year career with the Bureau of Prisons, Mary says her
most notable award was being chosen as “Correctional
Officer of the Year”. She also considers it an honor to
serve on the Annual Meeting committee, calling it a
“rewarding experience”. But most important to her is
the opportunity to be a part of helping to tell the story
of agriculture – who grows our food, how farmers
care for their animals, and the importance of involving
youth for the sake of the future of ag.
W
illiam “Bill” Parker is a very young 88
years old, and has a very long history with
Farm Bureau. Growing up in the Mill Creek area of
Hampshire County, Bill watched his father serve in
leadership roles with Farm Bureau, first as a founding
member of the HCFB, and then serving as president
in 1943. Bill recently marked his 68th year as a Farm
Bureau member, and has served in a number of
leadership positions on both the county and state levels,
including as HCFB president; member of the HCFB
board of directors and chair of the Resolutions and
Membership committees. In 2000 he was elected as
Region 1 Director for West Virginia Farm Bureau, and
served in that capacity for ten years.
As a young man growing up on what later became
known as “Bonnie View Farm”, Bill helped his father
on the 891-acre spread while attending school. In
high school, Bill won a trip to Kansas City to the FFA
National Convention, and was the first student to have a
baby beef project. Following high school, Bill enlisted
in the Navy and went on to become a radioman, seeing
action during the invasion of Guam and the invasion of
the Philippines.
Bill married his high school sweetheart, Betty, upon
his return to West Virginia, and they are the proud parents
of three daughters. In 1947 he and his father formed a
partnership, Peyton Parker and Son, and started a dairy
business, milking 45 dairy cows. The farm also sold
hatching eggs, Holstein steers and replacement heifers;
and grew corn, grain and hay.
In 1952, Bill began cutting pulpwood logs and
firewood on the farm, and in 1980, he started a cow-calf
operation. Eventually, the dairy business and beef cattle
were phased out, while the woodland work continued, as
is does to this day, although on a smaller scale.
Today, Bill remains a tireless champion for
agriculture. He serves as a voting delegate each year at
the WVFB Annual Meeting. He continues to volunteer
his time for Food Check-Out Day, raising money and
shopping for supplies to support Ronald McDonald
Houses. And he has been a strong advocate garnering
donations and backing for the Mobile Ag Ed Science
Lab. He has and continues to serve his community as
well in a variety of roles, including the Ruritan Club,
American Legion, Southern States board, Potomac
Valley Soil Conservation District board, and Hampshire
County Planning Commission, among others.
Opposite page: Mary Clay
and William Parker are
presented with certificates
and crystal awards by
WVFB President Charles
Wilfong. This page: Both
Bill and Mary take the
opportunity to reminisce
about thier many Farm
Bureau memories.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 15