James and Amanda Tanner
In Town: “I taught two years at Waldo before becoming the ag teacher at Boonville High School for the last 18 years. I am on a 12-month contract and am involved with FFA and other agricultural related activities almost every weekend. The program at Boonville is divided into ag mechanics and animal science. Amanda and I went to high school together, but when I went off to school and to Waldo we lost touch. When I returned she was still single and we decided we were getting old and needed to get married. Amanda works at the county health department and has been there for 23 years in one capacity or another,” said James.
In the Country: “We own 70 acres across the road from my dad in Booneville, Ark. Amanda and I are the 4-H leaders for a Boonville livestock club we started and work with the Boots and Spurs 4-H and South Logan County Riders. We love to go on trail rides, and our daughter Jessica competes in barrels and poles. We have between 50 and 60 chickens of different breeds, one hog we usually raise for ourselves when feed prices are reasonable, three Quarter Horses, three Katahdin sheep, two commercial momma cows with calves, a pet deer and only one rabbit because we lost one recently. We used to have goats but sold them last year because of the drought when our grass did not grow well and feed costs were too high,” said James.
Future Plans: “Someday I would like to have 50 to 100 head of momma cows in a cow/calf production herd. I want to AI and naturally breed with an Angus bull because black sells and the animals have a good, moderate frame. Angus produces good calves that grow well, and a herd like that would make a good retirement life. While I love my job, I may want to retire after 28 years so I can farm full-time. We will just have to see,” said James.
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
