How farming is uniquely challenging on mental health
5 / My View From the Front Porch Dan Wright
7 / Serving Farmers, Serving You Jarrod Yates
8 / Cover Story: Meet the Allens Business is brisk at Bismarck family's farming operation.
15 / A View From the Counties
18 / District Farm
Families of the Year
See the eight finalists.
22 / Integrated Integrity
Simmons Foods changed the way chicken products were marketed.
28 / Comfort Food
The season calls for chicken pot pie.
30 / Farm State of Mind
Explore mental health resources for rural Arkansans.
32 / Delta Child
MY VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH
by DAN WRIGHT ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT
Iam a creature of habit. I start my day with a prayer for guidance and thanksgiving for the blessings God has given me. Then I get a cup of coffee, go to my office and catch up on emails while watching the news. Like many of you, I have been paying close attention to the political race for the White House and leadership of our country. My thoughts often are focused on leadership.
A quote from Shakespeare says, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” The same can be said of leadership.
History has shown that some of our greatest leaders never really wanted to lead in the first place. George Washington comes to mind. After the Revolutionary War, Washington was ready to retire to Mount Vernon and return to his life of farming. But our new nation needed him desperately. He accepted the call and became our first president.
Some people just seem to be natural-born leaders. You notice it at the playground as a child. The natural-born leaders always have a group of others around them and are giving direction. Others are shy at first then develop into leadership roles and do great work. A select few are thrust into the leadership situation out of necessity, such as Gen. Washington.
While I was growing up, my mother told me that I was born to be a leader because all I did was boss people around. She would tell me I went from a 12-year-old to a grouchy 40-yearold man overnight. She was probably right.
What makes a leader is a question I am often asked. An article in U.S. News and World Report indicated the three most important traits for a successful leader are trustworthiness, honesty and hard work. I agree. A leader should be an example to those they are leading.
There is a difference in every person’s reason for leading. Some lead because they want the spotlight. They like to be in charge and value the attention it draws. Others lead because there is a gnawing in their heart that says, “you have to do this.” They don’t necessarily like the spotlight, but that gnawing outweighs their desire to live their life in peace. Those are the leaders who serve for the right reasons.
Leadership can be a lonely life. Lives can be changed by any decision a leader makes. That is a burden with which a selfless leader learns to live. They will spend many restless nights standing at the window staring into the darkness wrestling with coming decisions, wondering how their decision might affect those under their leadership: Will it change their lives for the better or just make matters worse? What is the future of the organization, where do we need to be, and how do we get there? These are the questions that not only nag at a leader, but also keep them awake until the wee hours of the morning.
Arkansas Farm Bureau has been blessed with great leaders. Our board room features portraits of each president from our 89year history. Each dealt with their own hardships and challenges. Each made our organization better, the desire of any leader.
As we move into our annual policy development season, leadership plays a vital role. At our recent Officers and Leaders Conference in Jonesboro, I stated how Farm Bureau offers a voice to our members. That voice, and leadership, can be demonstrated through our policy development process, where one voice can make a difference.
Many of our policies are defined by one person recognizing an issue and acting upon it by taking it to a county meeting, where the issue can be discussed and sent on to that county’s annual meeting for consideration as policy. The next step is on to our Resolutions Committee, where we see the true Farm Bureau leadership come to the surface. Those involved with a resolution advocate for its adoption and advancement to the business session at our annual convention. Leaders from across our great state gather to adopt, or reject, resolutions that have made the final cut.
It is the leadership through our counties that makes Arkansas Farm Bureau a true grassroots organization. Whenever legislators ask about a bill or ruling on a particular piece of legislation, they always ask about Farm Bureau’s position on it. As your president, I am proud of the leadership we have in our state. It is demonstrated everywhere I go.
May the blessing of God be on you and your family.
