West Virginia University Extension Service

Volume VI, Number 2 Fall1991

Extension

Travel and Tourism Trends Show Potential For Jobs Compatible With Rural Lifestyles

It's not quite correct to say that tourism is going to play a major economic role in West Virginia. Fact is, it already does. Travel and tourism pump an estimat­ed $2.4 billion into the state's econ­omy each year. The industry also provides about 40,000 jobs, accord­ing to impact studies conducted by West Virginia University's Center for Economic Research.

Recent trend analysis from the cen­ter suggests that travel and tourism is the fastest growing sector of the state economy.

For example, food establishments, amusement services and lodging were all among the top 1 0 industries in percentage of growth in employ­ment from 1985 to 1990.

And, many of these new jobs are not the low-paying, seasonal employment often associated with the hospitality industry, according to Gordon Mc­Clung, assistant professor of market­ing at WVU. Dr. McClung has been involved in WVU's research efforts in this area over the last five years.

"In our economic impact studies, we look at payroll data. The average an­nual income per employee attributed to tourism is about $18,000. Clearly, these are not just minimum-wage jobs and not just the front-line ser­vice end. Employees in manage­ment, development and other pe­ripheral areas often are paid very well," McClung observed.

~-Cass Scenic Railroad's authentic logging train transports tourists through the historic timber area. More than 80,000 people visited this attraction in 1990.

Rachel B. Tompkins, associate pro­vost for extension and economic de­velopment at WVU, sees the trend as especially promising for the state's rural areas. "It looks like there is real potential in particular areas of the state for jobs that are compatible with rural lifestyles," she noted.

Skiing in Pocahontas and Tucker counties and whitewater rafting in Fayette and Preston counties are ex­amples of tourism successes in rural areas. McClung and Dr. Tompkins believe there will be many others.

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Viewpoint

Two years ago, the future looked bleak for the West Virginia University Extension Service. Revenues for pro­grams were not increasing from the federal level ; county funds were de­clining and only partial support for mandated sal~ry increases was com­ing from the state. We had eliminat­ed 50 positions. The trend line said we would repeat that 25% reduction in personnel in 1992 unless revenue increased. It was a critical moment.

In the fall and winter of 1989/1990, you and others in communities across West Virginia convinced the gover­nor, the state Legislature, the Board of Trustees and the president of West Virginia University to invest new re­sources in the WVU Extension Ser­vice. You convinced the Legislature to require the state to fund fully all state mandated salary increases. The financial crisis for extension ended.

I promised that if we were successful in obtaining funding, we would first fill vacant county positions and would consult closely with county Extension Service committees as we made these decisions. That we have done.

Since Nov. 1, 1990, we have filled 27 county positions. Only four remain vacant and they should be filled shortly. Our new extension agents are an experienced lot. Twenty-five have worked in a variety of jobs. Only three are assuming their first professional position after graduate school. Eight have at least one de­gree in agriculture. Three of those are women, which reflects both a na­tional trend toward more women ob­taining agriculture degrees and WVU Extension's commitment to build on the pioneering done by our first two female agents working in agriculture -Diane Burke and Robin Poling.

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Eleven new agents have either been educated in other states, or had pro­fessional careers outside West Vir­ginia. Sixteen are West Virginia na­tives who join extension after success­fully working in schools, social ser­vice agencies and private enterprise.

Total county faculty now includes:

1 06 Filled county extension faculty positions

42 With one degree in agriculture or forestry

32 With one degree in home economics

30 With one degree in youth development

Overall, we have a very experienced county faculty with an average length of service of 12 years, three months.

Today, the WVU Extension financial position is stable. Our total budget this year is $18.2 million for the Co­operative Extension Service, the Center for Extension and Continuing Education (CECE), the State 4-H Conference Center at Jackson's Mill, and the Associate Provost's Office. Federal funds are about 31%; they increased about 4% last year and are likely to increase 4% next year. Federal funds are, however, increas­ing primarily in particular categories. Water quality and youth-at-risk are new categories from which WVU has benefitted. In water quality, new funds have supported extension's role in the Greenbrier Valley Integrat­ed Crop Management Project which also has support from the state Soil Conservation Committee, Soil Con­servation Service, Agricultural Stabili­zation and Conservation Service and others. Youth-at-risk funds in Ka­nawha County support after-school learning programs and 4-H clubs in housing projects in Charleston. These new funds come through com­petitive grants. They are not auto­matic; we must produce quality pro­posals able to compete nationally.

