Hometown: Prairie Grove, Ark.
Family: Wife, Beth Everett; children, Cole Everett, Amy Wales and Jackson Diebold; and grandchildren, J.C., Olivia, Sam and Harrison
In Town: “I graduated from Arkansas Tech and then from the University of Arkansas law school in 1970. I subsequently joined the Navy and worked in the Jag Corps for four years before returning to Prairie Grove, where I have always lived. I practiced law in Prairie Grove for 17 years before moving my office to Fayetteville, Ark., for an additional 20 years. A year ago, I opened a new office in Farmington and have always been a courtroom lawyer.
In the Country: “I was raised on a farm in Woodruff County, Ark., and therefore have always been connected to rural life. I bought my first cow in 1974, one month after I began my law career in Prairie Grove. My wife Beth and I own 175 acres and rent an additional 40 in Prairie Grove on which we raise commercial cattle. We have 130 black mommas that are bred by two registered black Angus bulls and four registered Herefords, with the herd divided into three with each having 40 mommas and two bulls. I purchased new bulls every four or five years with my stepson Jackson looking at the EPDs and my son Cole helping me eyeball them. I typically buy my black bulls from Fallen Ash Ranch in Flippin, Ark., or from Anderson in Clifty, Ark., while my Herefords come from Debbie Bacon in Siloam Springs, Ark. I prefer spring calving, but I’m so busy my cattle operation is a bit slipshod. An example is a culling and raising replacement cows. I do let heifers grow until I have a pretty good idea if one has the temperament and physical characteristics to carry and raise a good calf. I also occasionally purchase heifers. I generally sell my calves at 8 months (of age) and always sell in Siloam Springs because I like their field man, Cary Bartholomew.”
Future: “At the moment, I plan on being a lawyer until they carry me out. On the other hand, I am at a point in my life where I might decide tomorrow I don’t want to do this anymore and go farming fulltime. As far as the kids taking over, I’m not sure a future for a small farm exists unless you have a very good paying off-the-farm job.”