FRONT PORCH
Official membership publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation mailed to more than 190,000 member-families.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Included in membership dues
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU OFFICERS:
President / Dan Wright, Waldron
Vice President / Mike Freeze, Little Rock
Secretary/Treasurer / Terry Dabbs, Stuttgart
Executive Vice President / Jarrod Yates, Benton
DIRECTORS:
Magen Allen, Bismarck
Jon Carroll, Moro
Brad Doyle, Weiner
Jack Evans, Lonoke
Sherry Felts, Joiner
Chase Groves, Garland City
Jason Henson, Mount Judea
Terry Laster, Strong
Caleb Plyler, Hope
Bob Shofner, Centerton
Dana Stewart, Judsonia
Joe Thrash, Houston
EX OFFICIO
Nita Cooper, Everton
Brad Peacock, Bald Knob
Kerry Stiles, Marianna
Stewart Warner, West Memphis
Executive Editor / Steve Eddington
Contributing Writers / Shaylee Wallace Barber, Chad Hooten
ADVERTISING
Contact Chad Hooten at Arkansas Farm Bureau for advertising rates chad.hooten@arfb.com (501) 228-1274
U. S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (Required by 39 U.S.C.3685). 1. Publication title: Front Porch. 2. Publication number:01-9879. 3. Filing date: 9-1-24.4. Issue frequency: Quarterly. 5. No. of issues published annually: Four. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $0. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, 10720 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72211. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters of General Business office of Publisher: Same as #7. 9. Full names and complete mailing address of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher, Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation; Executive Editor and Managing Editor, Steve Eddington; All addresses same as #7. 10. Owner: Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, 11. Bondholders, Mortgages and other Security Holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None. 12. Tax Status: unchanged. 13. Publication title: Front Porch. 14. Issue date for Circulation date: Fall 2024. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 175,361 Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 177,643 15a. Total no. of copies net press run average each issue 177,643 15b. Paid/Requested outside-county mail subscription: 177,643 (most recent 177,643). 15c. Total paid and/or requested circulation: 175,361 (most recent 177,643). 15d. e. Not Applicable. 15f. Total Distribution: 175,361 (most recent 177,643).15g. Copies not distributed 12 (most recent 11). 15h. Total: 175,373 (most recent 177,632). 15i. Percent paid: 100%. 16. Statement of ownership will be printed in the Fall 2024/Issue 132 issue of the publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner
Steve Eddington, Executive Editor Date 08/06/2024
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Notice of Annual Meeting
of the members of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the voting delegates elected by the members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation will be at 8 a.m., Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Horner Hall in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The purpose of this meeting is to elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Jarrod
W. Yates Executive Vice President
of the members of the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Of Arkansas, Inc.
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc. will be Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at 1 p.m., at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Center boardroom in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The purpose of this meeting is to elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Kevin McKenzie EVP-General Manager
SERVING FARMERS, SERVING YOU
by JARROD YATES
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I walked the halls of the House and Senate office buildings and the U.S. Capitol, witnessing thousands of Americans racing to meet members of Congress and advocating on issues important to them. I saw name badges representing bankers, teachers, nurses, trade promoters and many others.
I was there with Arkansas Farm Bureau President Dan Wright and other staff to meet with members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation on matters important to farmers and ranchers – particularly to get the status, and encourage passage, of a new farm bill.
AD
The 2018 farm bill, which was set to expire last year, was extended to Sept. 30. There has been much discussion, debate and work to pass a new farm bill before it expires later this month. However, time and politics have not be on our side. There will be another extension and efforts to pass a new bill start over next year with a new Congress. What does this mean for farmers and ranchers? Is this bad? It sounds bad.
There are silver linings to most situations and pushing the farm bill to 2025 is no different. One of the largest potential pluses for our state is that there is a good chance Republicans could become the majority party in the U.S. Senate in November. That would mean the senior senator from Arkansas, John Boozman, would become chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. His ability to shape and influence the next farm bill in that position would be even more significant than his current role as ranking member.