The largest portion of our total funds are from the state (35% ); grants and contracts are over $2.2 million or 12% of our budget (exceeding our goal of $1 .5 million for 1991-92); county funds are also about 12% of our budget and user fees are 1 0%. Most user fees are earned by Jack­son's Mill and the CECE.

One other asset that WVU Extension has, in addition to our strong faculty and stable funding, is that a broad array of state leaders recognize us as a group of educators who can contribute to the resolution of issues that trouble our state.

WVU has had strong collaborative relationships with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the Division of Forestry for decades. Today those relationships are more positive than at any other time in my seven years here.

The Department of Natural Re­sources and the state Solid Waste Authority recognize extension's val­ue in training local citizens to change habits and in training local solid waste authorities to implement com ­plex new laws. They applaud and help support our applied research and extension work in sludge applica­tion, wastewater treatment, and recy­cling waste paper for animal bedding.

The Governor's Office of Communi­ty and Industrial Development recog­nizes our partnership in small busi­ness development, particularly for farm, home and land-based enter­prises . The state Department of Education and local boards of edu­cation welcome our collaboration on community based programs to re­duce school dropouts. The new Chil­dren's Cabinet views extension as an important credible local partner in bringing service and education pro­grams for children into a coherent, integrated support network.

This recognition has come because West Virginia University Extension does excellent educational work on the issues we choose to tackle. We have earned the high expectations these various groups have for us.

We begin 1992 as an organization blessed with strong staff, stable fun­ding and good alliances. Let's see what we can make of those blessings.

/.IJ~ Rachel B. Tompkins Associate Provost for Extension and Economic Development Director, Cooperative Extension Service

Some of the best whitewater rafting in the nation can be found in the rushing rapids of the Gauley, New and Cheat rivers . WVU researchers have found that rafters spend heavily for other goods and services during their visits here.

For this fisherman on Dunloup Creek in Fayette County, the breath­takingly beautiful surroundings are as important as the catch. Fishing is one of the most frequent attractions for tourists in Appalachia.

"Extension's role in the past has been to help people-primarily rural people-to develop ways to encour­age tourism while still maintaining that rural lifestyle," Tompkins added. "To the extent that we can create all-season, stable employment with benefits, that's what we should do. However, we can also help people develop different options if those better suit their needs."

What kind of options? Bed-and­breakfast operations are multiplying in West Virginia; many of them use extension's training programs as a launch pad and a continuing educa­tion resource. In other areas, income from winter ski lodge jobs bolsters the money earned from warm­weather farm production . Thus, both the bed-and-breakfast operator and the part-time farmer depend on tour­ism to maintain their rural lifestyles.

Extension educators throughout the state are involved in tourism pro­grams as part of their community de­velopment and community planning activities. "Tourism is part of every­one's agenda," says Tompkins.

In Pocahontas County, extension agent Linda Simmons is spearhead­ing the development of an outdoor amphitheater in the Cass area. She is working through a group called Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals, which is funded

through a portion of the county's hotel-motel tax.

The group has commissioned a play­wright to recreate a stage drama of Cass's historical legacy as a boom­ing logging center and railroad town. The play was first performed by Poca­hontas County Parks and Recreation in the summer of 1991. Simmons says the plan is for local residents to present the drama under the stars on warm summer evenings.

Each year, thousands of tourists flock to Cass Scenic Railroad State

1 Park to ride in authentic logging cars pulled up the mountain by Shay steam locomotives. The stage pro­duction will provide an extra entice­ment tor them to linger after the train ride ends. "If they stay longer in the county, they'll spend more money at local businesses-hotels and motels, restaurants and stores, service sta­tions and also other tourism attrac­tions," Simmons noted.

Erseline Rumbach, assistant coordi­nator of Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center, has discovered another way to lure visitors-offer them some learning. Elderhostel, an international program of educational

(Continued next page)

Fort New Salem, a living history settlement, is a favorite stop for travelers in north central West Virginia .

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Travel and Tourism ... enrichment for older people, has de­veloped into a year-round program at Jackson's Mill under her direction.

"We had the highest attendance of any Elderhostel in the state at Jack­son's Mill last summer," Rumbach reported . "All of our guests came from out of state. They were primar­ily from the eastern United States, but we had several from California and Nevada."

Elderhostelers represent a market often targeted by tourism develop­ers: retired people with some dis­posable income and an interest in travel and new experiences. Rum­bach said some choose Jackson's Mill simply because they want to come to West Virginia. Others are attracted by specific educational offerings-watercoloring, birdwatch­ing, computer lessons, mountain heritage, the Civil War.

