Lines to the Ladies
Pam Hessler, WVFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chair
Reflecting on what to include
in my first “Lines to the Ladies”,
I began thinking of the shoes I’m
now filling and the many great
ladies who have walked in them
before me. I have learned a great
deal over the years from each
of these special ladies (Loretta Ashby, Ethel Nash, and
JoEllen Blair) who have served as state chair during my
time on the state WLC. But there are so many others
who have or continue to leave a lasting impression on
me, including Lois Armstrong, Jeannie Carter, Flora
Turner and LaVonne Goff. What amazing women! I am
so humbled and honored to have been selected your new
state Women’s Leadership Committee Chair and will
do my very best to continue to promote the WVFB and
the WLC’s many programs of work. At the Women’s
Luncheon held during the Annual Meeting, Mary Clay
of Greenbrier County was elected Vice Chair, and Tanya
Pitsenbarger of Nicholas County was elected Secretary. I
work with an incredible TEAM of ladies from across the
state, and remember, if you need suggestions or help with
programs, don’t hesitate to contact any one of us.
It was such a busy weekend at the Annual Meeting
that I literally had to come home to get some rest. Here’s
just a highlight of the weekend: The Flora Turner Youth
Speech Competition was held on Friday evening with
eight contestants, the most contestants thus far. Let me
tell you, those kids were AWESOME. The 1st place
winner was Sydney Hudson from Pendleton County;
2nd place was Anna Cokeley from Ritchie County; and
3rd place was Jennifer Friend from Braxton County.
These young ladies took home $500, $300, and $200
respectively, thanks to Southern States and Denver
Turner. Following the speech contest, the Young
Farmer’s Discussion Meet was held and we have two
extremely knowledgeable and talented ladies who will
be representing West Virginia - one in San Antonio at
the AFBF Annual Meeting in January, and the other in
Virginia Beach at the Collegiate Farm Bureau Leadership
Meeting. Way to go, ladies!!!!
Once again, the state WLC ladies outdid themselves
by baking some incredible cookies, candies and other
goodies to sell at the Annual Meeting. Thanks to all
those attendees who stopped by to satisfy their sweet
tooth. We raised $384.75 in sales on Friday and Saturday
and then boxed up what was remaining and sold them in
the Young Farmers’ Auction for an additional $170. This
money helps the WLC support the AFBF Foundation’s
White-Reinhardt Education Fund.
I was ecstatic to see so many of the counties submit
photos for the photo contest this year. We had 69 total
photos for the three categories, the most ever since
we started this contest. First place winners were:
FB Activity: Jeffrey Brown, Wetzel County; Funny,
Comical: Rosella Call, Cabell County; Rural Scene:
Donald Jackson, Wood County. Second place winners
were: FB Activity: Sue Galloway, Wood County; Funny,
Comical: Jeffrey Brown, Wetzel County; Rural Scene:
James Hileman, Tyler County. The third place winners
were: FB Activity: Brenda Dorsey, Wetzel County;
Funny, Comical: Jonathan Brown, Wetzel County;
Rural Scene: John McCoy, Pendleton County. Please
continue to take those photos and submit them to next
year’s contest and consider keeping a county scrapbook
if you don’t already. Lewis, Wood, Wetzel and Upshur
Counties were recognized for submitting scrapbooks this
year. We also had counties submit safety scrapbooks
with 1st Place going to Wood County, 2nd Place – Wetzel
County, and 3rd Place - Monongalia County. Winners of
the Safety Poster Contest were: 1st Place - Roger Wigal,
Wood County; 2nd Place - Robyn Yeager, Wetzel County;
and 3rd Place - Kathleen Smith, Marion County.
At our Women’s Luncheon on Saturday, the
Honorable Shelley Moore Capito spoke to us and
encouraged and empowered us to tell our stories and
stay involved in our communities. Although the holiday
season brings lots of hustle and bustle, it is a good time
of the year to organize your Food Check-Out and Ag in
the Classroom plans for next year and get the Agriculture
in West Virginia Poster Contest going in your county if
you haven’t already.
As I try to hit the ground running, my immediate
see Ladies, page 21
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 19