Why hasn’t a farm bill passed? Like many things, it’s about the money. In negotiating a bill, there are always folks on both sides of the debate to increase the overall pie size to be split among the nutrition and farm-related programs. There are also folks on both sides of the debate about how to split the funds for nutrition and farm-related programs. It’s a fight for everyone’s slice of the pie, which leads to arguments over where spending should be directed.
The key issue for farmers and ranchers is the desperate need for stable markets and livable prices for the crops or livestock they produce. It seems simple enough but trying to get Congress to agree on how to do that combined with the amount of nutrition spending is the reason we don’t yet have a new farm bill.
While we were there, I could see and feel the political divide in America, which seems close to a breaking point and casts a dark shadow over the nation's capital. It impacts every piece of legislation considered in Congress, and the farm bill is no exception. There are strong, differing opinions
on how to divide the funds provided in the farm bill, like nutrition, conservation, farm programs, crop insurance, rural development, etc. You get the idea.
But one thing struck me while we were in the Rayburn House Office Building’s cafeteria packed with folks from all walks of life and different types of industries across the U.S. They were all eating food produced by America’s farmers and ranchers who depend on passage of a farm bill.
It is critically important we do not grow frustrated and relax our advocacy efforts for a new farm bill. As I mentioned earlier, members of Congress are constantly hearing from various constituents, so farmers and ranchers need to ensure their voices continue to be heard. We need to fight for a bill that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers now and for the next five years. Because the life of a farm bill is five years or longer, we should not pass a bill just for the sake of passing one.
As Sen. Boozman has repeatedly said: “We need more farm in the farm bill.” When the new Congress is sworn in next January, a renewed effort to get the right farm bill passed will begin, again.
So, please join the fight and offer your voice to our advocacy efforts.
FARM BUREAU FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
BISMARCK’S ALLENS ARE ALL-IN
HUSBAND AND WIFE COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN DIVERSE FARMING BUSINESS, AND THEIR KIDS ARE CLOSE BEHIND
Story by DWAIN HEBDA
by MATTHEW MAGDEFREAU and JUSTIN ROTTON
BISMARCK CURLS GENTLY into its nook of the Natural State, where a quaint collection of stores serves its 2,300 residents. Like many small towns, it’s seen its share of hard times, as evidenced by several vacant storefronts, but these days there’s discernable signs of renewed life. Two food trucks hum as they prepare for the lunchtime crowd, and the local gas station and convenience store serves a revolving door of customers.
Photos
At right, the Allen family, clockwise from top, center: parents Jeremy and Magen, and kids Evie, Eli and Brody (oldest son, Lane, was away for work).
ALLEN FAMILY
A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD is J.A. Farms Feed & Mercantile, the catalyst for much of this renewal and the home of the Allens, Arkansas’s 2023 Farm Family of the Year.
The family business is brisk. One after another in pickups and flatbeds, customers pull up to the Allens’ store for everything from toggle bolts to tomato plants and engine belts to britches.
The Allen family is reflected in every square inch of the store. Jeremy and Magen Allen, and their kids Lane, Brody, Evie and Eli, run a diverse business with livestock, a feed mill, butcher shop, wrecker service, trucking, hayfields, roll-offs, hardware and auto parts, all a part of their journey through the years.
“I learned a long time ago that if something doesn’t work, we’ll roll with it. We’ll phase that out, and we’ll find something different,” Magen said. “It’s just believing in one another and having each other’s back on different decisions.
“It takes a lot of faith; faith in each other, faith in God.”
ALL-AMERICAN STORY
JEREMY AND MAGEN ALLEN couldn’t be more authentic Arkansans if their names were stitched on the state flag. The couple started dating at Bismarck High School, thus beginning a life together at times as winding as the roads surrounding their tiny hometown.
“I tell you, those two right there are the perfect match for each other,” said Matt Jackson, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s director of education and outreach and coordinator of the Farm Family of the Year program, who has known the couple since high school. “I don’t think Jeremy would be as successful without Magen, and I don’t think Magen would be as successful without Jeremy.
