John and Roxann Brown
Location: Prairie Grove, Ark
In Town: Roxann said, “I just went through a forced retirement as the Bank Manager for First Security Bank in Springdale, Ark., but it was part of God’s plan because now I have a grandbaby to enjoy.” John said, “I’m retired from the Fayetteville Police Department, and am now a site supervisor for Federal Court House security in the 8th circuit of the Western division of Arkansas.”
In the Country: John said, “I was raised on a farm, and as soon as an opportunity presented itself we moved back to the country in rural West Fork, Ark., near my family. We hadn’t discussed it before that opportunity arose, but we didn’t hesitate once it did. We ran a herd of about 35 cows. After leaving the force, I did full-time farming for a while.”
How did your lives in town and the country complement each other?
“One was how we earned our living and the other was how we lived. I learned we needed to be gainfully employed to support the farming because everything we made went back into the farm for expensive things like proper equipment. Nonetheless we truly enjoyed farming, and it provided great lessons for the kids. Now we are leaving the farm but still staying in the country keeping our horses and a tractor on 10 acres. I have always believed we need to be good stewards like the Bible says, and there was no way I could do the new job and do justice to the farm because the new job also requires me to be on call 24/7. It was time to let someone else be stewards for the farm. Leaving was very difficult but needed to be done. If I miss it too much I can always help my friends for a while.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
