Arkansas Neighbors

Cattle are in Lawson Hembree's blood. Actively ranching for the last 15 years, Lawson is the sixth generation of his family to raise cattle on the same plot of land near Ozark, Ark., since before Arkansas was a state.

Chastain Farms is the classical depiction of how cattle farmers have evolved the past 80 years from expansive pasture-based operations focused on natural selection to small-scale farms focused on introducing technology to create high-quality cattle.

What began as a retirement pastime has grown into something a bit larger. “It’s a hobby that got carried away,” said Larry Hacker. After 28 years of military life, Larry and Nelda Hacker of Lincoln, Ark., have traded a life of  travel with the United States Army for “done roving” roots raising Beefalo cattle. In 1986 they were presented with an opportunity to purchase two heifers as a start in the Beefalo business. Since then their operation has grown to over 100 head of cows, providing breeding stock to buyers from Minnesota to  Texas and Colorado to West Virginia.

A close look at Robert Stobaugh’s family tree will find farmers in every direction.

It's amazing to step out onto the very green, lush, peaceful farm that’s been in the Frost family for 105 years, and five generations. “Since 1903,” said Bob Frost, a third generation farmer in the mountains of Johnson County, Arkansas. "My granddad, John Frost, bought 80 acres in 1903, and added 40 more at a later date. He built a small house they later named the weaning house. His son Hall Frost was born in 1906; they then built the big white farm house, which sits across from the smaller home. When Hall got married they moved into the weaning house. They both spent their whole lives on this farm," Bob said.

A new generation of farmers is coming about these days. Whereas years ago most farms were family operated and knowledge was passed from father to son, many of today's livestock producers don't have the advantage of growing up on a farm. Shirley Williams is a case in point. She said, "I grew up in the city in a family that wouldn't even let me have a dog in the house." Luckily, her maternal grandfather had agrarian roots, and could see the makings of a good  stock woman in Shirley. She inherited his passion for stock while spending family vacations at his horse ranch in Louisiana.

Stevie Haller is passionate and knowledgeable about livestock farming. The owner of 350 head of purebred Gelbvieh and another 100 crosses, 48 of them the promising Gelbvieh/Angus Balancer cross, Stevie, his wife Brenda, a registered nurse, and their two sons’ families operate Haller Farms. They also recently opened Haller Motorworx, a Branson Tractor farm equipment business.  Stevie modestly claims that the secret to his many successes is “to always try to listen to people who know more than I do.” At this point in his career, though, most people are keen on listening to what Stevie has to say.

When Jerry Hunton was nine years old his family got their first chicken barns. His mom, Jessie, and dad, Floyd, met during  World War II, and then married and  moved back to Arkansas to make a life farming in the Arkansas Ozarks. Jessie, who was an integral part of the farm up until the past few years, was simply grateful to not be in the cotton fields of her native Oklahoma anymore. A life tending chickens and cows seemed to suit her better. What started for the Huntons on 220 acres grew as the family was able to purchase neighboring land. With the addition of Jerry and his wife Karen’s six children, (“five of the six still in arms reach,” Jerry smiled,) and 12 grandchildren, the family has kept the 600-acre farm up and running over the years.

While watching Paul Ahrens gently and efficiently shear sheep and patiently answer questions about what he is doing, a person would never guess he was formerly a National Guard First Sergeant serving in Iraq. In 2003 he was injured by shrapnel in the back of his legs and spent almost two years recovering. He gives credit to his physical therapists. “Those folks are hard on you but it is worth it to be able to walk again.” Ahrens was not able to shear at all in 2004, but has been back to the job he loves for three years now – shearing sheep around the nation.

It is 6:30 a.m. on Saturday with the sun peeking up over the mountains and the cattle peacefully grazing in the green pastures. It is mornings like these, when Donnie Willis can take time to enjoy the scenery and thank God for what he has, and why Donnie, of Deer, Ark., chose to live and raise a family in his native Newton County.
“When I graduated from school I didn’t want to leave Newton County.  I had my mind made up that I wanted to stay here.  I’m gonna stay here,” said Donnie.