A campground in mineral wells is receiving some much needed money for some improvements to the Butcher Bend Road Campground.

In a recent article by PAMELA BRUST

PARKERSBURG Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, presented a $5,000 Governor’s Community Participation Grant to the Wood County 4-H campground on Thursday.

The grant award was presented to the Wood County Commission as the host entity.

“The funds are to be used to rebuild the ox roast pit and complete additional improvements at the Wood County 4-H camp. The 4-H program is a wonderful asset to the youth in the community. This is a good use of taxpayer money,” Boley said.

The campground is on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells and is the site of the 4-H camps as well as other community events.

“The pit needs to be rebuilt. It’s probably 40 years old and the ox roast is the main fundraiser every year for the 4-H. The business people buy the steers and donate them to the ox roast, then we have a dinner to raise money for the 4-H,” said Don Fleming, who serves as a Farm Bureau representative on the 4-H camp board of trustees.

“We have four camps that run throughout the summer at the campground. The camp is also used by lots of youth groups, church groups, organizations, some from outside the community, and many bring in visitors from out of the area. There is a camping club, track meets, dog shows, band camps, you name it,” said Jodi Smith, an agent with the West Virginia University Extension Service/4-H program coordinator.

“It costs $87 a day just to run the camp, just to maintain it,” Smith said.

Fleming said the camp board is made up of representatives from the Farm Bureau, CEOS clubs, 4-H leaders, 4-H teen leaders, and members at large from the community.

Finally some good use of taxpayer money has been used for a worthy cause.

Read More: Campground gets funding – NewsandSentinel.com |

Photo Credit: http://wood.ext.wvu.edu/4_h_youth_development/4-h_camps