• Location: Clinton, Ark.
• Owners: Quinn and Allen Aday
History: Clifford Aday began Lime and Fertilizer began in the late 1960s or early 1970s. He started the business when he had trouble getting anyone to spread lime on his family farm.
By 1979, Clifford turned over the business to his sons Quinn and Allen Aday.
“My dad never really wanted to do this,” Quinn said. “He just wanted to grow grass (for his cows) and farm. He said if us boys wanted it, we could take it over. We did and have made a pretty profitable business out of it.”
Quinn was an elementary teacher when Clifford decided he wanted out of the business, but Allen had been with the company for a number a of years.
Products and Services: Aday Lime and Fertilizer can help farmers and ranchers improve their soil health with lime and custom fertilizer, and other products.
“This time of year is pretty busy for lime. Fertilizer got so high, and then it got dry, so we will be spreading lime until the weather gets bad or we won’t get caught up,” Quinn said. “We also have a fertilizer blender and blend fertilizers, and farmers can come and get buggies to spread fertilizer. We also sell bagged seed and chemicals.”
Custom application is also offered, and the Adays do all lime spreading.
“We haul the lime directly to the farm and spread it; the farmer doesn’t have to do anything,” Quinn explained. “Lime requires a heavier buggy, so we spread it with the truck.”
Quinn added GrazonNext has become a popular item for producers.
“It’s a chemical that we can mix with the fertilizer to kill weeds,” he explained. “That has been a great seller. It’s a little more expensive, but a lot of the farmers around here said they have sold their spray rig because they don’t need it.”
Future plans: Quinn isn’t sure what the future holds for Aday Lime and Fertilizer.
“I’m 71 years old but am still in good health, and I have a son who works with me a lot, but he has a rock quarry he enjoys,” he said. “I don’t know if he will take over or not… I enjoy doing this, so we are going to take it a day at a time.
