Washington, D.C. — Marsha Waybright, owner of Laurel Fork Farm and Mama Bear Protection, property manager of Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast, and founder of the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, recently attended the 2025 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) Summit in Washington, D.C.
Waybright served as a speaker in two breakout sessions as part of the 10KSB Voices Advocacy Advisory Board, sharing her expertise and passion for advancing small rural enterprises across America.
As a member of the first Goldman Sachs 10KSB West Virginia Cohort, Waybright proudly represented both her state and the agritourism industry serving as the only agritourism business owner in her cohort. Her participation at the national summit highlights her ongoing commitment to advocating for rural entrepreneurs, small business sustainability, and the vital role of agriculture-based tourism in strengthening local economies.
During her time in Washington, Waybright also met with representatives from Senator Jim Justice’s office, Congressman Riley Moore, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s office to discuss the unique challenges faced by small rural businesses and to advocate for policies that support their growth and long-term viability.
“It’s an honor to bring the voice of rural business owners to a national stage,” said Waybright. “Agritourism connects people to the land and to each other it’s not just about business growth, it’s about community resilience.”
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a nationwide initiative providing entrepreneurs with education, networking, and access to capital to help them grow and strengthen their local economies. The 2025 Summit brought together more than 2,500 alumni, policymakers, and business leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities shaping America’s small business landscape.
Through her leadership across multiple ventures, Waybright continues to use her platform to advocate for policies and partnerships that empower small rural businesses, promote agritourism as a driver of economic and cultural vitality, and preserve traditional skills that sustain West Virginia’s rural heritage.
For more information about Laurel Fork Farm, Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast, Mama Bear Protection, or the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, visit lrcbnb.com or the many other social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
