Family, continued
square baler by the time he was nine.
David had other responsibilities besides his family
and the farm. He was a self-employed insurance agent.
“He always said he sold insurance to be able to farm,”
Gerry said.
The three men continued on, with Butch and Gerry
gradually taking over more of the farm responsibilities,
as well as holding down full-time jobs and starting
families of their own.
(Michael) and they also have five grandchildren.
“Dad always said it was a good life and the grandkids
say it’s a good life growing up on the farm,” Gerry
said. “They learn stuff out here that they wouldn’t learn
anywhere else,” added Butch. “We get them involved in
4-H and livestock at an early age. They get attached to
the animals and learn life skills from being involved.”
“He would have loved every minute of it,” Marlene
said of David.
The Law family is
the tenth West Virginia
family to receive the
Farming Heritage Award,
sponsored by the State
Fair of West Virginia and
the West Virginia Farm
Bureau. The family was
recognized during the
West Virginia State Fair
on Thursday, Aug. 20,
during Governor’s Day.
A luncheon reception,
which included Governor
Earl Ray Tomblin, West
Virginia University
President E. Gordon Gee,
members of the West
Virginia Farm Bureau
board of directors and
other dignitaries, was held
in their honor.
In 2000, David was
diagnosed with cancer. He
continued to try to help
on the farm, but soon the
boys, their wives and their
families were handling
the day-to-day operations.
The Law family lost its
patriarch Aug. 30, 2003,
after a three-year battle
with cancer.
Carrying on the family
legacy is important to
the family. “It is a very
rewarding life; a hard life.
It is constant and there is
no let up,” said Butch. “I
have asked myself a lot of
times why I’m doing this.
I am doing this for Dad,”
he said with watery eyes,
“and for these grandkids.
This is a good place to
raise kids.”
Emotionally, Butch
ended by saying, “I thank
Mom and Dad and God
I’ve had the opportunity
Butch is married to Susie and together they have
three children, including son Jamie Law (Jodi) and
two daughters, Rachel Shriver (Joey) and Vanessa
Gandee (Richard). Butch and Susie currently have
five grandchildren and are awaiting the birth of their
sixth grandchild later this year.
to do this.”
Gerry and his wife Cookie have two children, a son,
Andy Law (April) and a daughter, Gara Beth Satterfield
Jennifer Metheney is a an assistant in the WVU
Extension office in Ritchie County.
26 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
West Virginia University Extension Service Ritchie
County office will host a reception in honor of the Law
family at the Ritchie County 4-H grounds Sunday, Oct.
18, 2-4 p.m. The reception will be open to the public.