"A lot of these folks are former teachers or other professionalS, and they want to continue learning," Rumbach said. "If they have a good experience here, they will come again for another program."

Bed-and-breakfast operations are multiplying in West Virginia, especi­ally in rural areas that are under­served by large lodging chains.

4

West Virginia is a winter mecca for skiers, including this adventuresome fellow trying "snowboarding" at Timberline Four-Seasons Resort in Canaan Valley. WVU researchers estimate that each dollar spent in promoting the state's ski industry returns $5 in state tax revenues.

These locally-based efforts are start­ing to reap the benefits of a steady stream of tourism research projects at WVU. These include visitor profile studies, feasibility studies and eco­nomic impact studies-not just for West Virginia, but for the entire Appalachian region.

As head of the university's Econom­ic Development Council, Tompkins is a proponent of resource allocation for tourism research. The council has identified a series of research projects related to travel and tour­ism. It also is working to build col­laboration and support for the Appa­lachian Tourism Research and De­velopment Center (A TRDC) estab­lished recently at Concord College. Start-up costs for the center are be­ing paid through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

"We want to work with Concord to get funding for a permanent center there housing experts in travel and tourism. We can back them up with extension agents working at the local level. It appears to be a great oppor­tunity to collaborate," Tompkins said.

Nancy McGehee, assistant to the di­rector of ATRDC, concurs. "We are moving in three areas-research, education and information dissemi­nation. WVU is providing the main thrust of that critical research base. Ideally, extension agents can help in the other two areas as we move into community-based training."

And, the research continues.

WVU's Center for Economic Re­search is compiling a comprehensive database of the region's travel and tourism infrastructure. "Inventories of attractions, lodgings, restaurants, public lands and other information ultimately will allow us to identify trends," McClung explained. "This marketing information will be used by the decision-makers-the com­munity planners and the people who are considering investments in a given area." •

Golden Anniversary For Dairy Show, Conservation Camp

Two time-honored educational programs celebrated 50th anniversaries this year-the West Virginia Dairy Show and the West Virginia Conser­vation Camp. Both were established to enhance the knowledge and skills of young West Virginians. And, each has served as a catalyst for professional cooperation , productive careers and lifelong friendships.

Conservation Camp was started in 1941 , a vision turned into reality by I. B. "Tubby" Boggs, the State Boys 4-H agent and first camp director. Eighty-six youngsters gathered at Camp Caesar that year, drawn by their shared interest in nature and desire to protect natural resources. They were the first of nearly 12,000 West Virginia youths who would par­ticipate over the next 50 years. Most attend camp on scholarships, pro­vided by garden clubs, sports clubs, private industry and government agencies .

Each June, for five activity-crammed days, campers learn about wildlife management, water conservation , forest protection, reclamation and soil conservation. Professionals from state and federal agencies lead morn-

The board of directors of the 50th West Virginia Dairy Show assemble with the 1991 Dairy Princess Amy Childers of Ohio County.

ing classroom sessions and after­noon "hands-on" training outdoors. Evening recreation, meditations and council circle programs round out the unique experience of Conserva­tion Camp, the oldest ongoing pro­gram of its kind in the United States.

The first West Virginia Dairy Show was held in 1938 at Jackson's Mill. That event showcased 126 head of cattle exhibited by 56 breeders and 4-H club members. Support and participation grew each year, despite the show's cancellation during the war years of 1942 to 1945. Youths

from the Future Farmers of America first JOined the program in 1947.

Over the years, the Dairy Show has become a family event. Educational activities are interwoven among judging contests, showmanship classes, herdsmen awards, heifer sale and the traditional dairy prin­cess coronation. Like Conservation Camp, the Dairy Show relies on in­teragency cooperation and financial support of sponsors and patrons to help provide a meaningful education­al experience for the young partici­pants. •

~ ~~State 1(1~11~

Conserva t i ott CatttJ) of lienee -1991

Conservation Camp leaders and dignitaries salute 50 years of excellence.

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The outside required a lot of sprucing up. Two houses were torn down on this side to make

way for a parklike green area. Extension landscape architect

Clifford Collier is lending his expertise with direction from

the community.

Street Smart Inner-City Youngsters, Neighbors Build on a Wishful Idea

What started as an offhand remark, "Gee, I wish we could keep these kids off the street," has grown to become the East Wheeling Learning Center. Retired engineer and builder Ted Walters was driving down an East Wheeling street one day when he saw his old friend James Paige Ill (state banking commissioner) play­ing ball with some neighborhood children and stopped to say hello.

