West Virginia Un1vers1ty Extension Service

Volume II Number 1 Spring 1987

Wood Products' Profit Potentia I 'Tremendous'

Can't see the forest for the trees? That's not surprising ·in West Virginia, a state whose total land area is SO­percent forested.

Wood is an abundant, renewable natural resource here. Yet, timber­related industrial activity accounts for less than 1 percent of West Virginia 's gross product. The state's wood industries exported more than $111 million worth of wood products, but that is barely 1 percent of the total value of state exports.

Economic development leaders agree that the wood products industry has tremendous potential for expansion . And West Virg inia University extension forestry spec ialists are playing key roles in exploring new markets and helping exist ing wood industries to grow.

Their roles are as varied as the wood industry itself. Forest management and wildlife specialists help woodlot owners learn how to develop healthy, thriving tree stands. Wood industry specialists support efforts by timber owners and industries to get the most from the harvested wood .

" My job starts when that saw digs into the tree and continues until the final processing of the wood product, " said Curt Hassler, WVU extension specialist in wood products.

Dr. Hassler said education is essential to ensure sound, meaningful develop­ment of the wood industry. He provides consultation statewide and also

Extension

Timber, one of the state 's most plentiful renewable resources, is cut into boards for further processing.

conducts group meetings and seminars to help industry officials learn more about the potential markets for their hardwoods.

''I'm finding that many people who are involved in wood production really don't understand the wood products industry," observed Hassler, who came to WVU a year ago from Virginia

Polytechnic Institute. "They don't know what markets are available to them . They're not sure of their production costs or they don't know how to go about marketing the final product. A lot of education has to be done for these people and for the banks as well, since they are so important to economic development efforts."

(continued p 3)

Viewpoint

Talking about money or the lack of it may be tiresome, but acquiring the resources to operate the WVU Extension Service remains one of my major chores. Let me report to you on the status of our efforts.

The State of West Virginia is in one of its periodic financial crises. The problem is a very simple one-not enough revenue to cover the level of existing services. The only solution is either to cut back further on existing services or to generate more income for state coffers. If the decision is made by the governor and legislature to make additional cuts, then extension will suffer. If the decision is made to increase taxes and revenue, additional funding for extension is possible.

Your efforts over the past several months to explain the value and importance of extension programs to your elected representatives have made an impression . Legislators were aware of extension 's proposals, but they have many interests demanding their attention and support. Consistent, persistent but polite, discussion of an issue is the way to make the case. Even if your efforts are unsuccessful this year, you should not be discouraged, because those who are successful in influencing legislation know that it usually takes more than one year to achieve even a portion of the desired goal.

The Citizens Committee for Extension, created by the Extension Visiting Committee to support extension's 1987 budget request, deserves our thanks. Its members are Trudy Seita, Vienna, Chair; Rush Butcher, Summersville; Betty Gill, Fairmont; Oscar Hutchison, Beckley; Jack McComas, Huntington; Art Olds, St. Marys; Joan Ross, Huntington; Roger Smith, Glen Dale; Pete Walker, Shenandoah Junction; and Sheila Williamson, Poca. In addition, each county named a citizen contact who was part of this communication network. Many of them have been very busy in the past three

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months. The Visiting Committee and Citizens Committee will be getting together in May to assess activities this year and discuss further plans. Vision will be used for communicating those plans to all of you.

Because extension has multiple sources of funding, there are always many fronts in the battle for resources. Last year, federal funding was in jeopardy. While the deficit still looms and Gramm-Rudman remains, the outpouring of extension support last year has given Congress little encouragement to make new cuts in Smith-Lever funds. The entire West Virginia delegation-Byrd, Rockefeller, Rahal!, Staggers, Mollahan, and Wise­have been solid supporters. They need to know they are appreciated for that.

