Mark Byrd: Planting for the Harvest

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

Mark Byrd is a first-generation farmer who owns Byrd Farms in Danville, Alabama, in Morgan County. With his wife Sandy and their two sons, Rodney and Perry, Mark runs a family operation called “The Valley Boys.”

Mark Byrd grew up on a small hobby farm, where his father owned four to five cows. At 14, he bought a tractor and equipment and started his own business baling hay for other farms.

Mark believes that his love of farming came from a greater calling, one that he answered very early in his life. “In high school, my guidance counselor called me in to talk about my future,” he laughed.

“I told her that I wasn’t interested in college because I wanted to be a farmer. I knew I was meant to do this!”

After graduation in 1982, Mark drove a truck for a Walmart Distribution Center while operating his successful hay business. In 1993, Mark began to farm full time and he has been blessed to grow his farming operation since then. He now works 60 head of Charolaise and Brangus cows and operates seven poultry houses on his property.

Mark owns 160 acres, but he leases 2,000 acres to grow row crops of corn, wheat, soybeans and sometimes cotton. He is very proud that his sons have joined him in the business. Rodney, his youngest son, works full time on the farm and owns five of the poultry houses. Perry, his older son, works in maintenance at a local distribution center and then on the farm three days a week. Both boys are involved in planting and harvesting their row crops.

Mark Bryd always wanted to be a farmer. In 1993, he began to farm full time, and he now works 60 head of Charolais and Brangus cows and operates 7 poultry houses on his property.

This aerial view of Byrd Farms shows some of the chicken houses in the back and the large farm trucks for moving grain.

For Mark, farming is a life of faith. He plants his seeds, hoping to harvest good crops. Even though he has seen some bad years, he has never considered giving up. “We’ve had some years we lost, but God provided,” he stated. “Some years were tough, but we just leaned on the Lord.”

People often ask Mark why his operation is called “The Valley Boys.”

“It’s really just a nickname,” he laughed. “A friend of mine from a mountainous region started calling us that years ago, so we just took the name as ours.” He also uses “The Valley Boys” for his Facebook page.

Mark Byrd may be a busy farmer, but he is very active in his community. He is President of the Morgan County Farmers Federation and also serves on the State Board of the Alabama Farmers Federation/ ALFA, as the Director of District 2, which includes Morgan, Madison and Limestone counties.

To say that Mark Byrd “wears many hats” might be an understatement. A devoted father, farmer and community leader, Mark is also an accomplished musician, known affectionately as the “singing farmer.” For the past 36 years, he has been taking his musical ministry all over the Southeast, spreading the good news through Southern Gospel music.

After harvesting corn, the Byrds store it in their silos before moving it to the buyers.

Harvest time finds Mark Byrd and his sons working in the fields from early mornings until late at night. Here they work together to harvest a corn crop.

Mark grew up singing in a small Methodist church. He always enjoyed quartet singing, and for a while, he and a group of church members sang together. From 1989-1993, Mark was a member of the Southern Praise Quartet. In 1999, Mark joined Living Faith, a Southern Gospel quartet, based out of Cullman. Mark sang with this ministry, leaving after several years to become more involved in his own church, but in 2015, he rejoined and has been with them ever since.

Even though Mark started his singing career as a tenor, he has been blessed with a rich, pure bass voice that blends harmoniously with the others in the group: Rodney James (lead), Nathan James (baritone) and Mike Foust (tenor).

Living Faith performs most concerts on weekends, as the members have other full-time jobs. Over the years, the ministry opportunities have progressed to include all types of venues in several different states. In Spring 2021, they were invited to Dollywood. Their appearances were so well received that they have been invited to return again in Fall 2021 for more performances.

The Living Faith Quartet sings in many churches, but they also perform at festivals, corporate events and other functions where the atmosphere is conducive to Christian music. In October, they appeared at the annual business meeting for the AFC Store in Hartselle, Alabama.

Living Faith is currently working on a new recording project that should be ready by the end of the year. “Our focus is to bring an uplifting message in song and testimony to a people who need to hear and know that God cares about their every need,” Mark explained. “Our goal is to see souls saved and lives changed.”

Mark Byrd believes faith is the common thread that weaves together his love of farming and singing. Atop his tractor, he sings praises and marvels at the things God has created.

“In farming, I plant the seeds to see crops grow, and I pray that I can harvest my crops,” he explained. “In my music ministry, I plant the seeds to see souls saved and people changed. Whether I farm or sing, I pray I can see the harvest.”

Harvest time finds Mark Byrd and his sons working in the fields from early mornings until late at night. Here they work together to harvest a corn crop.

In Spring 2021, Living Faith was invited to sing at Dollywood. Their appearances were so well received that they have been invited to return again in Fall 2021 for more performances.

As a youngster, Mark Byrd sang tenor. Now, his rich bass voice blends harmoniously with the others in Living Faith. That deep voice often raises praises while in the cab of his tractor, plowing the fields.