Wilburn Jude
Refresh Appalachia
Williamson, WV USA
"Plan B is more important than Plan A. Nothing is ever going to work out the way you plan it, so you’ve always got to be looking beyond what you are doing to see what the next step is."
Career Roadmap
Wilburn's work combines: Environment & Nature, Non-Profit Organizations, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Coal mining was the heart and soul of this area for decades. It was the backbone of our communities and the livelihoods of the people. There was, and still is, this idea that coal mining is all there is and all that we can do in West Virginia. It was a struggle losing my job and being forced to pursue something different, but I had to believe in myself. There is so much to do here, I just had to look for it and be open to the change.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Applied Sciences
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Born and raised in Mingo County, West Virginia—I come from a long line of coal miners, stretching back multiple generations all the way back to the Civil War.
2.
My father was an avid gardener and instilled that passion in me from an early age—my wife and I have even talked about one day starting a farm or large garden once we retire.
3.
For over 20 years, I worked in various coal mines throughout West Virginia, but I got laid off in 2013 as the coal industry slowly collapsed in our area.
4.
After getting laid off, I struggled to find a job and briefly considered pursuing a career in a technical field, but wasn’t sure that was for me.
5.
I eventually found out about Refresh Appalachia, an agricultural nonprofit providing training in farm and food entrepreneurship, and I applied.
6.
I joined their 33-6-3 program, where every week I spend 33 hours in on-the-job training, six hours in a college classroom, and three hours learning about personal development.
7.
I attended Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, where I earned my associate’s degree in applied sciences in 2019.
8.
I plan on using the education and experience gained from Refresh Appalachia to start pursuing exciting new career ventures, and I’m even considering continuing my higher education.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
There is nothing to do in this area besides coal mining.
How I responded:
Coal mining was the heart and soul of this area for decades. It was the backbone of our communities and the livelihoods of the people. There was, and still is, this idea that coal mining is all there is and all that we can do in West Virginia. It was a struggle losing my job and being forced to pursue something different, but I had to believe in myself. There is so much to do here, I just had to look for it and be open to the change.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When the coal industry started slowly going out of business, a lot of people lost their jobs, including me. I had worked in that industry my whole life and was faced with the reality of having to start all over in something completely different.
When I worked in the coal mines, I would on average take home about $100K a year. After I lost my job, I am now making only about $22K a year. I do miss the money sometimes because it is a challenge to keep up with my bills.
Switching from the coal industry to the agricultural industry wasn't a choice I made willingly and there have been sacrifices. However, I've always had an interest in agricultural work, so I see this as an opportunity to pursue a new passion.
I struggled a lot in school when I was younger. When I graduated high school, I could barely read and write. School is a lot easier now for me, especially thanks to technology that can help.
I've been injured several times as a result of working in coal mining. I've fractured my skull, broken my back twice, and I have a steel rod in my leg. I'm still relatively young, but physically I struggle more than most my age.