“Jeremy’s got the thoughts and the ideas, he’s a go-getter, and Magen figures out how they’re gonna make everything come out at the end. Honestly, it’s the way that they mesh. They can see inside of each other’s heads as far as what they’re thinking and their vision.”
The vision wasn’t quite so clear early on. After graduation, Jeremy’s work ethic made finding a job easy, but as he recalls, nothing quite fit.
“I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. I tried everything,” he said.
“I DON'T THINK JEREMY WOULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT MAGEN, AND I DON'T THINK MAGEN WOULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT JEREMY.”
Jeremy drifted through several roles, including as a car salesman, a college student and working for the postal service before returning to his family’s cattle and poultry operation. Meanwhile, Magen attended Henderson State University, where she earned a business degree that led to a nine-year career in banking. The couple decided to stake their own claim in agriculture.
— MATT JACKSON, ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
“It came time for us to say, ‘OK, we want to find our own land, build our own chicken houses’ or whatever it was gonna be,” Magen said, adding with a laugh, “I’ll admit I did panic a little at first when we signed the note on the chicken houses.
I worked in loan operations, and I looked at the amortization schedule and, yeah, that was the wrong thing to do.”
Early on, Jeremy applied a sharp eye for opportunity both on the farm itself and in the related businesses that were to come, the flagship of which was a feed mill. The feed business started during a difficult year – 2008.
“We had to find a way to either keep feeding our cows something, because we didn’t have enough hay, or we were going to have to sell out. We’d started hauling gin trash, which is a byproduct out of cotton gins, just something to do to make extra money,” Magen said. “Well, the phone starts ringing, ‘Hey, can I get a load of that? Can I get a load of that?’ Then it’s, ‘I can’t handle a full truckload. Can you bag that for me? Could you mix something with it and make something in a thousandpound bag?’ What started as just simply a way to survive quickly became a way for others to survive.”
The combination of opportunity presented and boldness to capitalize repeated itself again and again in the Allen family businesses. When the owner of the local wrecker service retired, Jeremy got a good price on the man’s tow truck and went to work, eventually growing to locations in multiple communities before selling the business. Another time, the owner of a local hardware store hung it up and opportunity knocked again.
“When there was no hardware store here, we decided, well, we’re going to start carrying nuts and bolts so we don’t have to go to another town every time we needed something,” Jeremy said. “Then it presented itself that we were spending quite a bit of money on parts and things like that, so I thought, well, we’ll just add auto parts to it.”
PASSING IT ON
THE ALLENS’ SUCCESS has proven a boon on many levels. Not only have their businesses and farming operation – now comprising 2,000 acres, owned and leased, on which they grow hay and tend a cow-calf herd – contributed tax revenue to the local economy, but they’ve also created 20 jobs across their enterprises.
Jackson said he’s equally impressed by the family’s success and their impact on other local entrepreneurs willing to follow in their footsteps.
“I believe, 100%, that they are showing others how a business can work,” he said. “Their willingness to jump into a venture like they have not only shows the community what they do but other businesses see the support that they’re getting. I believe that it shows some promise for the area when you can make that happen.”
The employee headcount doesn’t include, of course, the couple’s four children. The Allen kids have been wellschooled in the virtues of hard work for as long as they can remember.
“I was always with my dad, ever since he started the feed mill,” said Lane, 19, a welder. “It was always the deal in our family that if anybody needs help, you help them – and you finished everything you started. Working in the family business taught me to be able to talk to people who I don’t know about stuff, being able to do business stuff.
“My goal is to have my own welding business and that background is going to help me get started and get me where I want to go in life.”
The Allens run a diverse business, including livestock, a feed mill, butcher shop, wrecker service and auto parts store. Clockwise, from top: two of the Allen boys in the auto store; daughter Evie in front of one of the store's shelves; oldest son Lane rounding up calves; and mother and daughter in the hay field.
