Tucker County, WV – Marsha Waybright successfully runs four businesses in Jenningston, West Virginia: Laurel River Club B&B, Laurel Fork Farm, Mama Bear Protection and the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, a 501c3 nonprofit organization she founded. Due to all of her successes, Waybright has been named Business Person of the Year for 2024 by the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce. Awards will be presented at the 46th annual Awards Banquet on May 16 beginning at 5:30 pm at Bear Paw Lodge at Canaan Valley Resort.
“I’m so honored to be named Business Person of the Year for Tucker County!” she said. Waybright is a Randolph County, WV native, originally from Middle Mountain. She is happily married to Kendall Waybright, a Tucker County native. They are parents to three homeschooled children in whom they have instilled the same worth ethics they live by. Oldest child Collin runs Laurel Fork Falconry; middle daughter Kendra operates It’s Kendra Paige; and youngest daughter Josie also has the entrepreneurial spirit. Waybright incorporates the entire family, including her husband and daughter-in-law, who runs her own business, Redhead N Mudboots, into the many educational experiences she makes available for visitors to the B&B.
The B&B sits on an educational farm, of which she is property manager. It is certainly a family affair through the many experiences offered to visitors. Through motivational speaking, Waybright uses her many talents to educate others and instruct them how to use natural resources while conserving the land. She has been involved with agriculture her entire life. The platform she uses to share her knowledge is the 250-acre educational Laurel Fork Farm where the Laurel River Club B&B is located. She is a Master Artisan in soap making, Master Gardener, certified animal trainer, certified USCCA instructor, certified Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED instructor, herbalist, and Bible teacher.
Through Waybright’s love for the rich history of the area and conservation efforts, she has aided in preserving the legacy of Jenningston, WV, which was once a vibrant logging community. In partnering with other entities, she uses the West Virginia School of Tradition Skills (WVSTS) to educate others about the importance of conservation, preservation and agriculture. Not only has she created a variety of outlets and experiential programs for those who lead a homesteading lifestyle, but the WVSTS has now been approved by the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine to teach CE hours for Veterinarians, Registered Veterinarian Technicians, and Certified Animal Euthanasia Technicians.
Laurel Fork Farm and the B&B have very high ratings with Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com. Guests have visited from over 40 countries and all but 6 of the US states. Laurel Fork Farm was named Conservation Farm of the Year for Tucker County in 2023, and the rich history of Jenningston and the LRCBNB was featured in Goldenseal Magazine in the Summer 2023 issue. She was chosen by Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to visit Washington, DC last year to speak to WV legislatures about small businesses and marketing options. Waybright is also a mentor for Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. In addition to being inducted into the West Virginia Women of Agriculture in 2023, she was a speaker for the 2023 West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism and the 2023 Women of Agriculture Conference.
For more information about the Laurel River Club B&B and surrounding farm, upcoming classes through the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, or to book a stay, please visit www.lrcbnb.com or call (304) 402-7095. Find more info on Facebook, Instagram, TikToc and YouTube.