Ewing in Lee County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

William H. Starnes: Agricultural Educator

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 16, 2019

1. William H. Starnes: Agricultural Educator Marker

Inscription. Passage of the Vocational Education Act in 1917 brought agricultural training to high schools across the nation. Difficult terrain and poor roadways limited its success in southwestern Virginia. Pioneering educator William H Starnes established a successful framework for the practice of scientific farming in the tri-state region, beginning in 1924. Founder of the Agricultural Department at nearby Thomas Walker High School and the Ewing Chapter of the Future Farmers of American, Starnes traveled extensively to remote farms and gave evening lectures that attracted any farmers from across the region, including parts of Tennessee and Kentucky.

Erected 2013 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Z-292.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 36° 38.827′ N, 83° 24.725′ W. Marker is in Ewing, Virginia, in Lee County. It is on Wilderness Road (U.S. 58) south of County Route 879, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ewing VA 24248, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this

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marker, measured as the crow flies: Daniel Boone Trail (approx. 0.8 miles away); Indian Mound (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hiking Up to White Rocks (approx. 1.4 miles away); White Rocks (approx. 1.9 miles away); John Ball (approx. 2½ miles away); Martin’s Station (approx. 3.8 miles away); Lee County Code Breakers (approx. 4.4 miles away); Pioneer Graves (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ewing.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 16, 2019

2. William H. Starnes: Agricultural Educator Marker

Thomas Walker High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 16, 2019

3. Thomas Walker High School

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 329 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.