ALLEN FAMILY
Younger brother Brody, 16, said his roles on the farm and at the store set him apart from his peers, most of whom don’t have the work responsibilities he does, in addition to studies, sports and extracurriculars.
“I’m one of the only kids who works on a farm and works with feed. There are a few more, but it’s mainly just a certain few who do,” he said. “It’s taught me how to work hard, given me good leadership skills and showed me how to work on stuff.
“Growing up, I learned how to work on equipment. I’ve learned how to raise cattle, work tractors, learned about feed. Long term, I can see myself coming right back here after I get out of school. I like it here.”
Evie Allen has junior and high school left to navigate, but at age 10, her career goals appear pretty well set.
“I want to own the business when I get older,” she said. “I love going to the hayfields and working there, too. I think I will make a good boss, just from watching my parents.”
The youngest, 9-year-old Eli, has also put in his time. While he’s not keen on challenging his sister’s future takeover bid, he said being around the family business has taught him an important lesson: “Do things right the first time.”
In addition to educating their kids on what it takes to succeed in farming and in business, the Allens have also been shining examples to others in the agriculture industry. Jeremy and Magen were recruited to participate in Farm Bureau activities a number of years ago and have never looked back.
“Milton Shinn was the one who actually asked us to go to our first meeting,” Jeremy said. “I didn’t know what it was, so I went to the meeting and we started getting involved.”
The couple started in the Young Farmers & Ranchers program, eventually chairing the state committee and were named recipients of the 2011 Achievement Award. After taking a break to manage the kids’ activities, Magen joined and would chair the Women’s Leadership Committee, after which she won a seat on the district board and now also sits on the state board. She recently returned from New York City as part of the select Partners in Advocacy Leadership program.
Harry Willems, now retired, had worked with the Allens on the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. He remembers
Jeremy Allen sifts through feed, one of his many business ventures, along with raising livestock on some 2,000 acres in Bismarck.
noticing their interest to lift up farmers and ranchers across Arkansas.
“It was kind of their rallying cry,” he said. “Certain people draw other individuals in, and they were able at that time to substantially build the young farmer program with their leadership. They made it look almost effortless; they had area meetings with 100 young farmers and ranchers there. Their leadership was something people saw and responded to.”
A FAMILY UNITED
NEITHER JEREMY nor Magen could find the words to adequately describe their emotions over being named Farm Family of the Year, but “shocked” comes pretty close.
“It was amazing for me to see all the hard work be recognized,” Magen said. “It was also a little strange, because we are friends with so many of the other families [nominated], or they were customers of ours. So, it was also like, ‘Well, no, they deserve it more than we do.’ But it was pretty cool.”
Jeremy said having had the time to reflect on everything the family had been through to get to its current point made him especially grateful for all that the couple had achieved.
“Being in business, you live it, you’re thinking about it and talking about it all the time,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on vacation at the beach or the mountains or whatever, that phone rings, you answer it. That’s just how it works, and we understood that.
“I’m not going to say we’ve topped it out every time, no. We just did the best we could, and if something wasn’t working, we got out of it and did something else. The thing was, when opportunity comes around, you have to be ready for it and give it your all.”
Agriculture
The Arkansas Farm Bureau AgPAC exists to ensure that farmers and ranchers have a voice in the policy decisions that shape their lives, future and way of life.
County Farm Bureau Outreach
VIEW FROM THE COUNTIES
Columbia County Book Barn
Columbia County recently donated a Book Barn to the county library children's center to help kids learn more about agriculture. The barn includes 12 accurate ag books for readers of all ages, including “I LOVE Strawberries” by Shannon Anderson, “Full of Beans” by Peggy Thomas, “My Grandpa, My Tree and Me” by
Roxanne Troup and “Logan's Greenhouse” by JaNay Brown-Wood.
Benton County Gives Back
Benton County Farm Bureau board members, agents, YF&R and Women’s Committee members spent a day in Decatur cooking lunch for families who were impacted by tornadoes.