This year, both county and state funding pose serious problems. The county commissions in 12 to 15 counties are cutting extension funding . The loss of revenue sharing for all counties, the reduction of coal severance in a few counties, and the failure of revenue at the county level to keep pace with expenditures for several years are the reasons for the problem. No county commission is telling us extension is not valuable. In all cases, health departments, libraries, or emergency services also suffer cuts. In some counties, the constitutional offices are being cut as well .

While we have no plans to reduce the overall extension staff at the county level, agents will be transferred from counties which do not provide formula support. I have been consistent on this matter-counties that do not provide minimum support cannot expect to continue the same level of service. We will not abandon any county, but in one-agent counties, the basic support services must be provided in order for extension to maintain a county base. Multicounty arrangements will be necessary when counties do not maintain the basic support.

All is not gloom and doom at the county level. Four counties will have fully funded agent positions on July 1, 1987-Hampshire, Hardy, Pleasants, and Gilmer. Several counties have increases in board of education support. The emphasis on closer 4-H and school cooperation does appear to pay off in additional resources.

One final money matter. We are beginning a major effort this year to increase grants and private support for extension programs. We have a track record of success in energy, safety,

and youth development on which to build. The recent $2.1 million Siemans contract to develop computer-based education packages involves John Grasso, assistant program leader for Computer Technology, as a major participant. While we lose John's leadership as he works on the grant, the overhead earned will enable us to continue to build the extension computer network.

Proposals are pending or in discussion stages for improving water quality, wood products,. prevention of adolescent pregnancy, family community leadership, dropout prevention, and chemical safety. Preparing successful proposals takes writing skill, a support system, and an effective advocacy network. We are working on all those fronts to strengthen the organization .

Many people come up to me to commiserate about their hard times. Well , yes, it might be more fun to figure out how to spend great amounts of new resources. The challenge to manage what we have productively and to focus existing resources on high priority problems is a challenge I still enjoy. Your support and encouragement keeps all of us focusing on the half-full glass. •

Rachel B. Tompkins Associate Vice President for University Extension and Public Service and Director, Cooperative Extension Service

Vision is published three times a year by the West Virginia University Extension Service. Contributing writers are Rachel B. Tompkins, Florita S. Montgomery, Grace H. Truman and Jerry Kessel. Printed by WVU Communications Services. Photo Credits: Greg Ellis, pg. 1; Ed Petrosky, pg . 3; L. Victor Haines, pg 4; National 4-H Congress, pg. 5; Ed Petrosky, pg. 6; Greg Ellis, pg . 7.

Wood

In recent months, Hassler has worked with groups in Tucker, Randolph, Taylor, Mercer and Preston counties to help them explore potential wood products industries or expand existing ones. Task forces and business groups in these counties are hoping to expand existing sawmill and kiln operations or increase manufacturing of Rpecialty wood products, such as cabinets, moldings and custom-crafted furniture.

Hassler and other forestry faculty at WVU serve as advisors to a group of business managers who are exploring the wood industry through a class at Glenville State College. Joseph Yeager, WVU extension forestry specialist, is also among those advisors.

An authority on the wood export market, Yeager guides wood processors on such matters as international banking, freight forwarding, and packaging for sale to foreign markets. He said such help is particularly important to the state's small-scale wood industries.

"Getting the smaller producers to tie into the export system is difficult. Most are apprehensive about transportation and about international money exchanges, or their product line is not well diversified. But, we're having good results through cooperatives of two or three of these producers working as a group. This gives the smaller producers the chance to enter into markets that they hadn't had before," Yeager explained .

Last summer, Yeager met with trade delegations from Norway, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. His role was to explain the West Virginia wood industry and answer questions on wood quality and availability. Two years ago, he accompanied a delegation of state industry officials on a trade mission to Japan, Taiwan and Korea.

Steve Spence, trade representative with the Governor's Office of Community and Industrial Development (GOCID), said Yeager was a valuable participant in these trade talks.