Paige made the comment about keeping kids off the street while talk­ing to Walters. It struck a bell with Walters who had hashed out his idea of renovating a rundown house in a low-income neighborhood with his wife Barbara.

Walters thought the renovation could have a two-fold purpose-provide a safe place for children and adults to gather and restore some pride in the area. Paige liked the idea and a plan was hatched.

Paige remembered a West Virginia University Extension Service youth camp set up by an energetic WVU professor in 1990 in Charleston.

The professor, Floyd Jones, had set up youth camps in two projects­Washington Manor and Orchard Manor.

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Each day the camp started with breakfast and a theme with activities to go with the theme. For example, multi-cultural day had a multi-cultural presentation, excitement day includ­ed making a sundae. Jones geared the camps to meet the needs of the children both academically and physically. The agenda included nu­trition, physical activity, cultural trips, self-esteem enhancement and talks and readings by athletes, community leaders, writers.

It was this kind of responsiveness to the community that Paige and Wal­ters were looking for in the East Wheeling program.

Ted Walters (with hands in pockets) watches a dream take shape on the future deck area.

They found not only Jones eager to help but also private individuals, gov­ernment agencies, the school board and corporations. Through suggestions and talking with officials, grants were secured from Gov. Gaston Caperton's Drug­Free Communities Program, the Chambers Foundation, West Virginia University Extension Service, Project Y.E.S. (Youth Enrichment Services), WVU, Ohio County Board of Educa­tion, among others. The community, Paige and Walters knew the camp was needed. But they didn't expect the response they got. The East Wheeling summer

The first floor was in somewhat better shape but the front entrance had to be just right.

Amber Yerna/1 (from left), Carla Long and Darlene Stradwick provide campers with hands-on experience in preparing good, nutritious food. Extension provided kitchen utensils, food, disposable dishes and cups.

camp was set up for 50 to 75, 7- to 13-year-olds. The first day 167 chil­dren showed up. An average of 1 00 campers took part each week in the six-week program from June 23 to August 2.

"The learning center is a demonstra­tion that opportunity is the difference between success and failure . Many victims of welfare have low self­esteem. The desire to get off wel­fare is often lost," Walters said .

This second-floor area became a light-filled, airy space to meet and talk about self-esteem and problems facing young people.

That's where the learning center hopes to help. The East Wheeling program plans to not only meet the needs of children but adults as well. The idea is for a drop-in center geared toward education and devel­oping self-worth. Programs for drop­outs, job training and literacy training are on the drawing boards. The learning center idea caught on right away. Grandmothers to 5-year· olds have pitched in, loading a

Sporting a back-lit stained glass creation, new carpet and plants, the front room was transformed into a handsome meeting area .

••

dumpster seven times during the renovation work. So many young­sters wanted to help that they often had to be sent home at night.

The renovated house that is now the learning center had been empty for 20 years. Shirley Paige, mother of Jim Paige, lives just down the block.

Mrs. Paige sees the center as an "educational process adding a lot of

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7

Street Smart Inter-City ...

self-confidence and self-healing to the community ." It is in the most rundown section of Wheeling with many absentee landlords, she said.

A whole block of land on Lind Street was bought for the project. One building is targeted for a sports cen­ter. Many athletes have come from the Wheeling area.

Space will be set aside for displaying trophies as well as a sitting lounge to talk about-what else-sports. The building will also house an exer­cise area, weight room and arts and dance studios .

Three buildings were torn down on either side of the center to make way for some green space on one side and a deck on the other. Exten­sion's landscape architect Clifford W. Collier is helping plan the park­like spot.

The block of land includes the noto­rious Playmate, a bar cum drug den that had been a thorn in East Wheel­ing's side. The Playmate is closed now. It may be turned into a recrea­tion area, "keeping the hangout as a reminder of how good things can come from bad," says Walters.

Learning center is now focal point for the neighborhood.

Campers head for multi-culture class (dancing, learning about various

cultures' language, practices, etc.) on the deck.

A typical week at camp

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MONDAY-is Fun Day!!!

We have fun and excitement all day. We will have breakfast, lunch and a snack and practice for Friday's Bicycle Rodeo!!!

TUESDAY -is Multi-Cultural Day!!!

There will be a multi-cultural presentation and computer instruction. We will have breakfast, lunch and a snack.

