West Virginia's Mercer County, located near the southern border, is sectioned off by two major transportation routes. Here, U.S. Route 460 and I-77 connect the major towns of Athens, Bluefield and Princeton. This section of the state is heavily influenced by the rippling terrain of the Allegheny Mountains. Mercer County travelers find a handful of close-knit communities connected by these main highways.
   Outside the city limits of Athens, the transition from town to country occurs quickly, leading through farmland and woodlands. Fence lines here not only delineate property lines and keep livestock in check, but also create a wonderful foreground element in this picturesque farm scene. The year's first snowfall blankets Lane Farm, brightening the drab fields of winter.
   Farm fencing goes beyond Robert Frost's suggestion of good fences make good neighbors. Manufactured barbed wire dramatically changed the agriculture industry, ranking with the invention of rifles, telegraph, windmills and locomotives. Although Michael Kelly was the first to be granted a patent in 1868 for his barbed wire, Joseph Glidden's improved version led him to be crowned king of barbed wire. Glidden's design locked barbs in place and utilized new machinery in mass production. Today's property owners cannot afford to overlook the value of good fencing.

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