"Joe was our 'designated expert,' the one who could answer all the technical questions on our wood industry. He also was valuable because he was perceived as an impartial, neutral source of information," Spence observed.

Wood industry representatives tour a Preston County lumber facility during a kiln workshop coordinated by extension specialist Curt Hassler, far left.

Yeager noted that Asian countries are primarily interested in buying high­quality West Virginia oak. Because their labor costs are so low there, they use this wood to build furniture, cabinets and other products. They generally can ship these back to the United States for sale cheaper than products made in this country, despite the added shipping costs.

"We can't compete with them on an equal basis, but we can use these ties to open up foreign markets for some of our other hardwoods, such as the abundant yellow poplar. We're also exploring some joint ventures. The payoff there could be a foreign company locating a woodworking plant in West Virginia. We need at least one stage of log manufacturing in West Virginia to produce value-added products, whether they be used domestically or be exported," Yeager said .

For existing companies, Yeager and Hassler see greater profit potential in the secondary manufacturing stage; so they are encouraged by recent growth in dry kiln operations in West Virginia. The number of commercial wood kilns rose from 107 to 127, or 18 percent, from 1982 to 1986.

Because raw lumber must be kiln-dried before it can be processed into furniture or other finished products, the growth of the drying industry is a good indicator of potential growth for other wood-using businesses.

"Right now, most of the lumber goes out of the state 'green,' (undried) and so there is no value-added component to increase returns on the product. Kilns are the intermediate stage-what we also need to gain are secondary wood industries such as furniture, cabinets, millwork and construction lumber," said Hassler.

Karen Price, GOCID industrial development representative, said the recent wood industry gains are the result of concerted efforts over the last five years. She points with pride to a recent study by the state's Forestry Division that indicated wood industry employment increased by an average of three jobs each day in 1986.

"We're starting to see results, in terms of jobs and new investment," Price said. "The wood industry is a growth industry that is extremely important to West Virginia's future. It may never become the top industry in the state, but certainly it will take its place among the top five." •

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Volunteers Show 289,000 It Pays To Buckle Up

Volunteers are fueling a statewide education network that will save West Virginians millions of dollars.

As the volunteers' efforts affect people's behavior, the state's economy will begin to benefit from savings accrued by employers, insurance companies, health care systems, and individual citizens.

Saved will be dollars not spent for medical expenses, rehabilitation bills, insurance payments, and manpower replacement and retraining costs.

These dollars will be saved because West Virginians are learning how to cut the state's high morbidity and mortality statistics: Through extension's volunteer-managed education program, West Virginians are learning why they should wear their safety belts.

In the last two years, a core of 25 to 60 volunteers have reached more than 289,000 West Virg inians via films, speeches, workshops, demonstrations, and other methods. Their message is simple: Safety belts save lives.

Safety belt usage would prevent an estimated 90 percent of traffic deaths and 80 percent of accident-related serious injuries.

According to Tom Bean, WVU extension safety specialist and adviser to the safety volunteers, that kind of cut in West Virginia's traffic statistics would bring a substantial savings to West Virginia's economy.

On the average, each serious traffic injury costs the economy $400,000, while each traffic death costs $600,000-just in direct costs. "Hidden costs" can multiply those figures as many as 10 times.

In 1986, West Virginia had 441 traffic deaths and 26,889 traffic injuries.

"Industry knows how much traffic accidents cost. So, many companies require that employees wear their safety belts on the job and encourage them to wear safety belts when they are not working .

"But safety belt usage," Dr. Bean said, "is still too low. Only about 20 percent of the state's population uses safety belts."

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"This seat won't save a life." That's the message volunteers learned how to deliver when they were trained at Jackson's Mill.

This concern led Bean to help West Virginia Extension Homemakers turn a promising objective into a statewide push that in two years reached more than 289,000 West Virginians and won eight national awards.

Extension Homemakers' state and county safety committees annually commit themselves to safety belt education. But education programs need educational materials. And they cost money.

