Arkansas Neighbors

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

Kenny and Peggy Comer work together with their children to keep the family dairy, poultry and Beefmaster farm viable

From their home on the Bar of Ranch, to Buffalo Rock, a familiar landmark, the rolling pastureland owned by Dan and Peggy Eoff covers 600 acres. Two miles from Clinton, Ark., the ranch sits in a valley below Culpepper Mountain and is traversed by three miles of the South Fork of the Little Red River.

The greatest compliment a son can give his parents is to follow in their footsteps, especially regarding his choice of occupation.  Mark Satterfield along with his wife, Nancy, must bring special warmth to the hearts of his parents, Loyd and Joanne.

There is no shortage of Limousin cattle around Glen Parker’s neck of the woods.
Glen, who operates Piney Bay Limousin, said there are five breeders raising the cattle all within a 10-mile radius of his farm, located in London, Ark.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Greenwood, Ark., is the home of Charolais breeders Jim and Reba Bray. The hard work ethic and family morals Mr. Bray learned growing up on a post-depression farmstead have proved to be a blessing to his family. He speaks of the good ole days with fondness. "The dollar went a lot further then, if you could get a dollar. You went to the store once a month, bought your flour and sugar. That was it. Always had a garden, hens and stock." But growth in the Fort Smith/Van Buren, Ark., area has brought many changes to local lifestyles, and the Bray family is making the adjustment. After the Highway 71 bypass changed traffic patterns, and their home burned four years ago, the Brays built a new home farther from the road on a rise that overlooks the creek and their cattle pastures.

Two necessary traits are inherent in every successful Arkansas farmer.  One is the ability to accept change for the better.  The other is knowing when to hold onto something that is uncommonly good.

Balancing a busy medical practice with a beef cattle operation is all in a day’s work for Dr. William Galloway of Russellville, Ark.
A dermatologist in Russellville since he opened his practice in 1976, William has about 25 head of purebred Galloway Belted cattle on his 62-acre farm.

Ralph and Arlene Reid have settled for their retirement years on a 60-acre homestead south of Ozark, Ark., in a town called Paris. Ah, the romance of Paris!

The Morgans have a long history of family and farming in the Ozarks. “Our family moved to Johnson County in 1857. We've been in the Mt. Olive community since 1876. I was raised on a farm and it didn't take me long to realize that if I wanted to keep farming that I would have to have a job to support it,” David Morgan said.