Tracy Easterling
In Town: “I work in the ag community with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Services as an office manager. Through Extension, we do a variety of things including assisting youth with 4-H projects, connecting farmers with our specialists, sampling soil and even helping little old ladies with their flower gardens. My husband, Stacy, owns a dry kiln business where he dries lumber that is eventually used for flooring, furniture and cabinetry. With two children, Erin who is 13, and Kross who is 10, we spend a lot of time in town because they’re so involved in sports including baseball, basketball, and golf.”
In the Country: “We have a 250-acre farm outside of Huntsville, Ark., where we run around 130 head of cattle, both commercial and registered Angus. My husband sells registered Angus bulls and both Erin and Kross have been members of the Junior Angus Association and Junior Cattlemen’s Association. Our children started showing at age 4 with pigs, they have also shown sheep, but now concentrate solely on cattle. They show both commercial and registered heifers and steers. We usually start the show season in the spring at jackpot shows, then in the fall (usually the first week of school) at our County Fair, then move to District Fair at Harrison, Ark., and finally end our show season at the Arkansas State Fair in October. Erin and Kross help a lot on the farm, and need to, because we are so busy. They feed, clean stalls, wash calves and even do laundry when necessary. They don’t like it (laundry), but they can do it.”
Making it all work together: “We like both town and country life and feel living in Huntsville gives us the best of both environments. It’s very difficult, unless you’re in the poultry industry, to make a true living solely at farming. This is especially true last year with the drought and the hardships faced by those in the cattle industry. Heat affects everything, but poultry production is not as disturbed because their feed and environment is so controlled. We love raising our children in a small town where they know everyone, and everyone knows them. We think it’s important to be involved with your community, to be part of something larger than yourself.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
