Neighbors

Input costs keep going up. The three big “F” words (feed, fuel, fertilizer) are still on everybody’s lips. But what if there was a way to reduce those costs and bring a premium price for your product to boot?
Coscia Limousin Manager Ben Bennett is on to something.

"I try to treat my animals the way I want to be treated and in doing so I really haven’t faced many challenges concerning their care over the past two years,” explained Linda Sanchez of Lou-Lin Valley Ranch just north of Mountain Home, Ark.

How many big radio names credit their start to The Future Farmers of America? 

Thirty years ago Ed Martsolf began his bid to change the sheep industry. At the time, most sheep in the state of Arkansas were raised for the purpose of providing wool. Mr. Martsolf knew the market for wool was diminishing, but, he also knew a sheep market still remained largely untapped.  If Ed could build a flock of sheep with the single purpose of becoming seed stock to produce a mild tasting meat, he could tap the meat market for lamb. However, Ed knew that this flock could not be just another flock of wool producing sheep; his flock must be chemical free, hair sheep; Katahdin Hair sheep. 

The average American has an idea of the typical farmer as a man surrounded by cows and crops. The average American would be spot-on with that image when it comes to Darvin Bentlage. Darvin was born and raised on his family farm and he exudes the confidence of a lifetime farmer. He was involved in FFA in high school and soon won the State FFA Farmer Award. Darvin was also on several FFA judging contest teams and was the secretary of his FFA Chapter. He attributes much of his success in the agricultural industry today to those involvements as a young man.

They make great pets, and a little bit of money too.

Corn is energy.  Corn silage and earlage is the cheapest source of energy for either beef or dairy cattle.”  Matthew Lamb has put this belief into practice by raising about 180 acres of corn to be harvested for both silage and earlage on his Webster County farm near Seymour, Mo.

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.

Born and raised in Gentry, Ark., Larry Curran grew up going to the feed store his family ran for fun. The Curran family had bought the store in 1946.  It's been run by the same family ever since.  Larry started working at the feed store when he was in high school.  Larry’s brothers and sister would eat every meal at the table together while growing up and are still close to this day.  Larry said he feels blessed to have been able to work in and run the feed store for the last 36 years.  Today, Larry and his wife of over 30 years, Lou Ann, have feed stores in Gentry and Elm Springs, Ark., and all Larry’s children live close by.

As Madison County residents gear up for the county fair this September, there will be a familiar sight on the sidelines of the showmanship ring: Jeff Williams instructing a child on how to handle an animal in order to win.