Ozarks Farm and Neighbor

Over the summer, my husband and I moved two daughters to two different college campuses. The first one moved into a small house down by the University of Arkansas campus. We were basically the farm family and pick up truck moving service. After multiple trips to town we got all of it unloaded and left her to organize and decorate to her taste. It is a cute house and I know she and her roommate will make great memories there. The second daughter made a big move over to Stillwater, Okla.

Contributed Photo Hometown: Gravette, Ark. County: Benton County Family members: Lisa (wife), Jacob (son) and Jordan (daughter) What is your off-the-farm job/career? “I’m the president of Arvest Bank in Gravette, and I’ve been in this position for 25 years. I oversee all the banking management practices here at the bank, but primarily on the day to day, I’m highly involved in agricultural finance.

Submitted by Carabelle Wiles, Sparta, Mo. • 2 C sugar • 1 C vegetable oil • 3 eggs • 1 1/2 C all purpose flour • 1/4 C baking cocoa • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/4 baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/2 C milk • 2 C shredded zucchini • 1 tsp vanilla In a large mixing bowl combine sugar and oil. Add eggs beating well. Mix dry ingredients and add to egg mix alternating with milk until combined. Add zucchini and vanilla. Pour into a greased 15x10x1 inch sheet pan.

Even before I was old enough to drive it on the road, I was somewhat proficient at making repairs to our 1948 farm truck. I was no mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but I was practiced at loosening that old truck’s locked starter gears, repairing mufflers, changing plugs, setting ignition points and performing hosts of other minor tasks – as were many of my peers.

Location: Strafford, Mo. County: Webster Owners: Jason & Brittany Morton History of the business: Jason Morton’s interest in carving started in 2009 when he saw another carver in action and thought he might be able to do something like that himself. He began practicing in his back yard, and although those early attempts weren’t fancy, he was hooked! By 2010, he and his wife Brittany had turned that interest into Eagle Ridge Chainsaw Carvings and began traveling to craft shows to share his work.

The average US farmer is 57 years old (USDA 2017). In fact, young producers (those under 35) make up less than 10% of producers while beginning farmers (those with 10 years or less of experience) make up 27% (USDA 2017). These farmers face two major challenges: access to land and access to credit. So here are 5 top things to consider as a young and starting farmer: Treat your farm as a business When starting a farm, no matter what size, treat it as a business. What does this mean?

Photo by Laura L. Valenti Learning to Repurpose NIXA, MO. – It takes a special kind of vision to view an older used item that most would consider fit only for the junk pile and see a new use, a new life for that same article. Kyle Estes has that amazing way of looking at things. Kyle is the sixth generation of the Estes family to live on 270 acres of his great great great great grandparents, P.G. and Sarah Estes’, original 400 acres, beginning in 1872 with their arrival from Kentucky.

Contributed Photo Tylor Aary advocates through Ag Communications MIAMI, OKLA. – Although she did not grow up in agriculture, Tylor Aary discovered a passion for advocacy, leadership and communication through FFA. The recent Miami High School graduate used opportunities within the organization to develop confidence, earn state-level recognition and prepare for a future career in journalism. Aary, 18, of Miami, Okla., is the daughter of Shannon and Tori Aary.

Contributed Photo MOUNT VERNON, MO. – Lindsay McDonald from Mt. Vernon, Missouri is a young, but inimitable, force for agricultural advocacy. Prior to showing her pigs at the Gold Buckle Gala at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, she spared a few moments to share her agriculture background and talk about the raising, training, and showing of her show pigs.

Contributed Photo Kids and Chickens GREENWOOD, ARK. – Anakin Payne and his brother, Finn and his sister, Everleigh don’t have time to worry about which came first – the chicken or the egg – as they are too busy counting their chickens (and eggs) many, long before they are hatched. While raising and watching over close to 100 chickens of multiple breeds as well as some ducks, they are three very busy young entrepreneurs.