Searcy County Ag Day
Ag Day at the Searcy County Library was a huge success. Students learned about strawberries from Extension Agent Clyde Fenton, and county Young Farmers & Ranchers Chair Don Rainbolt spoke to the students about fire safety and Smokey Bear. The day ended with homemade cookies while students explored ag books from the Book Barn.
Garland County Intro to Ag Day
Garland County Farm Bureau recently hosted its first Intro to Ag Day. Students learned about agriculture as well as career opportunities, including forestry, welding, FFA, farm-to-table products, how to milk a cow and more. Garland County Farm Bureau board members, county officials and Women’s Leadership Committee members all participated in the event. Members included (from left) Jack Meredith, member; Carl Hawthorn, member; Abby Meredith, board member; Phillip Martin, board member; Kim Suit, member; Tony Suit, board vice president; Cindy Rucker, WLC chair; Keith Rucker, board president; Marion Fletcher, board secretary/ treasurer; and Scott Jones, agency manager.
County Farm Bureau
Independence County Ag Activity Packets
Independence County Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee put together and delivered Ag Activity packets to a local emergency room. The packets contain coloring sheets, activity pages, reading materials and crayons. The emergency room staff love receiving the packets monthly to hand out to kids in the waiting area.
Jefferson County WLC
The Jefferson County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee recently shared Ag in the Classroom activities featuring pecans at the 2024 Farms & Foods Summer Camp at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. Students read the Ag Book of the Year, “My Grandpa, My Tree and Me,” and participated in several activities – from learning pecan uses by Native Americans, making pecan varieties through grafting and tracing pecan trees’ 10-year growth stages from seedling to production of its first crop.
Madison County Dairy Foods Contest
In honor of Dairy Month in June, the Madison County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee partnered with Huntsville 4-H to sponsor a dairy foods contest. Participants learned important facts about dairy and related products. The kids created ice cream sundaes and the committee sponsored Sonic gift cards for three winners in each age division.
Dallas County Ag Olympics
The Dallas County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee recently hosted an Ag Olympics for the Fordyce Elementary Schools. Students competed in chicken chasing, sheep shearing, trough filling, barrel racing, cow milking, fence jumping and calf roping.
MEET THE 2024 DISTRICT FARM FAMILIES OF THE YEAR
Now in its 77th year, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year is one of the longest-running farm family recognition programs of its type in the United States
It begins with selection of the top farm family in each county. Then, eight district Farm Families of the Year are selected. Families are judged on farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.
In June, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program announced its eight district farm families, representing a wide variety of Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry.
Judges will visit farms to determine the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, with the winner being announced Dec. 13.
The family will go on to represent Arkansas at the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition. Arkansas has had three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners: Brian
and Nan Kirksey (Clark County), 2008; Wildy Family Farms (Mississippi County), 2016; and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership (Craighead County), 2023.
Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Press Association, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.
EAST CENTRAL DISTRICT
THE STEWART FAMILY
JUDSONIA (WHITE COUNTY)
Joshua Stewart and Dana Martin Stewart have been farming for 14 years. They raise cattle and goats on 270 acres. They have two children, Jewel and Henry. The Stewarts primarily operate as a seedstock supplier with a continuous goal of being a reputable source for commercial cattlemen and women to purchase genetics to improve their herds. Dana recognizes the foundation her family operation is built on while striving to continue to grow and improve today.
“In 1936, my great grandpa bought his first registered Herefords. Every generation of cattle since then has been devoted to improving genetics,” said Dana. “As seedstock breeders, we can trace genetics and generations of a cow family back 75 years or more. We know that everything we do on the farm has to benefit the next generation, whether that’s the cattle, the land or our family.”
NORTHEAST DISTRICT
NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT
THE BLANKENSHIP FAMILY
MOUNT OLIVE (IZARD COUNTY)
David and Jennifer Blankenship have been farming for 17 years. They grow hay and timber, and raise cattle, pigs and chickens on 435 acres. The Blankenships have a heart for local food. They raise and sell freezer beef and pork, as well as fresh produce they grow.
