Marsha Waybright

Entrepreneur | Educator | Conservation Advocate | Agricultural Advocate | Nationally Recognized Speaker
 

Marsha Waybright is an entrepreneur, educator, conservation advocate, agricultural advocate, and nationally recognized speaker whose passion is helping people discover the possibilities that exist in rural communities. A native of Randolph County, West Virginia, Marsha was raised on Middle Mountain and now calls the historic community of Jenningston in Tucker County home, where she lives with her husband, Kendall. Together, they have transformed their family's property into a thriving destination where agriculture, education, conservation, hospitality, traditional skills, and entrepreneurship come together.
Marsha is the founder of Laurel Fork Farm, a 400-acre regenerative educational farm and living classroom; founder of Mama Bear Protection, which provides firearms safety and personal preparedness training; founder and property manager of Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast; and founder and Executive Director of the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills (WVSTS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving Appalachian heritage through hands-on education.
Throughout her career, Marsha has built businesses by combining innovation with tradition. What began as a family farm has evolved into an award-winning agritourism destination where visitors experience regenerative agriculture, forest farming, wildlife conservation, traditional Appalachian skills, farm-to-table food, outdoor recreation, and authentic mountain hospitality. Every enterprise she leads shares a common mission: inspiring people to reconnect with the land, preserve cultural heritage, strengthen rural communities, and create opportunities for the future.
 

Agriculture, Education, and Traditional Skills

A lifelong educator, Marsha believes that learning happens best through experience. Laurel Fork Farm serves as the foundation for immersive educational programming where guests, students, families, organizations, and fellow entrepreneurs gain practical skills in agriculture, conservation, food production, outdoor recreation, traditional crafts, and sustainable living. She is passionate about demonstrating that rural communities can thrive through creativity, collaboration, authenticity, and entrepreneurship.

As founder and Executive Director of the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, Marsha is leading the development of an Appalachian Food and Traditional Skills Learning Center featuring a commercial teaching kitchen and educational space. The project is designed to expand opportunities for agricultural education, food preservation, farm-to-table experiences, workforce development, and hands-on traditional skills training for people of all ages.

Her professional expertise spans an extraordinary range of disciplines. Marsha is a Master Artisan soap maker, Master Gardener, herbalist, certified animal trainer, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Hunter Education Instructor, and certified firearms instructor through both the United States Concealed Carry Association and the National Rifle Association. She is also a Bible teacher, avid hunter, and lifelong student and teacher of traditional Appalachian skills.
 

Conservation and Agricultural Leadership

Marsha is deeply committed to conservation, historic preservation, agricultural literacy, and the economic vitality of rural communities. Her work brings together regenerative agriculture, wildlife habitat, forest farming, responsible land management, and environmental stewardship.

In 2026, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources named Marsha Hunter Education Instructor of the Year for District One. Over the past two years, she has taught Hunter Education throughout the region, regularly offering free public classes through volunteer-led programs with Mama Bear Protection and the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills. Her commitment reflects her belief that responsible outdoor recreation, conservation, and stewardship begin with education.

Also in 2026, Marsha was appointed Tygarts Valley Conservation District Supervisor representing Tucker County, expanding her service in conservation, agriculture, and natural resource stewardship. She continues to build partnerships with agricultural organizations, educational institutions, conservation professionals, and community leaders to create opportunities for rural communities.

Laurel Fork Farm was the first farm to receive Naturally West Virginia Agritourism Certification and was named Tucker County Conservation Farm of the Year. These accomplishments reflect the farm's commitment to connecting agricultural production, conservation, education, and tourism.

Entrepreneurship and National Recognition

Marsha's leadership has earned statewide and national recognition. In 2023, she was inducted into the West Virginia Women in Agriculture program. She was also recognized as Tucker County Business Person of the Year in 2024. Her work has been featured in Countryside Magazine, Goldenseal Magazine, West Virginia Living Magazine, and numerous regional publications. She was also invited by Meta Platforms to Washington, D.C., to share insights on digital marketing and rural entrepreneurship.

In 2024, Marsha was selected for the inaugural West Virginia cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. She subsequently participated in the program's Rural Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., where she met with policymakers and advocated for rural entrepreneurship and small-business growth.

In 2025, she was appointed to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices National Advocacy Advisory Board. She returned to Washington, D.C., for the national 10,000 Small Businesses Summit, sharing her perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses, particularly those operating in rural communities. Her advocacy focuses on ensuring rural entrepreneurs have opportunities to grow, innovate, and contribute to the national economy.

In 2026, Laurel Fork Farm reached another significant milestone when it was selected for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's CO—100, recognizing America's top 100 small businesses. The national recognition celebrates the farm's innovation, adaptability, growth, resilience, and contributions to its community. As a CO—100 honoree, Marsha traveled to Washington, D.C., to join fellow entrepreneurs from across the country and celebrate the small businesses shaping America's economic future.

Also in 2026, Marsha received the West Virginia Wonder Woman Award from West Virginia Living Magazine and was named a 2026 Influential Woman. These honors recognize her leadership, entrepreneurial achievements, and contributions to her community, adding to a growing list of accomplishments that highlight her commitment to creating opportunities for women, families, and rural businesses.

That same year, Marsha won $19,000 through the IgniteWV Pitch Competition to advance development of the educational facility and commercial kitchen at the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills. She also secured a $5,000 award through the Tucker County Development Authority Pitch Competition to support the concrete phase of construction. These investments are helping move the Appalachian Food and Traditional Skills Learning Center toward its goal of providing year-round educational opportunities and strengthening the region's agricultural and workforce infrastructure
 

Speaking, Mentorship, and Community Impact

Marsha is a frequent keynote speaker, workshop leader, panelist, and educator for conferences and organizations throughout West Virginia and beyond. Her speaking engagements have included the Governor's Conference on Tourism, West Virginia Women in Agriculture Conference, Homesteading-ish Conference, WV FCCLA Conference, Root to Table Conference, West Virginia Small Farms Conference, and Annie's Project, along with numerous agricultural, tourism, entrepreneurship, and community-development events.

She also serves as a mentor for the Farm Fellows Program at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. Through these educational partnerships, Marsha shares practical experience in agriculture, agritourism, entrepreneurship, traditional skills, and the development of sustainable rural businesses.

The Waybright family's businesses, including Laurel Fork Falconry, It's Kendra Paige, and Redhead n Mudboots, complement the educational experiences offered through Laurel Fork Farm and Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast. Together, the family creates opportunities for visitors to learn directly from people who are preserving Appalachian traditions while embracing innovation and entrepreneurship.

Marsha believes collaboration is essential to the future of agriculture and agritourism. She works to connect farms, small businesses, educational institutions, tourism partners, and community organizations, demonstrating how rural entrepreneurs can build stronger economies while preserving the character and heritage of their communities.
 

Family, Heritage, and the Future of Rural Communities

At the heart of everything Marsha does is her family. A proud homeschooling mother of three, she considers raising her children and watching them develop their own entrepreneurial paths among her greatest accomplishments. The Waybright family works together across multiple businesses and educational initiatives, creating a living example of how entrepreneurship, agriculture, education, and family can work together in a rural community.

Through speaking engagements, workshops, educational programs, media appearances, and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads, and YouTube, Marsha continues to share a message of hope, resilience, stewardship, authenticity, and entrepreneurship.

Her story is ultimately about possibility. Marsha believes rural communities do not have to choose between preserving their heritage and building their future. By honoring what came before, embracing innovation, and working together, communities can create places where families build businesses, people learn practical skills, visitors experience authentic culture, and future generations thrive.
 

Her message is simple: Rural communities can do more than survive, they can flourish.