The Longshore Family has been long time observers of conservation practices. In 1834, the family purchased a 125-acre farm located in eastern Delaware County. Over the years, the farm has passed onto family members who have continued the conservation traditions.

Today, Ken and Julia Longshore have a total of 7.8 acres enrolled in USDA's conservation programs. Their first contract was a grassed waterway installed to reduce a gully that was forming in a field. Ken said, "This waterway has greatly improved the field by preventing the washed out area from growing and taking croppable ground." Ken received cost-share assistance to install the waterway by enrolling the 1.3 acres in the USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). He continues to use a combination of no-till and minimum-till practices to reduce erosion. Also, Ken actively participates in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The Longshores were one of the first contracts enrolled in FSA's Upper Big Walnut Creek Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). They turned a problem area in a field into a great family recreation area that they enjoy maintaining and use to observe wildlife. Ken said, "The area was always muddy and we would try to harvest hay when we were able, but that was not often. Also, the wildlife consumed a good bit of the crop." Ken decided to create a pond to keep the runoff from the acreage contained in one area.

After the pond was developed, Ken became aware of the Upper Big Walnut Creek CREP and installed filter strips around the pond and next to the creek through the program. Ken planted 1,500 hardwood trees on the remaining acreage in the riparian buffer area next to the creek. He admitted the tree planting has been a challenge due to the wildlife consuming the young trees and forcing him to replant some of them. Ken stated, "The Upper Big Walnut Creek CREP has allowed me to continue conservation without losing needed income from the field. And the area has been easier to farm by squaring off the field.”

Now, the entire Longshore family enjoys the area for camping and fishing. Ken has also started planting "special trees" around the pond given to him by his children. Ken and Julia Longshore are continuing a family legacy to maintain the family farm through conservation.

The Delaware County FSA, NRCS, and Soil and Water Conservation District held an informational meeting on the site and invited area landowners to observe the conservation practices first hand. Many new Upper Big Walnut Creek CREP contracts have been enrolled since that meeting. You can definitely say that the Longshore Family Farm is a conservation success story in many ways!

Once a muddy field, this pond provides a family recreation area. Through CREP, the Longshores installed filter strips around the pond and creek and planted hardwood trees.

CRP participant Ken Longshore planted hardwood trees in the riparian area next to the creek.

Julia and Ken Longshore.

CREP filter strip was installed around the pond.