• Hometown: Steprock, Ark.
• Family: Parents, Rickey and Sandra Wright; and girlfriend Sarah Steeley
In Town: Charlie Wright is an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., which is also where he received is undergraduate and pharmacy degrees.
Charlie said he teaches pharmacy students about what medications are used to treat, what the side effects could be, drug guidelines and other topics. He began his career with the university in February 2021.
“I work as a pharmacist also, but as far as the teaching, I like learning new things,” Charlie said. “There is always more to learn. With students on rotation, things come up with a patient, and I have no idea, so we reach it and find out, so for me there is that learning aspect. I also just really enjoy the students. I’m only three or four years older than them, so I’m not so old that I can’t relate to them; I feed off their energy.”
Charlie said he wanted to go into the medical field, but he did not want to become a veterinarian like his father, nor did he wish to become a physician. Being a pharmacists, Charlie continued, is where the landed.
“It’s the best of both worlds because you have your training and you still get to work with patients,” he explained.
In the Country: Charlie grew up on the Byrd Ranch, which began in 1879 and is owned by his parents, Rickey and Sandra Wright. The ranch was recently named the 2022 White County (Ark.) Farm Family of the Year.
Charlie might have chosen a different career path, but he is still involved it the family’s farming operation. He helps during haying season, sale days and working cattle. The small cattle herd given to him by his parents helped him pay for college.
“Agriculture will always be a part of me and who I am. I grew up around it and I love it, but it’s not what I want to do right now. To me, the history of it and the land are what means the most,” Charlie said. “Am I going to have 300 head of cattle? No. I may want to have a small hobby herd one day. I joke about this, but my mom and dad are not computer people or writers. I feel like I’m the PR manager because we had to go through all of the deeds and write about what has happened at the farm for the Arkansas Century Farm; same thing for the Arkansas Farm Family. I’m the writer and picture taker.”
Charlie added spent time with his grandfather, Charles Byrd, prior to his passing to gather more information about the family farm and its history.
“It was a special time for us,” Charlie said. “I learned things I didn’t know, like they raised chickens and strawberries. Now all of that information is preserved for future generations.”
