Arkansas Neighbors

“We’re gonna raise what the market demands.” And that is just what Gary and Marilyn Townsend have done. Located just outside of Rose Bud, Ark., the Townsends raise Brangus cattle and market those cattle over the southeastern United States to producers looking to make improvements in their herd books and their checkbooks.

The Limousin breed ranks as one the the third largest breeds in the United States and is found in 70 countries. The crossbreeding of Limousin and Angus, aka Lim-Flex, has proven to be a valuable breeding resource both at home and work for George Hubbard of Miami, Okla. For the past 16 years it has been a hobby and employment for the Southern Division Magness Land and Cattle manager. The business is owned by Gary Magness and headquartered in Platteville, Colo., with a companion operation in Miami. “This is a 24/7 operation. It is great that I live nearby because there is always something to do every day of the week. Even a day off is a work day since the cattle still have to be fed,” said George.

Years ago a popular TV commercial carried the tagline of “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” Todd Weyl, who lives in Fayetteville, Ark., on a small purchased acreage but runs his parents’ 228-acre farm in Lincoln, Ark., has learned through trial and error and  through extensive observation and reading that allowing Mother Nature to have dominance in farming leads to a paradigm shift.  Todd views agriculture as an interdependent system where superimposing solutions to problems may solve a particular problem but harms the system. Todd said, “This is not about going ‘natural’ for the environment’s sake but increasing profitability by decreasing costs naturally.”

Tony and Linda Nichols own and lease 2,000 acres just outside of Wainwright, Okla., in Council Hill where they raise a commercial herd with 400 mommas. The land where the Nichols’ house sits was purchased by Tony’s grandfather 100 years ago and added to as the years have gone by. Tony said, “I was born a rancher and really wanted to live with my grandparents because my folks lived in town.” Tony and Linda have been married for 53 years after meeting at church when 5 or 6 and becoming sweethearts in high school although they went to different high schools. When Tony asked Linda to go on their first date at his high school’s talent show, Linda wasn’t sure if he was asking her out or selling her a ticket. Linda said, “That date was it, and we’re still dating now.” The couple has three girls, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter with another on the way. Colt Watson, the oldest grandson, is a fulltime employee.

Age is just a number for Honey Reese, 17 of Sallisaw, Okla. Honey may only be a high school senior set to graduate in May, but she’s taking on and accomplishing her dreams.

When Robert Redford needed an adviser for the movie, The Horse Whisperer, he found Curt Pate – a world-renowned stockmanship expert. When Heath Kohler from Ratcliff Ranches in Vinita, Okla., needed an adviser for low stress cow handling, he and Dr. Clint Gardner, a veterinarian in Pryor, Okla., found the “cow mumbler,” as he is known. The owner of Ratcliff Ranches, Jim Ratlciff, liked the idea and hosted the event. Heath and Dr. Gardner contacted Kara Jett of Boehringer Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc., and Heather Buckmaster of the Oklahoma Beef Council and all together sponsored the event which discussed animal health and how to handle cattle.

On the outskirts of Fayetteville, Ark., is a 5-acre show pig operation known as HogWild Showpigs owned and operated by Jeremy and Dawn Mabry. Jeremy teaches elementary PE in Fayetteville while Dawn, a University of Arkansas employee for 15 years, currently works as a records analyst in the Office of Development.

Jim and Elsie Parker own 280 acres and lease 300 acres in Stilwell, Okla. They raise registered Black Angus using 100 momma’s including 16 heifers and four breeding bulls for cleanup. Both Jim and Elsie came from agricultural backgrounds. Jim remembers feeding cattle when he was in the first grade because his father was gone all week as a traveling carpenter. Elsie, on the other hand, remembers shucking corn for the family’s hogs when she was very young. The couple met through FFA in high school when Elsie was helping her brother with his FFA sheep and Jim came over. Jim and Elsie began dating and later married in 1960. Elsie said, “In those days there was no FFA for girls but our oldest daughter, Tammy Bartholomew, was one of the first girls in FFA in Stilwell and is now an Ag teacher in Missouri.” All three of their children, Tammy, Cindy and Randy were active members in the Stilwell FFA Chapter and showed cattle.

The Ozark highlands in Stilwell, Okla., is home to Jerry and Shirley Garrison. Both moved to Stilwell in 1965 to begin their married life in an 8-foot trailer, that grew to a 12-foot trailer and eventually into a home they built. “Some people who start a farm, want it all today. You have to have patience. We did not live the luxury life. Everything we made, we put right back into farming,” said Jerry. He started out on a dairy farm, working for his dad, and then off to college he went to study Animal Husbandry. “For anyone working with farm animals, you need both the hands-on workmanship and the education.” Jerry took his education very serious.  

Austin Wilkerson may only be 20 years old and pursuing a degree in ag education at North Arkansas College with the intent of transferring to Arkansas Tech to finish his degree, but he is definitely a knowledgeable and experienced show goat farmer. He attends class five days a week though sometimes only for an hour and a half and spends the majority of his time with goats. The young Harrison, Ark., resident owns no land as of yet but already has an enviable show goat business called A&A Show Goats in partnership with Austin Evans who is also in college but a year younger. They rent several locations for raising their herd.