THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410040101
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
All 300 of the farmers in Isle of Wight County know Brent Whitlock, director of the local Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service.
And Whitlock knows most of them.
Whitlock, 34, keeps up with the changing farm programs and makes sure the farmers know each time a major change takes place in a program that affects them.
And with 25 different programs in the county, that's a big job, according to Whitlock.
He takes care of programs like acreage reduction, which pays farmers to set aside unplanted land during a year when there may be an abundance of a certain crop.
For example, during a year when there is an oversupply of corn, farmers would be paid a price, which varies from year to year, not to plant corn and leave the land idle.
Whitlock also makes sure that each farmer gets his fair share of peanut acres. Each farm is given an acreage quota, he said.
Whitlock said he became interested in working for the conservation service when he heard someone talk about the program while he was in college.
``It sounded challenging,'' he recalled. ``After I graduated from college, I applied to a six-month training program. From there, I went to Tazewell County as the director of the ASCS there.
``In 1988, I came to Isle of Wight, and I have no regrets,'' he said.
Whitlock said the county is a challenging place to work because the agricultural community is so diverse.
``The challenge is keeping up with the information and making sure the farmers are informed and receive the benefits that are important to them,'' he said.
Name: Brent Whitlock.
What brought you to Isle of Wight: Employment at the Isle of Wight County ASCS office.
Hometown: Vienna, Va.
Birthdate: Jan. 22, 1960.
Nickname: None.
Occupation: County executive director of the ASCS office.
Marital Status: Married.
Children: None.
Favorite movies: ``Apocalypse Now,'' ``Dances With Wolves,'' ``Last of the Mohicans,'' ``Indiana Jones'' and ``Gettysburg.''
Favorite magazine: ``Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.''
A book you wish everyone would read, why: ``Sherlock Holmes series, Why, It's Elementary Watson. The stories are filled with suspense.''
Favorite night out on the town: Dinner with my wife, anywhere.
Favorite bar or restaurant: Cuz's in Tazewell, Va.
Favorite food and drink: Ribeye steak.
Few people know . . . that I have rhythm.
What's the best thing about yourself? I take everything I do seriously.
Worst habit: Biting fingernails.
First thing in the morning: I need that shower.
Pets: None.
Hobbies: Civil War history.
Ideal vacation: Two weeks with my wife, anywhere.
Pet peeve: Someone not giving their best.
First job: Working on my grandfather's farm. It had benefits, pay, meals and a place to sleep.
Worst job: Never had a job that I didn't like.
What achievements are you most proud of? Graduating college. Being hired by ASCS and working in the national office for ASCS.
What would you like on your epitaph? ``He was sincere in his efforts and honest in his actions.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
by CNB