WEDNESDAY-is Pittsburgh Day!!!

We will have a trip to Pittsburgh to visit the zoo, the aviary, the museum, and Buhl Planetarium. We will have breakfast at 8:30, and we will return at 5:00, so prepare for this. Sign up on Monday, and bring $3.00.

THURSDAY-is Excitement Day!!!

We have a whole day of excitement, with a special afternoon program. Make your own sundaes!!! We will have breakfast, lunch and a snack.

FRIDAY-is Bicycle Rodeo Day!!!

We will be going to Tunnel Green for the day, where we will have a parent and family picnic (bring a covered dish if you wish), with prizes and the Bicycle Rodeo.

Although supposedly "user-friendly," Curtis Bonk was always ready to help out any camper who

WVU computer specialist Tim Stever directs a class in what most campers named as their favorite activity-learning how to use computers. Sports and recreation director Karen Young waits ' met up with a stubborn mouse. Bonk was the

designer and director of the computer lab .

Residents' Rapport Molds Enriching Summer Day Camps The model for the East Wheeling Learning Center 's summer camp was a West Virginia University Extension Service-sponsored day camp in Charleston.

In the summer of 1990, extension and WVU Physical Education Pro­fessor Floyd Jones, set up two six­week day camps in two low-income housing projects, Washington Manor and Orchard Manor.

"Macbeth" is nearly ready to stage after a little positioning help.

in doorway for campers going to physical education class.

Jones was able to gain the confi­dence of the community by talking to the residents and asking for their help and input in the camps. The rapport led to molding the camps to the needs of the community as well as keeping a format geared to en­riching experiences.

For the second year, the summer of 1991 , Charleston expanded the camps to include South Park and Hillcrest housing projects . The schedule was based on the 1990 camp-decision making, nutrition, creative expressions, physical fit­ness and discovery (science)-with Kanawha County assistant extension agent Jeff Jordan at the helm.

This year, lap-top computers were added to the program and the chil­dren were able to produce a weekly newsletter which not only gave the children experience with computers but kept the parents informed about what the children were doing.

The community expressed a need for an afternoon program for their children. Through grants, an after­school program running from 3 to 6 p.m. began this fall at each project. Recreation as well as homework help is offered.

The Charleston program has drawn together private business and public agencies as well as the communities themselves to make camps and after-school programs enriching for the chi ldren. In meeting the chil­dren's need~, "doors are beginning

to open," says Donna Patton, Kanawha County extension agent.

With the goodwill and confidence these programs have established, plans are to expand into more hous­ing projects in the area. •

At Charleston's Orchard Manor summer youth camp, the day belonged to Shakespeare. Scenes from "Macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet" were performed with the help of some actors from Kanawha Players. Juliet spurned prompting, having memorized her soliloquy in the terrace scene.

9

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Ex-Dairy Family Turns to Direct Marketing Sales of Organically Grown Vegetables

Tudor Hall Farm in Jefferson County has provided a living for generations of the Grantham family since 1763. Designation as a Bicentennial Farm by the U.S. Department of Agricul­ture identifies its ownership by a sin­gle family for more than 200 years.

"We've rolled with the punches through the years," said current farm operator Bill Grantham.

"I guess it's in our blood to be into a lot of things," he added while re­counting his family's farming history. Early generations produced timber and wheat; later ones had an or­chard and livestock.

For nearly 60 years, the farm was known for its horses, including a Morgan-Percheron cross that Gran­tham's great-grandfather sold for carriage horses. Tudor Hall shipped milk through the same cooperative for 50 of its 70 years as a dairy.

When his father retired in March of 1989, Grantham and his wife Phyllis

10

decided to switch from dairying to producing organically grown vege­tables to sell directly to the public. "We jumped ship as the dairy indus­try was going down," he said.

The Granthams' roadside stand, called the Tudor Hall Farm Market, is in a corner of the farm located at the intersection of South Childs Road and busy state Route 51 .

The switch had the backing of other members of their close-knit family. And given the farm's diversity through the years, one can't help but believe that earlier generations also would have approved.

Most of the Granthams' registered dairy herd, numbering about 125 cows, calves and heifers, was sold to Amish and Mennonite farmers in Pennsylvania.

The couple put their "cow money" into an irrigation system that utilizes both overhead and drip methods. Without irrigation, Tudor Hall would not have had any crops during this year's drought.

