Terry Harden
In Town: “I own Poor Man’s Auto Parts in Lincoln, Ark. I have been in the auto parts business for 40 years and owned my own store since 1980. I love the job because of the everyday challenges, whether it’s finding that hard to find part for a customer or building a steel hydraulic line. A few years ago I realized the need to expand as we had outgrown our location. So in 2007 we moved down the street in a new building we designed for our business as it has evolved over the years. Because the complexity of cars and farm equipment has changed so drastically over the years, we had to change the way we do business to better meet the needs of our customers.
In the Country: “My wife, Verna, and I live 15 miles south of West Fork, Ark., on a 470-acre farm where we raise horses, chickens, cattle and hogs. Our hogs are Durocs, and our boar was State Champion two years ago. We run about 50 head of commercial cattle and the chickens are a small, new venture. I love the country because it’s so peaceful and all you hear are birds, wildlife and an occasional airplane. I grew up in the country and moved to town for a while. It didn’t take long for me to realize I only felt at home on a farm. When I drive through the gate, I know I am home.”
Future Plans: “I look forward to spending more time on the farm in the future. I really respect full-time farmers because farm life is a tough, risk-taking job that requires a 365 days per year dedication. I look forward to spending time with my family on the farm.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
