Hometown: Elkins, Ark.
Family: Husband Kevin; two sons, Weston (and wife Nicole) and Chad (and his wife Audra); and four grandchildren
In Town: Nicole Curry might not consider her career a “town job,” but she uses her artistic talents to create one-of-a-kind items.
“I’m a painter,” Nicole said. “I take custom orders. I’m licensed with the (University of Arkansas) Razorbacks, so I can do Razorbacks. I do a lot of Christmas ornaments, and Halloween and Easter buckets. I also do custom wood signs.”
Nicole also adorns colorful creations on fabric bags, metal water cans and buckets, wooden blocks and other items, which she shares on her Facebook page, Nicole Curry Paintings.
In the Country: Nicole and her husband, Kevin, have called their farm home for more than 35 years.
“We have cattle, horses, Kunekune pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs and cats,” Nicole said.
The 60-head cattle operation, Nicole explained, is a mixture of breeds, including Angus and Hereford influences. Calves typically are sold at the sale barn after weaning.
Free-range chickens and ducks roam the farm and provide plenty of eggs for the family.
“We also eat the duck eggs,” Nicole added. “They are very rich and are delicious.”
Any overstock of eggs is taken to the couple’s church and shared with their congregation.
Horses at the Curry farm are there for the pleasure of Nicole and Kevin’s grandchildren, and the Kunekune are more like pets.
“We’ve had them for a while,” Nicole said. “We’ve only had one litter, and I made sure they had homes; we won’t have any more litters… They are the best pigs, and when something happens to them, we are going to get more. Mine are free-range and go where they want to go, and you can call them up like a dog; they will roll over and let you scratch their bellies. They are a pasture pig, so they eat grass and don’t root; they are just awesome.”
Nicole did not grow up on a farm, but she has many fond memories of visiting her grandmother’s farm and is glad she had the opportunity to raise her children on a family farm.
“I think it teaches them a lot; it teaches them responsibility,” she said. “With the animals, I think it teaches them responsibility and about work. I think a farm teaches respect.”
Having easy-going, friendly animals is important to Nicole.
“All of the animals here, even the pigs, the kids can play with,” Nicole said. “They play with the chickens and the ducks; everything is just super friendly. I enjoy my life on the farm, and it’s very peaceful. I have all of these animals, and I just love them.”
Nicole has no plans to add new animals to her menagerie but will never say never to something new.
“I’d bring anything in,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve got the room, so if the grandkids wanted it, I’d go get it.”