The Granthams also put an 8-foot deer fence around 10 of the farm's 170 acres that first year, when they

Whether members of the Grantham family are at their roadside stand, in the field or in their home, they communicate easily with portable telephones and walkie-talkies.

had to order 5,000 plants in order to have vegetables to sell . Now that they raise their own transplants , they have produce for sale early in the season .

Their first roadside stand was a wagon with a roof offering little protection from wind and rain . "Phyllis finally said, 'I've got to have a building if we're going to do this'," Grantham noted.

He constructed a 1 0-by-16 foot build­ing during the winter and moved it to the roadside in the spring of 1990.

In addition to their produce, Tudor Hall Farm Market features herb vin­egars , jellies, barbecue sauce, low­pesticide peaches and other organic foods produced in West Virginia and nearby states. Spring bedding plants and potted flowers come from a friend who has a wholesale greenhouse.

The Granthams also sell frozen nat­ural lamb produced by Bill's brother and natural beef from his cousin's farm. "Natural" means that the ani­mals were not given hormones or antibiotics, according to Grantham.

"I'm sure some people in the com­munity wondered why we were do-

J(

Bill Grantham sometimes picks organically grown corn three or four times a day to replenish the supply at the family's direct-marketing operation in Jefferson County.

The Tudor Hall Farm Market opens during April weekends and then daily for the rest of the season. Business is best late in the week and during evening rush hour.

ing it (making the switch) . They didn't realize that Bill had been read­ing and thinking about it for 1 0 years," said Phyllis.

Over several years, he experimented with growing their large family garden without using any pesticides because "chemicals weren't doing the job."

Phyllis estimates that perhaps 40 percent of their customers are "aware of what organic is ." Some customers are concerned about pes­ticides; others are vegetarians. But most are just ordinary folks who want fresh produce: "Many of them have raised a garden and know the work it takes."

And work it is. Because they're committed to organic production, they do not use chemical sprays . Harmful insects are controlled with beneficial insects, some of which they buy. They disc weeds to elimi­nate weed seeds and weed by hand within the rows. Animal manure has been added to the soil over the

• years. Some of their fields are planted in cover crops for a year or two to add nutrients to the soil.

Tudor Hall Farm Market has become a true family affair. Phyllis's mother, Lou Viger, is the main salesperson at the roadside stand, a job that "beats sitting behind a typewriter." Her husband Leo is "head mower" and also picks fruit and vegetables. Bill 's father drives their 1946-model cultivating tractor , and the Gran­thams' 12- and 7-year-old daughters pitch in at times.

Having her mother handle the stand has freed Phyllis to spend more time in the field . The Granthams hired junior high-age 4-H'ers to help in the patch their first season, but decided that supervising them was harder than doing the work themselves.

"We're learning as we go along," Phyllis noted. "For example, at first we planted things too close togeth­er." The first year they grew vegeta-bles that they liked, such as a yel­low, sugar-extended variety of sweet corn. But customer preference led them to change to Silver Queen.

(Continued next page)

11

Ex-Dairy Family ...

They also began growing strawber­ries and raspberries after customers asked for them.

Both Granthams are proud of their good-looking, tasty produce. "Our customers find they don't have to sacrifice appearance in order to have organically grown vegetables," commented Phyllis, adding that "quality is the name of the game." They use no commercial varieties because they believe garden-variety seeds produce more flavorful crops.

Tudor Hall has competition from five other Jefferson County produce stands, but they specialize in fruit, not vegetables.

The Granthams do a few wholesale sales to supermarkets but only if they have too much to sell at the stand .

Except for the telephone book, their only advertising is a newsletter whose mailing list has grown from about 20 customers to 800. Custom­ers are invited to sign up when they stop at the stand.

"Lots of people from the Washington metropolitan area have second homes here, and the newsletter puts us right at their kitchen table so they know what we have available," said Phyllis, who may include tips on home canning or recipes for in­season vegetables or fruit.

Stand "manager" Lou Viger, Phyllis Grantham's mother, helps a customer select tomatoes .

"Supersupportive and behind us since day one," is how Phyllis de­scribed West Virginia University's county extension agent Craig Yohn .

Although the agent did not help them make the decision to produce vegetables, he has helped them think about how to develop a suc­cessful market and how to deter­mine customer preferences.

"I don't make any specific produc­tion recommendations because Bill

After working in the field during spring, summer and early fall, both Bill and Phyllis look forward to a little leisure time in winter-something they did not have as dairy operators.

12

is the expert," commented Yohn . "It's almost like in-service training for me every time I go out there."

