West Virginia Livestock Producers Meet at High Mountain Pasture

A recent pasture walk was held at Allegany Farms, operated by Joe and Carolyn Harper near Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. This mountaintop pasture walk was sponsored by the West Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, Potomac Valley Conservation District, Tygarts Valley Conservation District, West Virginia Shepherds Federation, along with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) . There were close to 80 participants, including West Virginia sheep and cattle producers, organizations, university, and agency representatives.

Educational sessions included:

• high-elevation grassland management
• options for predator control
• multi-species grazing
• conservation practices
• aerial fertilization

The participants rode hay wagons to a high mountain pasture at a 4000- foot elevation on the eastern continental divide where over 400 ewes and lambs were grazing. The Harpers are also running 70 steers on this property.

The Harper family provided a West Virginia lamb roast buffet for their guests on a ridge top overlooking the South Branch valley to the east and the Cheat River headwaters to the west.

Guests at this pasture walk were Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito (R) Second District West Virginia and her spouse Charlie.  Congresswoman Capito enjoyed her visit and the lunch.

Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito and host Joe Harper.

Those present agreed that this pasture walk provided an opportunity for federal and state agency representatives, educators, sheep and beef producers to get together in a friendly way to talk about issues that concern them.

For more information, contact Doris Brackenrich at the Franklin Service Center.

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