Neighbors

A math teacher at Marshfield High School, Robert Smith has been teaching for six years. This is his second year at Marshfield. Before that he taught for four years at Buffalo. Prior to teaching he managed cattle farms.

East of Tulsa, Okla., on Hwy 412, one can certainly tell where the farming life begins. It is almost instantly innocuous. No whirling sounds of emergency vehicles, no threats of crime and an immediate realization of a population decrease. North off of Hwy 412 outside of Inola, Okla., the winding road eventually turned into a one lane road, hovered trees and plentiful wildlife with an amazing stretch of a panoramic view of the Moore’s Fish Farm.

Arkansas has recently instituted a program that designates and honors farms that had been in the same family for 100 years, and the Morgan operation in both Lamar and Clarksville, Ark., was among the first, even though part of the farm was established almost 140 years ago. The operation that Steve and Carol Morgan run is highly diversified with cattle, turkeys and a pick-your-own peach orchard. Steve’s son, Mark, works full-time with his father on the farm which also supports three full-time employees. Steve said, "Every part of the operation has downtime, and the diversity allows us to keep everybody busy all of the time. In fact, we' re never caught up."

"Charolais have always been the biggest weight gainers,” stated Jim Starkey owner of Starkey’s Southfork Ranch, in Harrison, Ark. “So why not raise cattle that perform the best and have the best production records?”

"She was such an easy ride, so I thought I'd specialize in Missouri Fox Trotter horses.” This is what Ervin Hill said about the first Missouri Fox Trotter that he bought and rode. Ervin, who had primarily rode traditional trotting horses, was impressed with the smoothness in the stride of the gaited horse. “It's different than a trot of a Quarter Horse, the Fox Trotter always has at least one hoof on the ground,” explained Ervin, “they are very sure footed, and have an incredible sense of foot placement.” Ervin also went on to explain that Missouri Fox Trotter horses were bred and developed to handle the terrain of the Ozarks. The Fox Trotter is primarily a cross of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Morgan and American Saddlebred.

Jared Frieze of rural Polk County is a man who knows his business and even at his young age, has a pretty clear idea of where he’s going next. A 2013 graduate of Marion C. Early High School of Morrisville, Mo., Jared raises 80 White Dorper sheep on 30 acres at his family’s home.

David and Carolyn Carrier, like five generations before them, farm the rich, dark soil on the Muddy Creek Angus Farm, just outside of Lockwood, Mo., in southwestern Dade County. The Carriers raise and breed registered, purebred Black Angus cattle, and in 2009 were given the distinguished honor of being named, “Top 20 Missouri Angus Breeders” by the American Angus Association. Their herd was started in 1947 by David’s father. They are a cow/calf operation and also sell replacement heifers and breeding bulls.

Monte and Ashley Shockley and Monte’s parents, Monte Sr. and Rita Shockley, run a registered Hereford Ranch and Shockley's Auto Sales, both in Poteau, Okla. Monte smiled and said,” We do well together. We both know our parts. We think alike, and on those rare occasions when we disagree, he wins.”

Kenny and Lora Crawford know beef cattle, especially the registered Angus and registered Salers they raise.

Ed Yancey had no idea when he attended graduate school at Kansas State University that he would be gaining more than just an education. Ed met his now wife, Janeal, and later they began Yancey Simmental Ranch in Huntsville, Ark. They have owned 22 acres in Madison County for seven years and keep about six to eight head there. Ed’s parents have 700 plus acres in Searcy County and they keep the rest of their herd on that ranch. All together they own about 35 head of Simmental, Red Angus, and Simmental/Angus cross cattle including six bulls.