Neighbors

Josh Titus, of Lebanon, Mo., knows that every situation can turn into a learning opportunity and that is the exact mindset he has used when it comes to horsemanship.

Roy and Beth Kibbe from near Mulberry, Ark., have taken full advantage of the second chances they’ve been given. Today, they raise around a dozen Santa Gertrudis and Black Angus cross cattle on 15 acres in eastern Crawford County, but six years ago, Roy’s diagnosis of cancer put everything else on hold.

Former ranchers, originally from Arizona, Margo Chilcott and her husband, Brian, came to the Ozarks seven years ago and fell in love with a place, a 100-acre valley outside West Plains, Mo., in rural Howell County. Both currently work in real estate in southern Missouri.

The tales that Jerry Crownover documents in his column Life is Simple have brought Ozarks farmers laughs throughout the years and stories to be passed on at local coffee shops in every small town. Friends getting their tractors stuck in frozen ponds, dead cows sliding down the hill or even memories of what he learned as an agriculture teacher about the real way to farm – Jerry has shared much insight about rural life and the changes in the industry. But, what about the man behind Life is Simple?

It’s no surprise to the Peper family that the clan’s patriarch and matriarch, E.W. and Shirley, were named Mayes County Farm Family of the Year. "I know that my dad sure worked hard his whole life,” said Angela Root, the couple’s daughter.

A major concern for anyone living in rural areas is fire. Fire hazard potential determines safe burning, hay storage and insurance rates. Paying attention to wisps of smoke, especially during burn bans is critical for everyone's safety, and when fires do occur, dealing with them is often a multi-community effort.

T Bar W Farms is located in the Barrens Community, near Clinton, Ark., and is owned by Tom and Gayla Whillock. Their passion for farming began in 1975 when they found out about a farm for sale. “We were young and enthusiastic,” said Gayla. They started out as a poultry farm, while growing hay to provide an extra income for the farm. In 1990 a dairy was added to the farm but discontinued in 1996 because of the difficulty of running both types of farms.

Mark Gronniger grew up in Dallas County but went into farming with a plan, as he put it, while he was still serving with the Marines. Kim, originally a city girl from Iowa, stated she met her husband while living on an Iowa farm, when he was working as a Marine recruiter there. “He recruited me, too,” she laughed. Afterwards, Mark and Kim came home to Dallas County where they raised four children on their 420 acres, outside Long Lane, Mo. Today, all but one has left home. Mark and Kim are raising 110 momma cows, calves and Red Angus bulls.

Gene Longcrier’s father was ranch manager for the Colcord Ranch; a 2,000-acre cattle ranch owned by legendary lawman and oilman Charles F. Colcord. “I was born a few miles from here. I attended grade school at Minnehaha three or four miles out of Colcord. I finished high school at Kansas, Okla.,” Gene Longcrier said. “So I have been around here early on and we came back here when we retired after 30 years with Dow Chemical Company in the oil field division.” Gene and his wife, Zella, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in August. They have three children, five grandkids and four great grandkids.

Owned and operated by Pat and Clark Cotten and son Elliott, Bending Tree Ranch is located near Damascus, Ark. The 20 acres of rough/wooded land they own offers good browse/forage for their animals. They also utilize another 40 acres for the animals’ browsing. In addition to breeding and raising both registered and commercial stock, she also breeds and sells show wethers. Dominique, a Market show wether, bred by Pat, won 1st place at the Arkansas state fair in 2007, and came in 5th in Over-All Grand Drive. They sell breeding stock nation-wide as well as sell some slaughter stock each year.