Arkansas Neighbors

John and Cheryl Pickering met 20 years ago at a convenience store when John was working construction in Gentry, Ark.

Although it’s in the middle of the White County town of Searcy, Ark., the sign over the barn reads, “Arkansas Cattle Auction.”

Leroy and Pat Sellers run both registered Quarter horses and commercial cattle on 450 acres in the Morrow, Ark., area and an additional 300 acres outside of Stilwell, Okla. Leroy’s father was a successful cattleman in Farmington, while Pat came from a tobacco farming family from Kentucky.

Raising racing Quarter horses is not part of production agriculture, but uses the same basic principles to produce the best and most economically advantageous animals.

Two young Marion County, Ark., brothers, Kyle and Bryan Benedict, are combining their efforts and talents to manage three ranches.

Meyenberg Goat Milk has been operating a goat milk processing plant in Yellville, Ark., since 1954. However, the plant has a history even before that.

Katahdin sheep are the focus of a long-term research program at the Agricultural Research Service’s Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center outside of Booneville, Ark.

On any given summer day, 5-year-old Aubrey Stanley can be found in a pen playing with her family’s Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. Located in the Ozarks between Mulberry and Mountainberg, Ark., Mountain-Berry Farm is owned and operated by Bill and Samantha Stanley.

Jane and Tom Robinett own a goat dairy and dairy goat breeder operation on 10 acres outside of Dover, Ark.

Stan and Donna Johnson run a creamery in Wyandotte, Okla., distinguished from a dairy because in addition to milking, the operation also produces dairy products.