Working with home economics and 4-H specialists Shirley Eagan and Glenn Snyder, Bean secured money from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. For 1984-85, the safety belt program received $10,100. However, volunteers' need for materials outstripped that budget. The next year, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety granted the program $21,400.

The program purchased films, video tapes, comic books, pamphlets, and other educational material. What was not available through national safety outlets was developed and printed at West Virginia University by Bean, Dr. Eagan, and Snyder.

They trained the core volunteer group at Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp during Homemakers' and 4-H Volunteer Leaders' conferences.

In two years, their primary volunteers have logged more than 3,000 hours and distributed more than 290,000 pieces of safety belt literature.

Helping direct the effort and pass out kudos to this nonpaid staff is the "volunteer's volunteer"-Marion County's Barbara Metcalfe, the project's manager. She has worked more than 1,500 hours-coordinating, tabulating , speaking, and mailing .

To hear Metcalfe speak or to read the volunteers' reports is to be touched by these enthusiasts' sense of mission . It is their dedication that drives them to:

-collect " I will buckle up for two weeks" pledges from people in malls and other public areas. (So far, 20,000 West Virginians have taken the pledge.)

-construct and wear bear suits and buckle-up T-shirts at county fairs (in August!) to attract youngsters' attention to the safety bear's safety belt message.

-involve other community clubs in Homemakers' purchases of car safety seats for libraries and hospitals to loan to parents. (One core volunteer presented 25 seats to her local library.)

(continued p. 8)

Winner Credits 4-H for Career Choice Insight

Charles R. Detamore II appreciates 4-H for more than his $1 ,000 scholarship. He credits the youth organization for helping him discover his career goals.

State and regional honors for his outstanding career in the 4-H citizenship program led to national recognition for Detamore during the 1986 National 4-H Conference in December in Chicago, Ill. Detamore was named a Presidential Tray winner. Along with the silver tray came a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation.

The scholarship goes toward Detamore's education at Fairmont State College, where he is a freshman political science major.

Detamore, the son of Charles and Aleta Detamore of Weston, set his sights on a governmental career after he arranged for his 4-H club-the 4-H Free Spirits-­to visit the state Capitol in 1983 while the legislature was in session .

"My brother Kenneth and I were so impressed with what was going on that we chose the following year to return and page for a week. My interest in government intensified," he said .

His interest in government hasn't narrowed to any specific area yet, he said, although "Washington , D.C." and "foreign affairs" currently dominate his description of where he might like to be a few years from now.

Regardless of where he works in government, Detamore undoubtedly will continue to rely on the philosophy that has earned him so many honors.

"We are caretakers of the earth . . . we should be good stewards of all that we have and are," he believes.

That philosophy both grew from and was reinforced by his 4-H activities:

He organized tours of his family's timberstand to teach others good conservation citizenship; gave presentations on erosion control; helped organize a new 4-H club; served as his club's citizenship chairman and organized tours to the state Capitol and state Civil War sites; and started work on a walking nature trail for the proposed Lewis County 4-H Center.

Charles Detamore (center) displays the silver tray he was awarded for 4-H excellence during Nationai4-H Congress in Chicago, Ill. Award presenters were (left) Donald L. Stormer, deputy administrator, 4-H Youth, Extension System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and (right) Edward Hall, executive director, Reader's Digest Foundation.

Following each of the Weston area's two recent floods, Detamore worked with his 4-H club to get food, clothing, and other necessities to residents . "My participation in 4-H," he said, "provided a channel through which I could reach out to others less fortunate than 1."

"4-H has given me a strong foundat ion on which to build my life . . . I learned the pain of defeat, but I also learned not to give up in the face of adversities," the 18-year-old 4-H member explained . •

Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, or handicap.

Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, West Virginia University and the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperating. Rachel B. Tompkins, Director, Morgantown , West Virginia. Published in Furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.

