|
|
|
West Virginia farmer makes historyFALLING WATERS, W.Va. (AP)--Farming has always been a way of life for Carla Kitchen, a Berkeley County native who smiles as she recalls growing up on her family farm, where she picked peaches and helped with other chores. Those days--and memories--are never far from Kitchen, who still lives at Kitchens Orchard and has been operating it since 1987. Her roots run deep and Kitchen, who proudly recalls the lessons she learned working beside her late parents Bruce and Evelyn Kitchen, was determined to build on the foundation they gave her. State agricultural officials agree that Kitchen, a third-generation orchardist, has done that and more. Perhaps not surprisingly, Kitchen recently made state history when she became the first female to be honored as winner of the "West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year" award. West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus Douglass recently presented Kitchen with a first-place plaque and a $750 check at the 2008 West Virginia Conservation Partnership Conference Awards Banquet. Her winnings also included a gift certificate for 200 hours or four months of use of a new 6000 series John Deere Tractor. Winning is an honor because she and her family, as well as her co-workers Robert Boarman and Raymond Lemaster Sr., have invested so much time and effort into her home place over the years, Kitchen said. But it also meant "going up against some other very tough competition," including a vineyard that was "very beautiful and impressive," she said. "When you see these others that you are competing against and then you win, it really is an amazing experience," Kitchen said. Barbie Elliott, a conservation specialist with the West Virginia Conservation Agency in Martinsburg, who works closely with Kitchen, said there was much to showcase for the judges. "I think the diversity here really impressed them," Elliott said. That's because Kitchen raises more than 50 different varieties of fruits, such as apricots, plums peaches and apples; as well as vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash and sweet corn. Kitchen farms her own 172 acres of land while also working an additional 640 acres that she leases nearby. She also operates a cow/calf operation raising cattle to sell at the livestock market or to be sold to individuals for meat, and she raises crops such as soybeans, corn, barley and beans. The Kitchens Farm Market, which operates from July through November, sells fruits and vegetables as well as fall items for decorations. Some apples are sold to processors, including Bowman Apple and National Fruit. "When you look around and see all that Carla does here, let alone how she is always busy with new ideas and improvements, it is easy to see why Kitchens Orchard was selected for this award and why it is so well deserved," Elliott said. The Eastern Panhandle Conservation District had previously named Kitchen as its 2008 County, District and Area 3 Conservation Farm of the Year, she said. Boarman, who has worked with Kitchen for 15 years, had nothing but praise for her and what she's accomplished. "I think the judges made exactly the right choice," he said proudly. "There's no one that works any harder than Carla does. Most women would have sold their family farm after their parents passed on or they would have rented it out, but not her. And you can see right here all that she is accomplishing," Boarman said. 12/15/08 Date: 12/8/08 Advertisement
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
