growth and encourages the growth of desirable
plants by moving the cattle around different sections
of a pasture to allow the most nutritional and besttasting plants time to grow back.
practices which will benefit the environment and
his farm. After taking advantage of all of the
expertise NRCS provides, Barnes offered he would
recommend NRCS to other farmers who are trying
to improve. “NRCS is easy to work with. They are
good to help you engineer your ideas.”
Photos: Left: The bar displays
Barnes’ collection of signs and
memorabilia hung on board-andbatten walls. Below: The tanker
sprayer Barnes utilizes to apply
fish emulsion to his hay fields.
Aside from farming, Barnes stays busy making
memories with seven grandchildren and four
great grandchildren and holding family events on
his farm, such as a wedding for his
granddaughter in his hay barn.
He also has get-togethers in his
barn bar. After years of accumulating
beer signs and bar decorations,
he needed a place to display his
collection. Barnes used a closed off
section of his barn to build a room
with bar tables and chairs, and has
since put it to use with friends and
family, as well as for charitable
purposes, such as hosting benefit
motorcycle rides.
Even with a sometimes hectic life,
Barnes finds time to improve his
farm, and knows NRCS is always
available to offer assistance to him
qirh new and existing programs
that will optimize conservation
18 West Virginia Farm Bureau News