• Hometown: Wesley, Ark.
• Family: Wife Jennifer; son Garrett (23); and daughter Laney (17)
In Town: Clay Osbon began his real estate career in 2016 and is a licensed Realtor® with Twin Oaks Realty, Inc., in Wesley Ark.
“I pretty much specialize in poultry farms,” Clay explained. “I do some cattle farms, some timber/recreation property, a little residential here and there.”
Clay said being a Realtor® has allowed him to meet people from around the world.
“I talk to people from South Africa, Brazil, Vietnam, Asia and all over,” he said. “Before I began doing this, I didn’t know anything about other cultures. Now, I know a little more about other counties, not a lot, just a little. It’s been interesting.”
In the Country: Clay and his family moved to Welsey in 2014 from a broiler and beef cattle farm in Louisiana.
“We moved because the business is just a little better here,” Clay said. “You have the Tyson headquarters in Springdale, Ark., and it’s pretty much the chicken capital of the world. That’s one reason why I moved.”
The family switched from broilers to raising pullets and roosters for Tyson.
They have four 17,500-bird houses, with one house split for pullets and 7,000 roosters. The birds remain at Obson Farms for 20 to 21 weeks. After a flock leaves, the barns are prepped for another flock two to three weeks later.
In addition to continuing with the poultry industry, Clay also brought a cattle operation to the Ozarks from Louisiana.
“We run an Angus, and Simmental/Charolais cross herd, using Hereford bulls,” Clay said. “I like the Angus for those black baldies, and I have a guy I buy my Simmental/Charolais cross heifers from that are just phenomenal females.”
A loss of a leased farm forced Clay to reduce his cattle herd to about 60 head, which is half of what he usually runs. The herd is split into fall and spring calving, and Clay does not retain any females.
“I’ve found that buying bred heifers works for me,” he said.
Clay hopes to expand his poultry operation in the future, but his town job keeps him busy.
“Eventually, my plan is to get back on the farm,” Clay said. “When it comes time to expand, then the real estate might be less than what it is now; I want to get back on the farm more.”
Clay has a farm manager who handles much of day-to-day operation, but Clay and his family are also involved in the family farming operation.