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Future Bright For Producers Of Lambs, Wool

Sheep production has a bright future in West Virginia and elsewhere in the East. The demand is up and the interest has increased.

A specific consumer group leads the way in demand. Upbeat about nutrition and fashion, the Yuppies have discovered lamb and wool. "They're looking for something different, something they consider a little extravagant," explained Richard M. Koes, extension specialist in animal husbandry.

Sixty to seventy percent of the demand is from Yuppies, the young, affluent, well-educated Americans. "They don't want to chew the grass fed imported lamb," Dr. Koes said. Instead they turn to the more tender American lambs.

The Yuppies' enthusiasm carries over into the field of fashion because of what Koes calls "a most exciting" development for wool producers. Levi Strauss and L.L. Bean are using blends of cotton and wool for their jeans.

"The value of the present lamb population is roughly $70 each. With 125,000 lambs in West Virginia that amounts to $8.7 million," Koes said. Between 75,000 and 100,000 are sold out-of-state each year. Their average gross value is $75 each.

The American Sheep Producers Council does an outstanding job in promotion of wool and sheep, Koes said . Wool producers pay 5 cents per pound of wool to the council for promotion. It maintains a strong relationship with textile people and restaurateurs. The council does no lobbying.

Use of fertility drugs and various cross breeding programs are changing the traditional lambing schedule. At present a ewe can produce five lambs in three years, Koes said.

A survey of 13 eastern packing houses showed they "are very well pleased" with our lambs. Packers said, "West Virginia or Virginia lambs are the ones we want. Western lambs have poorer carcasses."

Wool production was 400,000 pounds in West Virginia in 1986. Wool grossed $276,000 or 69 cents a pound.

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WVU ewe keeps her two-day-old twins nearby as they look out into the world beyond their pen.

"The wool crop stays in the East," Koes said . It goes into Boston or North Carolina where it's used in upholstery, military uniforms and pads for hospitals.

"The dollar value of wool is increasing and the demand is up. Manmade fibers have a two to one advantage over wool at present, but rising oil prices will change that," Koes continued.

For novice shepherds, Koes recommends starting out small-25 to 50 ewes. "If you know anything about sheep then begin with 300 to 500," he suggested. He figures a shepherd spends about three hours with each ewe per year.

An orphan lamb receives some attention from Richard Koes, a sheep specialist.

"The trend in West Virginia now is that an older farmer sells a flock to a new producer. The number of producers is down but the number of lambs is up 15 percent from 1986. Whether the new producers' interest is in sheep or in dollars, I don't know," Koes said. He added, "You do have an advantage if you like sheep." Interest in sheep production is increasing in Preston, Kanawha and the Northern Panhandle counties, Koes said. "What I'd like to see is producers in the middle of the state (up and down 1-79) sell their lambs at 60 pounds as feeder lambs to producers along the Ohio River or the Eastern Panhandle and finish them in feed lots."

Among the new shepherds he has advised are three groups from non­agricultural backgrounds-retired military personnel, doctors' wives and former coal miners.

"Financing can be a problem," Koes went on . "Bankers in this state are afraid to invest in sheep. Getting a loan is difficult. Better education of the financial community needs to be done."

Sheep production is a tremendous opportunity for young people, Koes said. They don't need a large investment and they can start small.

"One of my major jobs is to try to put a different image on sheep," Koes said. "Maybe we need a new movie about sheep!" •

Evening Credit Program Attracts Working Adults

West Virginia University's "typical student" is getting harder and harder to describe. West Virginia University has 1,100 to 1 ,200 part-time students out of 17,000.

The traditional mold of a new high school graduate embarking on a four­year, full-time educational path simply doesn't fit many of today's students.

At WVU and many other colleges and universities nationwide, more and more classroom seats are being held by adult, part-time students.

These students want the same rich educational experience as their younger classmates. However, as they also juggle career and family demands, they need more flexible class scheduling and registration procedures.

