Ingram , Collins Recognized for Distinguished Service
Each year , West Virginia Farm Bureau selects one male and one female to receive the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their contributions to the establishment , development , advancement or improvement of agriculture through their service to West Virginia Farm Bureau .
This year ’ s recipients are Bonnie Collins and Bill Ingram .
Bonnie Collins was born and raised on a farm near Wileyville , West Virginia , in 1946 . After graduating high school , she married Junior Collins and for several years lived on military bases in North Carolina and Virginia while he served in the Marine Corps . During this time she raised three children and worked as a seamstress . Enrolling in the Woodbridge Beauty Academy , she attended evening classes for 18 months to receive her beauty operator license . But she longed to return to the farm .
In 1977 , the family moved back to the farm where Bonnie was born . They rebuilt the house , built fence , added buildings and soon were raising Hereford cattle , rabbits and poultry . Bonnie used everything
they raised , freezing and canning it . Each fall they butchered a beef to put in the freezer to feed the family for the year . She also raised a large garden , had fruit trees and berry vines . While Junior drove school bus , the farm chores fell on Bonnie and the kids . She learned to be a pretty good farmer , handling all the calving duties on her own and tending to all the animals ’ needs - while caring for three children . Life on the farm wasn ’ t easy , but she always enjoyed it .
In 1982 , Junior & Bonnie joined the Wetzel County Farm Bureau ( WCFB ) and took on a very active role . Bonnie served on the Women ’ s Committee and compiled several winning scrapbooks . She entered and won many pie baking contests . Bonnie became one of the first female county president in WVFB . She stepped up and kept the county program together and saw membership and participation grow . She also served on the WCFB Board of Directors . Bonnie has served as voting delegate for the WCFB many times , has helped with the Ag in the Classroom program , poster contests and Heritage Days . Bonnie received her 30 year service award , was named 2012 WCFB Female Distinguished member , and was inducted into the WCFB Hall of Fame in 2012 .
8 West Virginia Farm Bureau News