Wade Roetzel (pronounced Ritzell) has been around farming and farm equipment all of his life.
As a teenager in Judsonia, Ark., Wade baled and sold hay to customers during the holiday seasons. Wade always had livestock and he was fascinated by antique farm equipment. That fascination for antique equipment still remains today. In one form or another, Wade has always been involved in farming and real estate.
Very early in his business career, Wade started his farm equipment business operating out of a renovated “lean to” building on his parent’s property in Judsonia, Ark.
Even while running his new equipment business, Wade was always on the lookout for antique equipment, running or not. His equipment business took him through five states so he was always able to find antique machinery to “pick,” some of it ran, some used for parts to restore equipment in inventory.
For Wade, just owning antique equipment was not enough, he wanted to share the experience of antique tractors so he helped establish the Central Arkansas 2 Cylinder Club and served as its president for several years.
Wade’s extensive traveling with his equipment dealership and his background in farming led him to diversify his business career and enter the oil and gas industry in 2007. In conjunction with knowledge in the oil and gas industry, Wade expanded his new found career and became a licensed realtor, He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Searcy Board of Realtors, and the Arkansas Realtors Association. But when it’s all said and done, Wade is most happy on his farm disking with a John Deere M tractor, planting with a two-row planter, or harvesting with his John Deere 45 combine.
“It’s therapy for me,” said Wade. “I’ve got a couple part-time helpers,” but I do a lot of the hay baling, and farm work myself. It’s just nice to get out of the office and climb on a tractor.”
Wade farms several hay farms scattered throughout White County and most of it is done with his older equipment.
“I’m one of the few people around that still use a square baler,” Wade said. “But there is still a market for it in the landscape business and it is good hay. I’m tempted to buy newer equipment, but it is so expensive, and I love seeing the old stuff run. When I’m using it, people stop all the time just to watch the antique stuff run.”
A recent acquisition for the antique collection was a John Deere 45R combine Wade purchased in Joplin, Mo., At the time, he did not have access to a 3/4-ton truck to pull the combine back to Searcy. So, he loaded the combine on a trailer and pulled it home with his Chevy Suburban. It was a little “hairy” but all is well that ends well. This fall, Wade used the 45R to harvest corn he planted on 20 acres along the Little Red River. He also planted sweet potatoes on the land with a two-row planter which had been modified from an old mule-drawn planter owned by his grandfather. Expectations were high for the sweet potatoes but the local deer population had other plans.
“I have to rethink how to handle the deer,” said Wade. “I have plans to expand into organic vegetables, but I’ve got to keep the deer out. Guess I’ll be building a fence.”
Being located near the Little Red River, this farm, along with a couple more farms he rents, offer ideal spots for Wade’s organic vegetable plans. In conjunction with the vegetable production, plans are on the table to expand the operation to include some raw milk products, a fall corn maze and other agritourism attractions including a hiking/biking trail along the Little Red River. One thing is for certain, the wheels are always turning in Wade Roetzel’s mind. No moss grows under this farm boy’s feet.
