A man once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” That man must have known Tim Moore.
Born and raised near Valley Springs, Ark., Tim has known nothing but farming and ranching. His grandpa bought land in the area first, then his mom, and now Tim and his brothers have added to the family lands.
Tim and his wife Wendy own 80 acres and rent about 180. They have 160 acres in hay production. Tim cuts 14 to 15,000 rounds and 45 to 50,000 squares yearly.
Tim also custom bales for other people. Tim said, “I’ll bail it for somebody and then if they want to sell it, I’ll be the one to market it for them. We custom combine, too.” He adds, “We’ve got base customers that we sell hay to. We sell probably four or 5,000 round bales a year, and then probably 15 or 20,000 square bales.”
The family run cattle. “We run cross-bred Angus cattle,” he said. “Right now I’ve only got about 30 cows and about 50 yearlings started out.”
This isn’t Tim’s entire life, though. He also teaches agriculture at Valley Springs High School. Here’s where his ranching life and his mentoring life come together. Tim goes beyond teaching his students what they need to know in the classroom – he gives them opportunities to put their knowledge and love of the land to work out in the field – literally.
Beginning in their freshman year, Tim encourages his students to apply for youth loans through the Farmers Home Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By utilizing these loans, the students can begin their own herds. One of his former students, Linton McElroy, is now 19 years old and has a herd of 40 cattle. Former student Dalton Davis, also 19, has 120 cows. Another former student, Morgan Barnes, owns his own business. Where did they learn business skills? Tim Moore.
During the summers when Tim is baling hay, he has about 15 younger students who work with him. Tim and his crew cut and bale and the younger students buck the hay bales and load it. Tim said, “The kids are responsible for their own haul deal. I make sure that they come, I make sure that they’re there. That’s their own bookkeeping deal. They keep up with it. They invoice everybody for the haul bills. They’re responsible for it.”
Tim’s influence doesn’t stop with his students. He is also an FFA advisor at Valley Springs, a coach with Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports, a 4-H advisor at Everton-Valley Springs, he’s on the county Farm Bureau board, the county fair board and both he and Wendy are on the Arkansas State Young Farmer and Rancher committee.
Between family, students and customers, Tim and Wendy Moore are a young couple who want to affect people. They are definitely influencing farming in the Ozarks.
