LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Rotary Club learned about Traditional Appalachian Arts from local artist and WLAF reporter Charlotte Underwood (top photo) who gave a presentation on handmade stringed instruments and traditional agricultural practices on Tuesday at the Rotary weekly luncheon.

Underwood spoke about Appalachian culture and heritage, focusing on instrument building, as well as heirloom seed saving.

Over the past four years, she has shared music and instrument building with local elementary school students by participating in grant programs through the Campbell Culture Coalition, teaching over 40 students the joys of instrument building. She also teaches agricultural practices such as seed saving heirloom seeds and has taught classes at Postmark LaFollette to area home school children.

Rotarian Rhonda Longmire was recognized once again as a Paul Harris Fellow at Rotary on Tuesday. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is awarded by the Rotary Foundation to individuals who have contributed $1,000 or more to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation. The recognition was established in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions. The Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Rotarian Logan Hickman is pictured presenting the Paul Harris Fellow pin to Longmire.

Underwood has received multiple grants for both of her traditional arts. She and her mother Jeanette participated in the Traditional Art Master and Apprentice Program with the Tennessee Arts Commission in 2022, and last year in 2024, she was awarded a $5,000 grant from South Arts to participate in their ETAP Emerging Traditional Artist Program titled “In These Mountains.” She also was asked to be a virtual guest speaker this past November for the American Folklore Society’s Conference held in New Mexico.

“When it comes to agricultural practices, I learned everything I know from my mom. She has been saving an heirloom bean called Moss Ivey Beans since the 1960s. Those heirloom seeds were given to her by my granny, my dad’s mom, who had been saving them for years. They’ve been in our family for over 80 years. That’s the tradition I’m trying to carry on. I teach the kids about seed saving; they get little cups of dirt and get to plant their own Moss Ivey Beans. Getting pictures from these kids with their little beans growing is a pretty great experience. I feel pressure to carry these traditions on, I don’t want to let them die out. But when I teach these classes, I send these kids home with heirloom bean seeds and I show them how to build a basic instrument and hopefully that sows that seed of creativity and inspires a few of them to take it further,” Underwood said.

According to Underwood, teaching music and Appalachian heritage to local students has been one of her greatest joys in life.

Local artist and WLAF reporter Charlotte Underwood was Tuesday’s guest speaker at the Rotary Club Luncheon. Underwood presented on Traditional Appalachian Arts and agricultural practices.

“I try to teach these kids that music and instruments can be made from just about anything and you should see their faces light up when they realize they can do it,” Underwood said.

Through the Campbell Culture Coalition, Underwood has taught simple instrument building classes to fourth graders at Valley View Elementary and Wynn Elementary, as well as fifth graders at Elk Valley Elementary schools.

Students participating in the classes built “single string cigar box guitars.”

“Classes are taught around the concept that Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong learned music on hand made cigar box instruments he built himself and that musical instruments can be made from items around the house,” Underwood said.

As part of the Culture Coalition’s “Strung Together” program, several students have their instruments on display at the Campbell County Courthouse.

“Organizations like the Tennessee Arts Commission, South Arts, and the C3 and Postmark LaFollette, support great programs like this and many others, helping to not only preserve, but grow the traditional arts here in Campbell County and regionally,” Underwood said.

She will also be teaching additional classes about instrument building and seed saving in Clairfield this summer and hopefully at Postmark LaFollette.

Charlotte and her mom can also be found demonstrating Appalachian Agriculture practices at regional festivals including the Magic City Ragtime Jazz Festival in Middlesboro, Kentucky, Folk Fest at Cumberland Gap and Campbell County’s own Louie Bluie Fest. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/12/2025-6AM)

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