To meet this need, WVU's Center for Extension and Continuing Education is coordinating the new Evening Credit Program, designed just for adult, part­t ime students.

The program combines even ing class schedules with streaml ined registration and advising procedures. The goal is to enable more working adults to attend WVU and to earn undergraduate degrees.

"We are trying to respond to the need fo r part-t ime studies, whether students want to pursue a degree or simply want to enrich themselves," said R. Rudy Filek, dean of the Center for Extension and Continuing Education .

Dr. Filek and Elaine Ginsberg, assistant vice president for undergraduate education , are coordinating the evening initiative.

The program features special evening registrations that allow new adult students to begin their studi~s with a minimum of " red tape. " At the first such session last January, 33 new students applied for admission, received academic counseling, and registered for classes-all in one place at one time.

Thomas S. Sloane, WVU's assistant dean of student life, is encouraged by these early results . He believes evening enrollment will increase as the word

Academic advisors help an adult student select and enroll in evening classes at wvu.

gets out to area adults who had thought they could not avail themselves of a WVU education.

Dr. Sloane is campus coordinator for Oasis, a support group for WVU's adult student population. He said evening classes are especially attractive to working students who have job comm itments during the daytime.

"Evening classes can meet a variety of their needs. Some are interested in self-enrichment, some in improving their job performances. There's a whole group interested in career changes and retraining for a second line of work. We also are trying to serve those who never got a college degree but want to do so now," he said.

Oasis members serve as "peer advisors" to new students enrolling

through the Evening Credit Program. They are on hand at registration to answer questions and lend support to adults who are entering the university for the first time.

Filek says the Evening Credit Program is especially valuable to students in the Board of Regents Bachelor of Arts (BORBA) program.

BORBA students compile a portfolio to show their mastery of specific course contents. They receive academic credit for their documented proficiency. Combining these credits with course­work in the evening program, these students can earn an undergraduate degree without interrupting their careers for full-time study.

(continued p. 8)

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Volunteers

-hold workshops at and deliver materials to day care centers, doctors' offices, public schools, civic club meetings, churches, senior citizen centers, libraries, and beauty shops.

-attend 4-H camps to help 4-H members enjoy safety education sessions via safety belt song-writing contests.

-organize poster and coloring contests for county schools.

-help students research school papers on safety belts.

-stand at intersections to survey seat belt usage.

-stand at intersections to award lollipops to youngsters who are buckled up.

-operate booths in malls to talk about safety belts and to dispel people's myths about safety belts and accident risks . (Volunteers report people don't realize their risks and don't realize how much safety belts can protect them.)

Rachel B. Tompkins Associate Vice President for University Extension and Public Service and Director, Cooperative Extension Service

867-3916

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-appear on television and radio programs and write newspaper articles about local safety education efforts.

-solicit joint programming efforts with law enforcement, health, and safety groups (such as driver's education teachers and T AAD-Teens Against Alcohol and Drugs) .

Though they are proud of their accomplishments, the volunteers have not closed their log books on this project. Plans are underway for enlarging their outreach . They still have their eyes on one central goal :

"Our goal is to promote the 'Buckle Up' habit, to save lives, and to reduce injuries in our family, friends, and community ... improving the quality of life for all West Virginians," Metcalfe expla ined. •

Evening Credits

The semester's evening course offerings for adult students included classes in English, political science, general physical education, history, computer science, humanities, sociology and anthropology, health education, philosophy, safety education, religion, French, Spanish and music.

Program coordinators are asking other departments to offer undergraduate classes in the evening hours. They also are planning a comprehensive survey of area adults to establish what course offerings are most desired.

Sloane said evening programs have been quite successful at other institutions, including Ohio State University, where he received his doctorate.

"I really think this is a desirable prog ram and one that other schools have implemented quite successfully. I th ink we at WVU are right on course here with the national trend," he added . •

Nonprofit Organizat ion U.S. Postage Paid Morgantown, WV

Perm it No. 34