Doyle Root
Family: Sons Stacey and Rob, daughter Sherlyn, four grandchildren and three great-grand children with a new great-granddaughter on the way.
Hometown: Kingston, Ark.
Town Life: Doyle Root has been the pastor at the Eklhorn Full Gospel Church outside of Kingston, Ark., in Newton County, Ark., for 41 years.
“I was saved as an adult and got my calling to be a preacher. I started preaching in the Elkhorn school building, but seven years ago we were able to build a new church. I am one of those preachers who plans out a sermon, but is anointed and led by the Holy Ghost so that what I actually say may or may not resemble what I planned.
“Our congregation is approximately 30 members. It is not that large but keeps me busy all of the time, and we really get to know each other well. We offer three services per week: Sunday at 10 a.m., Sunday night at 6 p.m. and Bible study on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.”
Country Life: “My farm is right across the street from the church. I have 50 acres that I inherited from my father Jesse in 1966. I remember riding to Kingston when I was 12 in a wagon pulled by two mules named Jack and Jerry. It was a three-hour trip that I still sometimes make riding one of my two Tennessee Walkers for pleasure.
“Even though I still live on the acreage, I turned over the farm to my boys, Rob and Stacey, about the time the church was built. Nonetheless, I help them hay, both my land and lease land, and work cattle, which I do on a 4-wheeler with my Border Collie named Bug. We put up 1,600 bales of hay a year. I also have two crossbred sows and boar I use to raise meat for the family. My 50 acres supports 30 head of cattle cow/calf operation. The cows are a mixed herd with a strong Angus influence and are bred by any of my son’s bulls, which are Angus, Hereford and Charolais. We sell calves at 500 to 700 pounds, usually at the Harrison or Green Forest sale barns. I also own 6 ½ acres on Long Creek, near Alpena and go there twice a year to camp with the family.
Future: “The future is always in God’s hands, but Stacey’s boys may be interested in farming, and I hope they keep the place going.”
