At just over 95 years of age, Aaron Nathan (A.N.) Garland remembers always wanting to farm. He was born and raised on a farm in Chester County, Tennessee, and he says he has farmed all his life.

A.N. sharecropped with his parents until he married at the age of 20. He then began sharecropping, but he dreamed of owning a place of his own. He and his wife lived on several farms as he worked and saved toward that dream. In May of 1956, a 50-acre farm was offered for sale. A.N. recalls that neighbor Walter Clanton loaned him enough money so that, coupled with his savings, he was able to make the purchase.

In the 1950's A.N. raised cotton, corn, cows, hogs, and a large garden. He and his wife also raised three boys and three girls. The Garlands were proud that their children knew what it was like to own your own place and to work the farm. Two of their sons served during the Korean conflict but returned to the farm before moving out on their own.

In the late 1980s, after his wife had died and the children grew up and moved away, A.N. decided it was time to retire and rent the farm. But as he investigated this avenue he discovered that his small acreage was not desirable to most modern farmers. It was during this time he heard about the CRP and decided to check into it at the local FSA office.

In 1988, A.N. offered some of his land for enrollment in CRP, and the offer was accepted. He established practice Permanent Introduced Grass and Legumes, seeding the acreage to Kentucky 31 fescue and following the contract's conservation plan for maintenance. He has only recently given up driving the tractor and has found someone else to complete the maintenance for him.

When asked about the CRP program, A.N. said, "I was very pleased that the 10-year program [CRP] came along. I had tried to do a good job with my farm to not let it wash away. But I had farmed it hard for years, and it needed a rest. I was told by Jerry Butler [local NRCS official] that my farm was subject to lose up to 15 tons of soil per acre every year. And that I could reduce that to one ton per acre if I sowed it down in grass. I had to have some income to be able to keep the farm and pay the taxes. Since none of my neighbors wanted to rent my farm, the 10-year program seemed to be a good deal for me and my farm."

During the term of the CRP contract, the Chester County FSA office closed and administration of paperwork for Garland's farm was transferred to Henderson County. A.N. said the move has been good for him as he can do most of his paperwork through the mail. In 1997 he offered his land for reenrollment in CRP, and the contract was accepted for an additional 10 years. He expressed appreciation for assistance from the county FSA office in determining how to report his land use and in explaining what will happen to the contract should he die before it ends. This is important to him because he wants the farm to remain in his family, and he feels CRP has helped to do just that.

CRP Permanent Introduced Grasses and Legumes hold highly erodible soil in place.

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Ninety-five years old A.N. Garland was pleased to enroll all the eligible cropland on his farm in CRP.

CRP participant A.N. Garland has been able to conduct business with FSA by mail, or by visits from CED J.D. Johnson.

CRP participant A.N. Garland said he tried to do a good job with his farm "to not let it wash away," but the soil was subject to losing 15 tons of soil per acre per year. By enrolling in CRP, he reduced the loss to one ton.