John Barnes was raised on the Coquat Ranch in La Salle County, Texas. He attended school in Encinal and Cotulla, TX. He has resided in Fowlerton since the year 2000. There, he has raised his family and is engaged in cattle ranching. He is the founder of Fowlerton Energy Services Company and has operated it since 2013. On a part-time basis, he operates John Barnes Consulting, which is oil/gas related.

Prior to 2013, he was Operations Superintendent/Manager for Energy Transfer Partners, particularly over Processing and Gathering in the Eagle Ford Region. He worked for Energy Transfer and its predecessors for 22 years. He is currently Vice Chair of the La Salle County Appraisal Review Board and a Trustee at Cotulla Church of Christ. Barnes was also the 2019 President of the Fowlerton Water Board and served on the McMullen County Jr. Livestock Show Board.

Barnes represents Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc. members in District 8 – Fowlerton & Millett