Gary and Ruth Ann Barker have a long family history in agriculture and a deep appreciation for the value of rural life, extended family, church and friends.

The Pratt County couple continues to farm with his parents, Carter and Marge Barker, who live nearby. They started with an Angus cow herd in 1976 with Gary helping his dad farm an ever-growing accumulation of rented acres while Ruth Ann dedicated herself to a career in elementary school teaching.

Their farming operation is primarily wheat, with a rotation of grain sorghum.

"We got into cotton for 14 years, but got out of that about five years ago. We just couldn't get the prices in line with the costs," Gary says. "We’re seriously looking to maybe get back in this spring with an irrigated circle. There have a lot of improvements in varieties in the last five years."

The Barkers have engaged in conservation efforts, building terraces, waterways, windbreaks and buffer strips. They have a combination of conventional tillage, minimum tillage and no-tillage.

Gary says he has soil tests going back to 1980 and does grid sampling to determine what nutrients are needed in the fields.

"We update our wheat seed by purchasing certified or registered seed after attending the local KSU wheat test plots," he says.

Through the years, technology — from GPS-guided machinery to cellphones — has changed the way the Barkers farm.

"So much of what we do now is over the phone — ordering fertilizer and spraying services, banking, scheduling repairs and maintenance," Gary says. "I have made a concerted effort to get a cellphone number and email address for each of our landlords. I can send them pictures and updates of what we are doing, We farm for several landlords, some of them out of state, and I think they really appreciate this kind of communication."

For the cattle herd, they improve genetics through using EPDs for bull selection.

"We have been doing rotational grazing for the cattle since 1976," Gary says. "Whenever we can, we plant sudan next to pastures. In late summer, we can pull the cattle off grass and onto the sudan so the grass can recover in the late season. We also rent corn circles in September to accomplish the same thing."

The Barkers built their home in 1988 and 1989, and added a windbreak of eastern red cedar and Austrian pine trees in the spring of 1989. They enlisted the help of Gus Vanderhoeven, a K-State Extension horticulturist, to develop a landscape plan, starting with trees and shrubs and adding more plants.

Once the house was done, they added some 4-H/livestock pens south of the house.

In 2014, they added a 30-by-30-foot addition to the back of the house and surrounded it with a wraparound deck.

Photos displayed in the added living area showcase the long agricultural history of both sides of the family, including a photo of Gary's grandfather as a White Eagle fuel salesman and Ruth Ann's grandfather as a cowboy on the famed King Ranch in Texas — a photo that just happens to also include Will Rogers.

There's a photo of another family enterprise, the Barker Grain Co., taken in 1912, depicting an elevator that was sold when the Cairo Co-op was formed.

In the corner of the room stands a testament to another kind of longstanding pride — a stuffed "wildcat" complete with a K-State bandana and a Jayhawk firmly in his claws.

"Why, yes, we are K-State fans," Gary says.

Like many farm couples, the Barkers consider their two sons, Matthew and Bryce, to be their most successful "crop."

Education was a priority in the Barker household. Both have bachelor's degrees, and Ruth Ann spent 35 years as an elementary teacher. Both boys have master's degrees: Matt in animal nutrition and Bryce in criminal justice. Bryce is also an Air Force veteran who served overseas in Ouatar, Iraq, and Afghanistan with the 22nd Security Forces.

Matt and his wife, Amy, and daughter, Katherine, live near Nashville, Tenn., where he works as a formulation scientist in the pet food division of Mars Inc.

MATT'S FAMILY: Oldest son Matt and his wife, Amy, and daughter, Katherine, live in Nashville, Tenn., where he is a formulation scientist in the pet food division of Mars Inc.

Bryce and his wife, Shannon, and their son, Benjamin, live in Arkansas City. He is a correctional officer at the Winfield Correctional Facility.

BRYCE'S FAMILY: Younger son Bryce and his wife, Shannon, and their son, Benjamin, live in Arkansas City. He works as a correctional officer at the Winfield Correctional Facility.

Thirteen years ago, Trey Langford, then a 14-year-old who was friends with members of the family, asked for a job on the Barker farm. For the first year, he says, he mostly mowed grass. Gradually, he learned more and more of the farming operation and is now a partner.

In 2011, Gary purchased cows jointly with Trey, and in 2013, the Barkers started the transition to have Trey gradually take over the cow herd.

Two years ago, they added another full-time hired hand, Mac Callaway.

Click on the following links to read the other Master Farmer stories: 90 years later, Felbush family, Kaiser family, Minnix family, Reinhardt/DeGeer family and Tipton family.

 An outline for public and community service

The Barkers have dedicated almost 40 years to community and public service and say seven primary traits have guided their efforts.

1. Values. You have to know the difference between right and wrong.

2. Respect. You must treat all individuals with respect, even those with whom you disagree.

3. Honesty and integrity. People must be able to believe what you tell them if you are to have any credibility.

4. Dependability. Do what you say you will do.

5. Accountability. Take responsibility for your actions as well as your inactions and own your mistakes.

6. Tolerance. Every person is entitled to his or her opinion (no matter how stupid it is).

7. Humor. Find something to laugh about no matter how lousy the situation gets.