Family Farm Works Through Harsh Weather - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Harsh weather has been effecting people all across the Ohio Valley this summer.

At Ebbert Farm in St. Clairsville, they're worried about much more than losing electricity.

"People laugh when I get so excited that it's raining," says Lova Ebbert.  You would get excited too, if you needed rain to sustain your plants, and livestock.

"It's how we make our living," Ebbert says.

Ebbert Farm Market specializes in producing fresh-picked corn and many other seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as pumpkins during the fall.

According to Lova, you have to enter farming with a bit of faith. Her job is stressful, and this year, there have been struggles. 

Her and husband Jerry have worked around the clock to get their market ready for this season's opening.

"We'll probably be here till midnight getting ready to go for tomorrow morning at 10," Lova told 7News Thursday afternoon.

The Ebberts and their crew were pricing merchandise and stocking shelves. Watching them, you wouldn't know the obstacles they faced out in the field this year.

"It's been really dry, we've been really deficient on moisture since this corn was planted and it's had a struggle right from the beginning," Jerry says.

The corn is in good shape but some of their crops fell a bit short.

Another problem Jerry says they run into around this time of year is 'invaders' to their gardens.

Dry conditions kill many animals food source as well.

During the warm March weather, the Ebberts were able to plant early and this year will be the earliest the Market has opened.

"So far the corn looks really good," Jerry says. "We'll just hope for the best. That's part of the gamble of being in this business."

For more information, visit www.ebbertfarmmarket.com.