Pat King
In Town: Pat King has worked at Marion County Feed and Farm in Yellville, Ark., for three years. She is the front counter clerk and her co-workers describe her as the, “most dependable, steady person in the world.” Pat said she loves working at the feed store because of all the people she gets to meet and help.
In the Country: Pat raises dairy goats and chickens. She has had as many as 150 head of dairy goats, which she personally milked. Currently she has downsized the herd and only milks for her own needs, using the milk for cooking and making soap. She has had so many requests that she is considering making goat cheese in the future. When Pat sells her goats, she sells them as dairy goats to individuals who want them for the milk, not meat. Pat also has a large garden each year.
Blending Town and Country: Pat says having animals and a garden allows her to help her customers from her own experience. She also says she learns daily from people who come in the store and she is able to pass that along. A customer said of Pat, “She is like a smiling bulletin board – she knows who has what, what is going to grow and what isn’t.”
Story and Photo by Jack and Pam Fortner