Hometown: Winslow, Ark.
Family: Children Elliot, Sawyer and Emory
In Town: “My husband, Daniel, works for Construction Solutions. Everyday is different for him, but you could typically find him installing water and sewer mains all over Northwest Arkansas. I, on the other hand, am a high school English teacher at West Fork Schools, and I have been there for 12 years. Our daughter is in first grade and son is in ninth grade, and we have a 4-year-old daughter who will start kindergarten next year.”
In the Country: “We have your typical small town cattle farm, but ours is certainly special to us. I was raised on a farm all my life, so to continue that, it feels only natural to me. When I was 23 years old, I bought my grandparents’ home and land of about 40 acres that is conjoined with my dad’s farm of 250 acres. My grandmother bought the land when she was 18 years old, and then when my grandpa passed in 2009, it was willed to my Aunt Regina, and then I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase the home and some acreage from her.
“Six months after I purchased the home, my dad gave Daniel and I three cows as a wedding present. We have been married nine years, and we still have those cows. Our farm had a rough winter a couple years ago and lost some cows, but it has grown to a total of 25 head of cattle, plus the addition of my dad’s 40 head. Because my dad’s farm is so close, we are able to share equipment, cut and haul hay together, help build new corrals, and mix our cattle. Most of our cattle are Angus, Charolais, Angus-cross. We recently added two F-1 heifers to breed with our Black Hereford bull. Our cattle farm sustains us financially by selling the bull calves and buying new stock every other year or so. Heifers are kept for future generations.
“We have also raised hogs, goats, chickens and even a turkey; our daughter is currently trying to convince us to try our hand at raising rabbits. Farming is certainly a lifestyle, and there are no days off. It is full of hard work, patience, and dedication, but what better way to teach those life lessons than to have it in our lives on a daily basis. It also teaches us to have faith in God and know that He is in control, because when we have trials, and they will come, there is no other peace that can be found other than through Him. God will not give us anything that we can not bear. In Him, everything is meant for good. Farming will absolutely teach you about faith.”
