"Farming is a way of life," said Joseph Barron of Mt. Clare, West Virginia.

Joe Barron was born on a dairy farm in 1954. His grandfather was a beef cattle producer. His father was a dairy farmer in West Virginia for over fifty years. Joe, an only child, was expected to follow the family footsteps and become a farmer. When his father sold the farm in 1980, he decided to reach out and try a variety of different career options.

Joe's dad deeded out a little over twenty-one-and-a-half acres to him. Joe and his new wife Charla built a home on top of the acres that overlooked his childhood farm shortly after their marriage in 1980.

Joe watched ownership of the farm change hands three times in twenty-two years. In 2002, he finally was in a position to purchase the original farm back from FSA Inventory. Joe financed the land with the aid of a Beginning Farmer Loan through the Harrison County FSA Office.

Farming beef cattle is a part-time job for Joe Barron. He has been employed with the WV Department of Highways for eight years. He is also a substitute school bus driver. Joe teaches ten safety classes a year to new State employees. He is a certified welder and mechanic from his previous endeavors. The average workday for Joe is between fifteen and seventeen hours a day, seven days a week.

"I am able to come in to the Harrison County Office or call anytime for anything. The FSA staff is always helpful and friendly," said Barron.

He feels he has a "Good working relationship" with FSA and other sister agencies. "These are super people!"

Ron Barnosky has been a County Executive Director with the Farm Service Agency since 1977. He worked for Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) for six months prior to his service with the FSA.

Barnosky says, "Joe is a pleasure to work with."

Joe Barron has a goal to become a full-time producer on his farm.

"Hardships of today like gasoline, fuel and plastic price increases lead to the need of FSA programs," said Joe.

Joe recently entered into a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) contract with the Harrison/Doddridge FSA County Committee. The goal of this ten plus acre, 15-year agreement was to fence livestock from streams and streambanks and to improve wildlife habitat on 370 acres of farmland.

Joe states "I hope to be able to farm full time in the near future! My CREP contract is one more step to obtaining that goal as a full-time producer!"

He also feels, "Something will have to be done to keep farming going. Programs like CREP help reach that goal."

"A lot of things could not be accomplished if it were not for the Farm Service Agency."

Joe maintains a herd of 125 brood cows. The CREP contract not only helps with cash flow (the bottom line) but provides year-round water sources for his livestock, creates three stream-crossings, and helps with his rotational grazing plan.

The Riparian Buffer for Marginal Pastureland was the ideal practice to fit Joe's Farm. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was also excited about creating the riparian area on Joe's farm because Vens Run is a direct tributary of Hackers Creek known for its population of endangered club shell mussel (Pleurobema clava).

CREP enabled 6,200 feet of fence to be built on Joe Barron's property. Other agencies assisted in this project including the USFWS and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. A total of 12,500 feet of fence was installed.

"Although farming is hard work, I really feel that it will be worth it in the end. Someone has to do it. And besides, I also enjoy it. I feel it is more rewarding than a regular job," said Joe.

Stream crossing installed as part of West Virginia CREP.

Ron Barnosky, former CED in the Harrison-Doddridge County FSA Office, assists producer Joe Barron in completing paperwork to enroll acreage in the West Virginia CREP.

A fence installed as part of West Virginia CREP contract separates a Riparian Buffer (on right) from pasture in which cattle graze. Keeping cattle out of the stream improves water quality and reduces stream bank erosion.

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Part-time beef cattle producer Joseph Barron is pleased with his CREP contract. "My CREP contract is one more step to obtaining that goal as a full-time producer!"