"Bill's as good a manager as you'll find; he takes information, processes it and evaluates it to see how it fits into his operation. To me, that's what extension's role is-to provide information."

The agent has talked with the Gran­thams about expanding their opera­tion and building a permanent facility but he doubts they will take those steps soon: "It would mean hiring additional labor and pretty soon it would be seven days a week year­round, which was a major reason they got out of dairying."

The Grantham family has exper­ienced many rewards along with their hard work. They appreciate having the entire day off for Christ­mas, for example, a luxury unknown during their dairying years. They've even managed to take their daugh­ters on a few trips, treating them to their first night in a motel following the first growing season.

Bill and Phyllis have time to attend conferences of the West Virginia Direct Marketing Association and meetings of organic growers. To­gether, they're serving as vice presi­dent of the Mountain State Organic Growers and Buyers Association. They applied to that organization for certification as organic growers.

Bill's advice for anyone considering direct marketing of produce: "Do your homework before getting into it. Read magazines; go to association meetings; visit a farmers' market to find out what's hot in your area." Although he admits that it's advan­tageous to have land that's paid for and lots of family help, he believes knowledge and water are key factors "because then you can take about any kind of land and make it pro­ductive." •

Can education be fun? You bet! Family Issues Chairperson Carol Schoolcraft of Hancock County, left, shares a light moment with Olive Fauver of Mason County, Ginny Stutler of Jefferson County, Carlene Frederick of Calhoun County and Ruth Ann Stutler of Harrison County.

Extension Homemakers' Service Tradition Targets Environment, Family, Global Issues

When have so few done so much for so many? The few are issues-matters of wide public concern arising out of com­plex human problems. The many are the citizens of West Virginia. And who are the doers? West Virginia Extension Homemakers.

Issues programming is not new to Extension Homemakers. For more than 70 years, Extension Home­makers Clubs throughout the state have identified issues and targeted their educational programs toward helping people use knowledge to help themselves.

This year is no exception. And with a membership of slightly more than 11 ,500 men and women, the clubs are a force to be reckoned with.

Issues are matters of wide public concern identified by determining who is involved or affected; what the problematic situation consists of; and what the consequences are. Issues programming calls for identification and validation of priority issues by

individual citizens, West Virginia families and communities.

From the first each homemaker has had the opportunity to have a voice in determining the program for the club, the county and the state. The program was built from the ground up, not from the top down.

The ultimate goal in each year's planning procedure is a sound pro­gram of education and action built to meet the needs and interests of a majority of the families and commu­nities in the state.

There is strength in numbers. The National Extension Homemakers Council (NEHC) focuses on major goals and develops long-term plans to reach them. This results in con­centration of efforts on important matters and gives nationwide con­tinuity to the program. NEHC is one of the largest adult volunteer educa­tional organizations in the United States with a membership exceeding 355,500.

Oklahoman Judy Weinkauf, presi-

dent of NEHC, talked about what's happening at the national level when she attended the WVEHC 1991 fall conference at Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center.

"We're narrowing the focus," she explained. "We used to have 13 or 14 committees. Now three main di­rections are emphasized with a spe­cial thrust concerning children . These directions are Environmental Issues with a focus on waste man­agement; Family Issues with a focus on child care; and Global Issues with a focus on literacy."

Thirty-five year WVEHC member Dolores Westbrook of Kingwood ex­plains: "This year's focus program­ming on family issues with emphasis on child care ties in with the WVU Extension Service capacity building program. The benefit of this type of issues programming, is the fact that Extension Homemakers programs were directed by 1 0 educational committees. A task force took a look

(Continued next page)

13

Extension Homemakers'

to redirecting interests toward areas where we could really show an im­pact. For example, the West Virginia Extension Homemakers took an award for encouraging the use of safety belts in vehicles. It was our first unified effort. It led to the feel­ing that homemakers could have an impact on something. We asked ourselves, when are we going to do something about this?"

"In Global Issues," she said, "we continue to be a part of the Associ­ated Country Women of the World (ACWW). A favorite program when it comes to interaction is Pennies for Friendship. At one time members actually contributed pennies; now we contribute an annual assessment paid through members' dues. Part goes to the international office in London; part stays in the U.S. to promote understanding."

Under literacy, we know that it be­gins at home. About 650,000 adult West Virginians cannot read.

On Environmental Issues within the clubs we have programs presented from material prepared by extension faculty. We get individual members involved. For instance, we promoted recycling back when the word had hardly been used and many clubs are cleaning the highways.

