that health trends may make “protein” food production more lucrative. A large number of diabetics and others choosing protein over carbohydrates will change food markets for the foreseeable future.
For 40 years, the Pendleton County Farm Bureau has conferred an annual service award. This year, organizers successfully hid the fact from S. Thomas Mitchell that he was the honoree for 2026.
A 1957 Franklin High School graduate, Mitchell followed Horace Greeley’s advice to “go west, young man” and furthered his education at Monterey Peninsula College in California. He then returned to the area and earned a business and accounting degree from James Madison University.
For over two decades, he labored in the field of banking for the National Bank of Keyser, Pendleton County Bank, and with the State of West Virginia’s banking department. Then in 1977, drawing on his childhood roots growing up on a poultry farm, he started his own turkey operation with Rocco. For more than 30 years, Mitchell not only focused on producing high quality birds, he also pushed at the forefront of industry innovation.
Also, like a number of area farmers during the years, he served on the Pendleton County Commission. In his “spare time” he drove a school bus for a quarter of a century with some of his passengers still remembering him very fondly.
Local service clubs and organizations benefited from his experienced contributions. He served as treasurer for his church and also the Sugar Grove Lions Club, as well as serving as a charter member of the Sugar Grove Rescue Squad. His family includes his wife, Paula, three children and seven grandchildren. Many were on hand to enjoy as he accepted this honor and recognition of his contributions to Pendleton County.
Collectively the Pendleton County Farm Bureau elected to retain the same officials in the same leadership roles.
Then attendees celebrated members achieving milestones in membership. Rodney Dahmer, Raymond and Melanie Mowery, David G. Warner and Michael and Cynthia Yokum all have 20 years in. Eddie Sites was recognized for 30 years as a member.
Glenn Dahmer was announced as a 60-year member.
Finally came the auction of the bucket. Bidders pushed the amount quickly with Carl Hevener (Silver Spring Farm, LLC) and Tom and Tammy Simmons (Glenfield Farm) winning the prize with an $820 bid. They donated the proceeds in the bucket, $550, back to the Pendleton County Farm Bureau.