Jennifer said community involvement and support is vital.
“We butcher our own hogs in the fall and generally make pork sausages, roasts and fresh sausages,” she said. “This is a community effort with a lot of hands involved. Everyone owns part of a hog and then gets to take that home.”
THE HENDERSON FAMILY
KEISER (MISSISSIPPI COUNTY)
Murray and Dee Henderson have been farming for 23 years. They grow cotton, corn, soybeans and rice on 4,244 acres. The Hendersons continue to have a long-term goal of improving the land they farm and their efficiency. Murray didn’t have a farming background, and as a first-generation farmer, he often reflects on the challenge of getting started with no support and what his family has built since they began.
“It took some like Senter Land Co. and JC Portis Land Co. stepping out and giving me that chance to prove myself,” said Murrray. “I am the first generation on this farm, so growing as other generations come in is a big part.”
NORTHWE ST DISTRICT THE WALKER FAMILY
PRAIRIE GROVE (WASHINGTON COUNTY)
Larry and Be-Ann Walker have been farming for 53 years. They grow corn, treacle and hay, and raise cattle, horses and three species of show animals on 1,661 acres. The Walkers work alongside their children and grandchildren to operate their diverse farm. They market their cattle, horses, goats and sheep nationally through various sale catalogues, livestock magazines and national livestock shows. Larry acknowledges struggles throughout the years, while also viewing the opportunities that come with it.
“In the 1990s, the city of Fayetteville attempted to implement eminent domain on our farm. Thanks to the support of our family, neighbors, the entire community in Viney Grove and the state legislature, the process was not finalized,” said Larry. “We have been able to protect our land from the encroaching threat of subdivisions, while all around our farm have seen massive housing developments and no sign of stopping in the coming years. We are happy to have neighbors, but trying to bridge the gap between producer and consumer is an ongoing challenge. We still try to do our best to be as neighborly as possible and teach our neighbors about why we do what we do.”
All in the FAMILY
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT THE DAY FAMILY TILLAR (DESHA COUNTY)
Bradley and Allison Day have been farming for 10 years. They grow cotton, corn, soybeans and rice on 10,000 acres. They have two children, Wells and Vivian. The Days have overcome many challenges in their time farming, and they hope to continue to grow and build a more sustainable operation for the future.
“I always knew I wanted to follow in my family’s footsteps and come home to farm,” said Bradley. “After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, I returned to the farm and worked my first 700 acres of land. The rest is history.”
WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT
THE BOBO FAMILY
HOPE (HEMPSTEAD COUNTY)
Curtis and Melissa Bobo have been farming for eight years. They raise cattle and poultry on 253 acres. They have eight children: Abigail, Titus, Hali, Chloe, Tapley, Trace, Timber and Traeger. Curtis is the third generation on their farm, and after returning to Arkansas from North Carolina, he hoped to establish a farm for his children to also grow up on. The Bobos began with 20 acres that has grown into their current operation and they hope to continue expansion and growth for their children and future generations.
“As with any farm in today’s economy, there are continuous setbacks and opposition,” said Curtis. “However, any problem that has been faced has been overcome by being patient, living within our means, trusting the Lord and just old-fashioned hard work as a family.”
THE DANIELS FAMILY
AMITY (CLARK COUNTY)
Tim and Michelle Daniels have been farming for 20 years. They raise cattle and grow hay on 1,179 acres. The Daniels work the farm along with their children and grandchildren while also operating transportation and hauling services. When it comes to the farm, they continue to work at being self-sustaining and now produce their own hay for their cattle, a true passion of theirs.
“As a family we had discussed our options and opportunities between timber or cattle,” said Michelle. “Each of us chose cattle.”
WESTERN DISTRICT
THE BRENTS FAMILY
JERUSALEM (CONWAY COUNTY)
Strap and Leigh Ann Brents have been farming for 14 years. They raise cattle and poultry and grow hay on 700 acres. They have two children: Kolton and Audie. The Brents family love getting to enjoy the farm together and have worked hard to build their own operation after growing up in agriculture.
