Arkansas Neighbors

It is all about teamwork for Dennis Schwerin’s family.  Whether it is doing chores, rounding up cattle on horseback or showing in the ring, the family relies on each other to be successful as a whole.

The original 153 acres, where Sam Massey runs part of his cattle, once belonged to his grandfather. That farm in the Campbell community was homesteaded in 1875 and stayed in the Massey family. That’s where Sam grew up, and farmed, as far back as he remembers. “Back then,” he said, “all we had was horse-drawn equipment and we raised most everything we ate. We had apple and peach trees, part of that was a cash crop. Dad raised sweet potatoes, another cash crop. We had chickens and eggs, and milk cows. Until I got big enough to go to the field, I’d help Mother in the garden. She dried fruit and canned fruit and garden vegetables for winter.”

Jerry Fancher has spent the better part of her 81 years on her family’s farm north of Berryville, Ark., in Carroll County. She shared her father’s love for raising cattle and taking care of the land. “I was a cowpoke, I never wanted to go to school,” she said about her life after high school. “I’d rather go to the cow pasture.” She did venture out to California for a couple of years to work in the Kwikset Lock factory in Anaheim, Cali., but left to come home and help on the farm after her father had a stroke. “I came back,” she remembered, “and I’ve been here ever since.”

As the echo of thunderous applause faded, Jared Standridge walked away from the 2008 International Finals Rodeo with a championship title in the team-roping Header and Heeler category. Jared is on the road near 200 days a year, making the rodeo circuit. “I have hired hands who take care of things while I’m gone,” he said. “And they help me when I’m home working the place.”

Involvement in agriculture didn't fall that far from the Alstadt's tree. John Alstadt's grandfather worked for the USDA. “My grandfather in Texas had an Angus herd my whole life. That’s why we chose Angus. My brother and I grew up showing cattle, but we had no real experience with the business and day-to-day aspects of farming," he said.

Bill Hamm and his wife, Sarah, grew up about 11 miles from each other on farms east of Fayetteville, Ark.  They really did not know each other growing up, but a common interest would bring them together.  Bill’s dad, Wayne Hamm, had commercial cattle in the 70s and bought his first registered Polled Hereford heifer in 1973.  By 1976, the Hamm family only owned Polled Herefords.

Ransy Cotter, pictured below with his wife Roxie, recalls the major events of the farming ages

Gene McBride sees the value in a diversified operation so he offers Black Angus, Red Angus and Charolais

Utilizing a variety of breeds to promote the hybrid vigor he desires, Don Grayham develops a goat he's certain of

A multi-generational interest in the pig business may be novel for northwest Arkansas, but for the Belts, it's life