Jim Randy and Maelena Laverty, recently chosen as the Newton County Farm Family of the Year, exemplify what it takes to be successful on the farm today. Both would love to stay at home and work on the farm all day, but both have jobs in town.
The Lavertys live in Parthenon, Ark., about six winding miles southwest of Jasper, the county seat of Newton County. Jim Randy is co-owner of Jasper Farm Supply. When the couple married 13 years ago, Jim Randy was a logger.
He said, “When we got married, I cut timber and did that for four or five years. We made a good living logging and enjoyed it.” But when the opportunity came to buy half interest in the Jasper Feed Store, Jim Randy couldn’t turn it down.
In addition to selling fertilizer, feed and garden supplies, there’s also a small engine repair shop and a full-service tire business in the feed store. Jim Randy said they have five full-time employees and three or four part-time people. They cater to the specialized needs of the residents of their small community, especially the area farmers, even custom mixing fertilizer for customers’ fields and applying it to the fields, if requested.
Logging is still a part of his business in some ways, too. Jim Randy said, “Usually people come to us and say, ‘We’ve got 40 acres here of timber; come look at it.’ We make them an offer on it.” He said they usually cut saw lumber, but occasionally do pulp wood. Jim Randy added, “Although many sawmills have closed down in the last couple of years in Newton County, there are still five or six that run daily now.”
Maelena works in Jasper, too, as a case worker at the Newton County Department of Human Services. She feels fortunate that she found a good job in her area of expertise that’s so close to the farm.
The farming life isn’t anything new to either Jim Randy or Maelena. Maelena said, “I grew up on a farm about three miles down the river here.” With three sisters and no brothers, Maelena grew up accustomed to farm work. They worked in the hay field and helped their dad with the cattle. Both of the Lavertys’ families were into cattle and still are. The couple went to school together, were high school sweethearts, married and now live in a beautifully remodeled 1932 farmhouse. They own 43 acres and rent an additional 160.
The Lavertys started their married life with 10 mixed breed cows and Jim Randy said it’s taken 13 years to get up to the 40 cow/calf pairs they now own. Although they do raise some of their own replacement heifers, they also buy cows at special sales.
Jim Randy said they bought some of their last cows at the Fall Gathering in Joplin, Mo. He added, “Usually we don’t buy a replacement cow at the regular sale. The only time we’ll buy one is through a special sale, if we know where the cattle are coming from.” Even then, there’s a chance of getting one that isn’t very good.
Maelena said they got a wild one in with their last cow purchase. She said it almost trampled Jim Randy. Then, “After she ran over him, she went and broke down the whole corral.” She added, “It’s hard to work them when you can’t turn your back.”
Regarding future goals, Jim Randy said, “Our goal is that we’d like to have a hundred cow/calf pairs. We’d like to buy additional land if we can find something that would work with our budget.”
Asked if he considers himself a rancher, a businessman or a logger, Jim Randy replied, “I’m all three, but I guess I’m a logger at heart.”
