59. WV 4-H CLUB PROGRAM AND JACKSON’ S MILL 4-H CONFERENCE CENTER
West Virginia Farm Bureau strongly supports the traditional 4-H program in West Virginia and we oppose any proposals to remove any reference to religion and worship from the 4-H program. One of the fundamentals of 4-H is the heart H which recognizes and emphasizes worship of God. Farm Bureau strongly supports the traditional tribal activities and Council circle program at 4-H camps. We believe these programs, through education, enhance the heritage of Native Americans.
We feel strongly that the cattle facilities should be maintained and available for educational activities such as 4-H livestock projects, public shows and sales. We feel that Jackson’ s Mill is a major asset to West Virginia as a center for youth activities and as an adult education facility. Jackson’ s Mill should be maintained and the facilities improved with additional private housing. We encourage West Virginia University to put more emphasis on improving and using Jackson’ s Mill.
Farm Bureau is willing to work with other organizations to help secure adequate state funding for this facility. We request that WV citizens receiving a state tax refund be given the option to dedicate it to a designated fund meant for capital improvements and maintenance of Jackson’ s Mill.
60. WVU EXTENSION SERVICE
The WVU Extension Service has made an outstanding contribution to the farm community. It must be continued and strengthened to meet the future needs of agriculture, and its primary responsibility should be to serve the educational and informational needs of farmers. We strongly support West Virginia University in acquisition of funds from the legislature to carry out the Extension Program, 4-H, Community Educational Outreach Services, and county extension agents serving traditional needs of the agriculture community.
West Virginia Farm Bureau will continue to support a sound WVU Extension Service program. We recommend that a minimum of one agent and one secretary be placed in each county. Effectiveness in program development and financing comes from local support. This concept must be maintained and supervision exercised by the Extension Service Committee in each county. Farm Bureau continues to support a Farm Bureau representative on the Extension Service Committee in each county.
Recognizing that young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, we support the 4-H Club work program. We oppose lowering the traditionally high standards for 4-H programs in order to increase the enrollment, or for any other reasons. We further recommend that the 4-H program be given special emphasis in future planning and budgeting. We are strongly opposed to any reduction or elimination of positions of 4-H or county extension agents working directly with young people at the county level. If cuts are necessary, they should occur at the administrative level.
61. WVU DAVIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND DESIGN
Our College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station are suffering from a lack of state financial support to the extent that the buildings and farms cannot be maintained in even a reasonable state of repair. West Virginia’ s state support compared to federal funding is one of the lowest in the nation.
Our College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design must have support of at least one dollar for each dollar of federal funding and research, and teaching must be a top priority.
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports continuation of necessary master’ s and doctoral programs in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. We support a policy that total revenue received from disposal of any real estate owned by West Virginia University and being used or administered by the College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, or the Agricultural Experiment Station shall go into the capital improvement fund, the research fund and / or scholarship endowment fund of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. We support alternative routes to the West Run bypass to ensure that WVU Agricultural Research and Educational facilities remain in close proximity to the WVU Davis College of Agricultural, Natural Resources and Design campus.
18 West Virginia Farm Bureau News