Morgan County farmer Jim Michael has a chance at something he’s never been eligible before in the past — owning and operating the West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year for 2006.

The Morgan County grandfather, who is the third generation of his family to farm the land in the past century, has never been eligible to compete for the honor because he was a supervisor for the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District for more than a decade. This year, Michael has been honored at the county, district and area level as having the top conservation farm, which qualifies him and his wife, Jackie, for a shot at the state title.

The couple have implemented soil conservation and water quality practices over the past four decades. They first began working with the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District in 1963 when they bought the 153-acre Oakland Farm.

In 1993, an extra 131 acres were acquired for the Michael’s farming operation when they took over Jim’s homeplace at the Paul Myers Farm. The couple also rent an additional 233.9 acres for their beef cattle, hay and grain operation.

On Tuesday, Michael was on hand when a group of officials, which included Gus Douglass, commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, toured all five farms worked by Michael. The two-hour tour by motor caravan showcased some of about 500 acres of farmland worked by Michael, his family and staff.

Michael has spent 50 years practicing farmland conservation. He uses nearly 20 conservation practices while working his farms to include everything from a 40-acre riparian area buffer to a manure storage facility.

The Michaels have completed two Environmental Quality Incentive Program contracts and are currently implementing two more on their farms.

“I feel real good about being a conservation farmer,” said Michael, who is a 1957 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Agriculture, where he majored in agricultural education.

“When you use the land you have to manage your resources wisely,” he added.

Michael has followed in the footsteps of his step-father, Paul D. Myers, who was a supervisor for the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District for 40 years.

Michael completed a 35-year career with the USDA Soil Conservation Service serving in West Virginia, Virginia as well as other locations. He has been an active member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society for 50 years serving as president for the West Virginia Chapter in 1971 and for the Virginia Chapter in 1986. He was also tapped as a Fellow of the Society where he advocated the conservation of soil, water and related natural resources.

As Douglass toured the farms, he was visibly impressed.

“He has addressed every conservation measure that I am aware of,” Douglass said. “He is environmentally friendly.”

“He’s slept, eaten and lived it,” Michael’s wife, Jackie, said of her husband.

The tour of James and Jackie Michael’s farm was the first of five that are being judged for the state’s top conservation farm in 2006, and the only one in the Eastern Panhandle.

Other farms competing include: the Gary Walls Farm in Preston County; the Law Farm in Harrison County; the James R. and Louise V. Boyd Farm in Canvas, W.Va. and the Simmons Farm Partnership Inc., in Greenbrier County.

Among those touring and judging Michael’s farm on Tuesday included officials from several state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection, the WVU Extension Service, the Division of Forestry and the Conservation Agency.

Citing a recent U.S. Census, Douglass said state has 25,800 farms, adding he hopes that farms like the Michael’s can be used as “training grounds” to showcase the importance of farmland conservation.

Michael’s 8-year-old granddaughter, Odessa, thinks her grandfather should receive the top award from the state for having the best conservation farm.

“He does a lot of work on his farms and he loves his animals,” said the third-grader. “He protects the environment.”

Four farmers from Jefferson County have received the state conservation award since its 1976 inception: Irvin King in 1984; Stile & Riggs, Inc. in 1989; Robert and Lynne Gruber in 1999 and Warren and Reva Mickey in 2004.

Michael will learn this fall if he wins. The 2006 West Virginia Conservation Partnership Conference Award Banquet will be Oct. 26 at the Town Center Marriott in Charleston.

The state’s first-place conservation farm winner will receive $1,000; the second-place winner will get $500 and the third place winner will receive $250.