14

Ginny Stutler of Jefferson County, right, explains desirable features of child safety seats to other Extension Homemakers during the family issues session of their fall conference.

In the Family Community Leadership (FCL) program, we have found a great opportunity to affect decisions including those associated with land­fills and solid waste.

FCL teams conduct educational pro­grams, organize groups and mobilize community resources to solve local problems. Some FCL volunteers have been elected to public office or

appointed to official positions. Among them is Westbrook who is mayor of Kingwood.

She also is completing a four-year term as treasurer of the National Foundation of Extension Homemak­ers. The foundation's main purpose is to support and initiate programs to strengthen families through educa­tion and service .

West Virginia Extension Homemakers Council, Inc., officers welcome fall conference keynoter Judy Weinkauf, National Extension Homemakers Council president. Officers include, left to right, Vice President Patricia Radabaugh; Dr. Shirley Eagan, interim Division Leader of Family and Youth Programs; President Deanna Cook; Weinkauf; Treasurer Roberta Monroe and Secretary Mary Rudy.

Most state homemakers' programs and activities are stimulated by train­ing and materials gained through participation in educational programs of the West Virginia University Extension Service and USDA-Exten­sion. Their link with WVU is their advisor, Shirley C. Eagan, interim leader of the Division of Family and Youth Programs.

"WVEHC had eight subject matter committees," Dr. Eagan pointed out. "Basically, they have pulled this sub­ject matter into the three issues. The new issues are related to what we've been doing in the Division of Family and Youth Programs.

In the environment extension has helped the homemakers to learn how to safeguard the quality of well water, to install window screens and other health and safety measures around homes.

WVEHC has long been active in Global Issues. After World War II, their first International Student Scholarship was awarded to a stu­dent from Germany. From 1948 to the present, homemakers have also welcomed the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) students. Victory Gardens were emphasized during World War II. In World War I assistant agents were recruited to

During the Global Issues segment, WVU student Margrett Bos of the Netherlands thanks the WVEHC for the scholarship she was awarded from them and for the "many kind­nesses" she has received as she has traveled to club meetings throughout the state.

do canning; programs tied in with 4-H projects; clubs assisted the Red Cross in disaster relief.

And there are longstanding ties with the Country Women's Council (CWC) and Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).

Program topics have been an im­portant part of the club program

(Continued next page)

At the Environmental Issues portion of the homemakers' conference Dr. Robert Diener, professor of agricul­ture engineering at WVU, explains the benefits of composting waste materials.

Dr. Kate Clark, extension specialist in consumer education, discusses the High School Financial Program with homemaker Linda El/ars of Kanawha County and Sherry D'Angelo, Randolph County extension agent.

15

Extension Homemakers' . ..

Thirty-five year WVEHC member Dolores Westbrook views issues programming as the way to make an impact.

VISION is published three times a year by the West Virginia University Extension Service.

Contributing writers:

Joyce Bower Diana Jividen Jerry Kessel Grace Truman Rachel B. Tompkins

Rachel B. Tompkins Associate Provost for Extension and Economic Development

since its beginning. Leader guides and members' factsheets are pre­pared by extension faculty members on subjects of interest and concern. "For those taking part in this con­tinuing education," Dr. Eagan said, "I've heard people say they've gotten the equivalent of a college education from these lessons."

Nearly 20 years ago Extension Divi­sion Leader Gertrude Humphreys in writing "Adventures in Good Living," the history of WVEHC, predicted:

" ... its key leaders and members had a dedicated sincerity of pur­pose, a fine sense of values and an insatiable desire to be of service. Surely, these basic values, ideals and attitudes, in addition to becom­ing a part of the state's cherished heritage, will carry over into future programs designed to bring lifelong learning and enriched living to West Virginia's individual citizens, its families and communities." She was right on target. •

Layout & Graphics: Hoye Walls and Esther Reed

Printing:

WVU Printing Services

Photo Credits:

Bob Beverly, Greg Ellis, Dan Friend, Ed Petrosky, and W.Va. Dept. of Commerce

Director, Cooperative Extension Service P.O. Box 6031, Knapp Hall Morgantown, WV 26506-6031

Homemaker Jane Slagle of Preston County, left, and Ruthellen Phillips, extension specialist in 4-H programs, continue discussion of family issues following Dr. Phillips' presentation.

Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons with­out regard to race. color. sex. handicap. religion. age or national origin.

Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. West Virginia University and the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooperating. Rachel B. Tompkins. Director. Morgantown. West Virginia. Published in Furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid Morgantown, WV

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