If you are a person who loves to play with horses, cows and you live near Hogeye, Ark., you know LaCosta and Andy Napier and their family arena. “People like the lifestyle. We like to rope steers, train horses, run barrels, poles and flags,” Andy said. “We have people we would never have met if it weren’t for the arena. Those people are like family now. We ride together, we play together and we eat together. We are like a big family. We even have our own little Christmas party just for people who come to the arena. It’s just family oriented fun. We just love it.”
People are always welcome at the Napier home. One example is a shy young man, Shane, who came to the arena and needed help with roping. Now he is a fixture at the Napier’s. “Shane used to be really shy. Now, we can’t get rid of him," LaCosta smiled. “He is a fixture.” Shane even works with Andy at Blair Electric and often hangs out at their home helping with chores and sharing meals with the family.
Andy and LaCosta live on a small acreage next to Andy’s parent’s farm where he was raised. Raising their family in the country means everything to Andy and LaCosta. “I wouldn’t want my kids in the city," Andy said. “Giving kids chores and seeing their parents work teaches kids responsibility, working to earn it, taking care of things and being thankful for what they have," Andy said. “There is nothing like having your kids doing homework out in a feed trough hanging out with your animals rather than with some other influences," added LaCosta.
The kids are keeping up the arena tradition by participating in the Lincoln Riding Club’s Play Days. Shay Lynn races barrels, speed flags and poles on her horse Possum and has earned several ribbons. This year the riding club is offering a buckle for the winner of each contest and a saddle for the overall winner. LaCosta said, “There is nothing like having our own arena for the kids to practice in. I didn’t get to participate in as many activities as my kids do. That is why I want to make sure they get every opportunity they want.”
Trenton recently won a mutton bustin’ contest at the 55th Annual Lincoln Rodeo where he earned a trophy almost as tall as he is. Trenton likes to play on the antique tractor his great uncle restored for him while watching his sister care for Possum. Trenton wants to ride bulls just like his dad and his cousin Charles Allen. Shay Lynn wants to be a horse trainer when she grows up.
Both Andy and LaCosta have full time jobs in addition to raising Shay Lynn who is eight and Trenton who is five. Andy is a licensed electrician working for Blair Electric. LaCosta works for a Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas (MANA) clinic as a patient account representative. They take care of two orphaned calves, seven horses and their 25 mix breed cows along with his dad’s horses and cows. Andy helps take care of his parent’s place and the leased property they run their cows on. Andy and LaCosta had thought about moving to a bigger place but decided they would rather stay home.
Andy does odd jobs; shoeing horses, small electrical jobs or hauling wood. “None of the money we earn at our day jobs goes for the arena,” LaCosta said. Andy just sold two calves that got too big to use in the arena. The money the calves brought will go back into buying new calves to use in the arena and the arena’s upkeep.
Cody, Andy’s cousin, moved in with their family for a while after having problems at home. “It was in my heart to give him something better," Andy said. They moved him in while he was in the seventh grade. Cody graduated high school and is now going to college to be a teacher and football coach.
It's that kind of support for individuals, extended family – which can be anyone, really – that makes the Napier's lives worthwhile. Everyone's family and everyone's welcome to come love horses and cattle with them, at their arena in Hogeye.
