Danya Curtis
In Town: “My professional life is in town. Since earning my Masters degree, I have worked as a certified accountant for medical facilities. However, I am planning on running for County Clerk because I want to stay in Adair County to raise my 6-year-old daughter, Trujoi. Town life allows me to use my education and fulfill my need for a professional life.”
In the Country: “I have 75 acres about 2 miles out of Westville, Okla., that I share with my parents. We raise chickens for eggs that my daughter sales in town. We also raise Angus cattle. We have 16 momma cows and one bull. We sell the calves, and the cattle provide a hobby for my father. We also have seven horses and one on the way. Other animals on our farm include South Dawn miniature baby doll sheep, rabbits and two miniature donkeys. An important part of our country life is homeschooling Trujoi. My mother is a retired schoolteacher and is in charge of most of my daughter’s education. Because of my country life I can be with my daughter and help my disabled parents at the same time.”
How do you make it all work?
“My town life is essential for supporting the country life I want my daughter and I to live. Right now my country life has taken over because my focus is for my daughter to be exposed to animals and to develop relationships with them. Her relationships with people will be further developed in the future. Right now we are working on being more self-sufficient which country life supports.”
How do you see your future?
“In the short term I would like to teach Trujoi to drive the mules with a little cart. I also want her to learn to lope with her horse. Once she does that she can then begin to learn barrel racing. I raced until 1999 when a hip injury made that inadvisable. Our long-term future will be interesting because right now Trujoi wants to be a vet and the President and a ballerina. I hope to stay right here on this acreage because it is my little piece of heaven.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
