My Ties to Appalachia

Despite the fact that I go to school in West Virginia, I have never lived in the state. Instead, I live in Southern Pennsylvania on one of the oldest (perhaps the oldest) Shorthorn Cattle farms in the United States. It is run by my grandparents, and has been in my family for several generations. I belive the first person in my family to acquire the farm was my great great great grandfather, but perhaps it could go back even farther than that. When I think of Appalachia, I think of the vast farmland that I've become so aquainted with throughout my life.

I have ties to Appalachia from the other side of my family as well. When my grandfather was young, he had the choice of either being in the army or being a coal miner. Since he had flat feet, he was forced to choose the latter. He lived in a company house, and used the company store. It was difficult to leave the coal mine, because he was never given enough money to start a life outside of the mine. Finally, after my grandmother began to work multiple jobs, they managed to get away from the mine, but they did not stray too far. They still live in Pennsylvania, not too far from myself.

                                                                                     -F.