Something to Think About
Don Michael, WVFB Director of Governmental Affairs
Wheels of Progress
No one has worked harder to gain stakeholder
Turning - Last month WVFB
input and ensure that private property rights are
President Wilfong and I joined
protected. Stay tuned!
stakeholders for two extensive
meetings called by House
On a sad note, the West Virginia agriculture
Energy Chair “Woody” Ireland
community lost another recognized leader last
to discuss our respective
month – Carl Wayne Larew of Preston County. My
needs and concerns regarding
wife and I were blessed to know Carl and his family
reasonable and responsible
through our association with Agricultural Education
legislation regulating oil and gas exploration while
and FFA in West Virginia. His two daughters, Alecia
protecting private property/surface owners’ rights
and Lesley, served as President of the West Virginia
and the environment. Participant groups included:
FFA Association. I first met Carl when we were at
Farm Bureau, Land and Mineral Owners, Oil and
WVU as undergraduates in Ag Education. Later
Gas (IOGAWV and WVONGA), Royalty Owners
we worked together as fellow Ag Ed professionals.
and Surface Owners. Legislative leaders and legal
Reflecting back on Carl’s days as a student, as well
staff were also involved.
as teacher, two things come
Following discussions
to mind – the phrase “Git Farm Bureau appreciates
and review of possible
R-Done” and the song “My
the
common
sense
leadership
bill components,
Way.” Carl was a “Gitstakeholder groups
R-Done” guy, as could be
provided by Chairman Ireland to
were provided with draft
evidenced by his efforts
bring stakeholders to the table in
legislation – “Horizontal
with secondary and adult
an
effort
to
try
to
find
consensus
on
Well Unitization and
students (32-year teaching
Landowner Protection
workable, meaningful legislation.” career where he established
Act of 2016” – to share
one of the nation’s
with their respective
most innovative animal
groups to gain input. The draft reflected stakeholder
processing programs, championed a school farm,
involvement from our meetings, as well as suggestions and was one of our state’s pioneers with embryo
made by various individuals during and after the 2015 transfer), as well as his farming accomplishments and
West Virginia Legislative Session.
personal recognition, including the Honorary State
FFA Degree and WV Vocational Agriculture Teacher
On Tuesday, August 25, Chairman Ireland
of the Year honor. In his quest to “Git-R-Done” Carl
met with West Virginia Farm Bureau’s Board of
generally did it his way. He was a “cut to the chase”
Directors to review the 51-page draft. The Board guy who frowned on the political games that often
offered a few suggestions for clarification and
accompany the education process . . . and he wasn’t
improvement. At this writing a stakeholders’
bashful about stating his opinion, which was always
meeting is set for Monday, September 14, for
built on integrity and experience. Carl was driven
additional review and discussion. Farm Bureau
by his students and the industry of agriculture he
is hopeful the end result will be reasonable
dearly loved. Per the song, “I planned each charted
and responsible legislation to guide oil and
course, each careful step along the byway, and more,
gas exploration and strengthen our economy,
much more than this, I did it my way.” Carl and “his
while protecting private property rights.
way” will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are
Farm Bureau appreciates the common sense
with Carl’s loved ones. Until next time, take care
leadership provided by Chairman Ireland to bring FRIENDS, God bless and KEEP SMILING.
stakeholders to the table in an effort to try to find
consensus on workable, meaningful legislation.
“
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5