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