Sherry Becker-Gorby was born on December 30, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was raised outside of Wheeling in a predominantly farming area. Her father's passion for working with animals and being outdoors influenced her upbringing. Despite her father's family not being farmers, he moved them to a small acreage outside Wheeling to provide an experience of rural life. Sherry's mother grew up in town, but her family had agricultural roots among the Mennonites in Virginia. Sherry was deeply influenced by the elderly farming neighbors, particularly Pop Shilling, who involved her in farming activities from a young age. This early exposure to farming instilled in her a lifelong passion for agriculture. Sherry always envisioned herself living on a farm, raising animals, and growing food. 

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Sherry Becker-Gorby, conducted by Michael Kline on October 8, 2013, at Meadow View Farm, covers her life experiences and perspectives on farming and environmental stewardship. Sherry discusses her upbringing in a farming area outside Wheeling, West Virginia, and the influences of her family and neighbors on her passion for agriculture. She reflects on the responsibilities of land stewardship, emphasizing the importance of taking care of the land for future generations. The interview addresses the challenges she faces as a farmer, including urban encroachment, mineral rights, and environmental impacts of practices like strip mining and gas drilling. Sherry expresses concerns about the long-term effects of these practices on water quality and land health. She critiques the lack of comprehensive information provided to landowners about the implications of gas drilling and highlights the moral responsibility to protect the environment. Sherry's commitment to her farm and her views on the intersection of agriculture, community, and environmental ethics form the core of the interview content​​.