Tim Bailey
In Town: “I started as a traveling preacher 16 years ago, for congregations without one and then became the pastor at Plainview Baptist Church in Jay, Okla., before moving to Westville, Okla., and becoming the pastor at Old Baptist Mission eight years ago. I have also worked for 15 years in sales at Williams Tractor in Fayetteville, Ark., which carries recreational, industrial and farm equipment. I am married to Jennifer, my childhood sweetheart, who has an education degree and now stays active with our three children, Caleb, 10, Audrey, 6, and Emorie, 4.”
In the Country: “I grew up in Lincoln, Ark., where my parents always had commercial cattle. My wife and I chose to live in Westville, Okla., on small acreage so our children could learn and benefit from an agricultural lifestyle. We have a substantial garden and my wife encouraged me to buy a Jersey cow, so we could produce our own dairy products. However, the cow produces far more than we can use so I have bought a few commercial calves to use the surplus milk. It is a very good learning experience for our children to realize the responsibility of having the calves dependent upon them for a milk feeding. I had the opportunity to purchase the children some registered Angus heifers as well. They have sold bull calves and kept the heifers to build a pedigree herd. My dad has artificially bred cattle for years, so we have a great advantage in the bulls through that opportunity. These are small steps in teaching my children where food is produced rather than the grocery store and the work that is associated with that production.”
How the Two Complement Each Other: “Because I sometimes get to work with farmers, I can learn from their experiences. My town jobs allow Jennifer to stay at home with Emorie, the youngest, to make sure she is ready to excel when she goes to school like the older children already do. We love how we live, and I hope in 10 years I will still be open to God’s leadership and my children will have learned the joy of accepting responsibility and being part of a farming life. Maybe they will have the same desires as I do when they become adults.”
