Dick Wendel
Location: Yellville, Ark., Marion County
In Town: Dick is the owner and president of North Arkansas Abstract and Title Company, Inc. His company of six employees provides title searches, land title insurance, complete closing and escrow services. NAA has the most complete real estate records in Marion County, outside the courthouse. In business since 1977, Dick said some of his records go back as far as the 1870s. He originally obtained his records by personally microfilming all the Marion County Courthouse documents and files. The building that houses the NAA offices was the original Bank of Yellville, and the vault is still in use for record storage.
In the Country: Dick and his wife, Susan, raise stocker cattle. They buy their cattle in the spring, doctor them and put them out on the pasture all summer and sell before winter. Dick said, “I kept them over winter before, but didn’t enjoy it.” He presently has steers because he has neighbors with “rambling bulls.” He prefers heifers, however, because they are easier to work with and not so nervous. Dick said Susan is a big help, especially when the cattle get out, because they seem to follow her better.
Why do you have cattle?
Dick said, “When we first bought our place, we wanted enough land to keep some space between us and people around us. However, after I spent a few years brush hogging and mowing, I was looking for a way to keep the grass down. A neighbor recommended stocker cattle and I have continued to do it for 9 years. I feel it’s a better utilization of the land, and I find it relaxing. It’s something different after a hard day at work.”
Story and Photo by Jack and Pam Fortner
