Neighbors

An old Chinese proverb admonishes that a gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a person perfected without trials. Ramona Grigg Rathjen of Huntsville, Ark., is a walking, horseback riding and sometimes cane using testament to those words. Diagnosed three years ago with Multiple Sclerosis, Ramona's attitude shines through in even the simplest communication. "Every e-mail she sends has a tag line that says “MS doesn't define who I am.” Her quick wit and sense of humor are still intact, as she jokes about a shirt she'd love to have that says, “I'm not drunk, I just have MS.” Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that effects the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity and symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.

Woody Crest Farm was founded in 1985 when Cy and Linda Elmburg initially purchased a 130-acre farm near Grand Lake, close to Grove, Okla. Attracted to the registered Angus breed, a small herd of Angus was purchased with the intent to develop a local and regional market to support the ongoing changes in the cattle industry.

George Anderson had a varied career in the poultry industry. Coming out of college he worked as a field man for Tyson's for a couple of years, and then four years for George's. However, he soon found that being his own boss was more to his liking. “I don't play well with others, I don't think. It took me a long time to figure out if my boss did something stupid, he didn't want me to tell him,” joked George. So, for the past 15 years he's been a grower for George's at his Dogwood Farm in Lowell, Ark., and his second location in Clifty, Ark.

Kyle Tate began raising Boer goats when he was in sixth grade. “My dad and I put up some hay for some friends of ours and their neighbors had goats. I wanted to try it and here we are,” said the Mtn. Grove High School senior. “Here we are” for Kyle means, among other things, being in his second term on the national Board of Directors of the American Junior Boer Goat Association; winning numerous championships at livestock shows in several states; making friends all over the country; and winning the FFA Area Proficiency Award for his goats.

It was on a farm in Newton County, Missouri, that Doyle Weaver was raised in agriculture. “I started helping on our farm as soon as I was big enough to get up and get around,” he said. The Weaver family milked cows until the milk market was no longer profitable, and then they transitioned into a beef cattle operation. Doyle grew up attending school in Seneca, Mo., and though the school had no formal agriculture programs, he continued his work on – and love for – the family farm.

Clint Hunter is pretty specific about the way his family runs their cattle business. “If you stay in the middle and don’t chase the different fads the cattle industry offers…” He paused; choosing his words carefully before continuing, “If you stay in the middle, they’ll always come back to you. We’ll just leave it at that.”

Husband and wife team Tom Huls and Dr. Diane Balich, DVM, don't ever stay still for long, but that's just the way they like it. The couple owns the 350-acre Sugar Springs Angus Ranch in Lincoln, Ark.  In 1983,  the pair moved to Arkansas from Yankton, S.D. They decided on Lincoln when Diane saw an advertisement for a job opening with a new vet clinic in Lincoln. “They were looking for a veterinarian with an interest in dairy, and I have my master's degree in dairy science, so I came down and he offered me the job. I wasn't really sure I wanted to leave yet, but he kept calling me and calling me and talked me into it," shared Diane.

Billy Joe and Courtney Wilkins live on a 250-acre ranch in Lutherville, Ark. They have worked this ranch, its  six chicken houses, 80 or so cows and four or five bulls, for three years. The Wilkins have two little girls, Josie, who's 3 years old, and Abby their 4-month-old baby. Courtney works second shift, twelve hours a shift at Tyson’s. Also she’s in the process of getting her master's degree. Billy Joe calls her super mom, which she denies quietly, with a smile. Billy Joe works the farm full time now.

Jason Robinson of J&H Farms thinks he was surely born around 100 years too late. He could definitely live without all of today’s modern conveniences. In his opinion, life is better seen from the back of a horse.

The Rankins found Brahmousin cattle at Farmfest. A producer out of Lamar was showcasing them. For years, Butch and Sandy had Registered Santa Gertrudis. But Butch consistently liked Brahman-influence in a cattle herd. “We like the Brahman influence in cattle,” said Butch, adding, “In this part of the country we have more hot days than cold. With a Brahman influenced animal, I don’t have to have as quality of pasture or as quality of feed to still have gain. I do feed as quality of pasture and feed as I can, I’m saying you don’t have to have that to see gains of upwards to 40 lbs. per calf at weaning time over other breeds.”