“My parents and both sets of grandparents had poultry houses, and I grew up working in them. My grandpa had raised cattle for many years,” said Strap. “My mom had eventually taken over the herd. I began raising cattle with her and growing my own herd. My wife and I slowly grew our cattle herd over the last 14 years, and in 2017, we purchased our poultry farm.”
GET HELP WITH YOUR HERD
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) helps landowners manage deer and deer habitat on their land. With five biologists recently added to the program, landowners managing at least 500 acres now have more resources to improve their deer herd than ever before.
There’s never been a better time to join DMAP and receive one-on-one guidance to achieve your conservation goals. Enrollment is free. To inquire, scan the code below or visit www.agfc.com/DMAP to find your region’s DMAP biologist.
INTEGRATED INTEGRITY
75 Years of Simmons’ Poultry Excellence
by DELANEY STEPHENS
provided by SIMMONS FOODS
One of Arkansas’s hidden gems – an Arkansas diamond, to borrow from the state’s official state gem – Simmons Foods, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024. It has grown and thrived over those years by a laser focus on its team members and customers. Simmons has built its reputation on integrity and ensuring that every decision reflects its five core values: Put people first; act with integrity; take responsibility; be curious; and take action.
This milestone anniversary honors the principles that have guided Simmons for decades.
With plants across America, Simmons produces poultry, pet food and animal nutrition products. And while the company doesn’t sell Simmons' branded food, its products are served at some of the country’s largest and well-known establishments, though proprietary agreements exclude them from being identified. The company serves customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries around the world.
The company was founded as Pluss Poultry in 1949, when Frank Pluss and Bill Simmons leased a processing plant in Decatur (Benton County). Three years later, Simmons bought out Pluss, and the company moved just down the road to Siloam Springs. Officials built the largest plant in the country at that time, processing up to 20,000 chickens a day. Simmons Foods’ home office is still located near downtown Siloam Springs.
EVEN THE SCRAPS
Bill Simmons was known as an innovator in marketing chicken and chicken products. While other companies were selling “dressed and drawn,” or New York-dressed chicken, Simmons
Simmons Foods is a family owned and operated company — Mark Simmons (center) serves as board chair, while his son, Todd, (left) is the CEO, and his daughter, Sarah, (right) also serves on the board.
Mark Simmons, (left) son of the company’s founder, is pictured next to his grandson, Charlie, (middle) and son, Todd (right).
Photos
Bill Simmons (right) with co-founder Frank Pluss (left) of Pluss Poultry, now known as Simmons Foods, in 1949.
FAMILY LEGACY
was among the first to start selling frozen tray pack chicken in the mid-1950s, a monumental shift in the industry.
“One of his philosophies was trying to make the biggest value out of all of the product,” said Mark Simmons, Bill’s son and now board chair for Simmons Foods.
This philosophy led Simmons into the animal feed industry. After preparing frozen tray pack chicken, there was an abundance of by-product that remained (feathers, viscera, heads and feet). Bill Simmons took these scraps and made products for sale as animal nutrition. Not only did the company use scraps from its processing plant, but it also bought by-product from other plants around northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma to make these products.
Innovation and growth trends were important to Bill Simmons. In the late 1940s and early ’50s, canned, whole cooked chicken was a significant business. So, he put in a small set of equipment to can chicken. After realizing the product was not creating enough revenue growth, the canning equipment needed to be reassigned based on Bill Simmons’ philosophy of finding value out of all the products. And the pet food business was born.
“It wasn’t a huge preplanned deal,” Mark said. “It happened because we had some equipment that didn’t work on one side of the business, so we utilized it to create a whole new business.”
Bill Simmons met with a nutritionist to develop a formula for dog food made with chicken because several companies used horse meat back then. He asked Dink McKinney, at the time a salesman focused solely on chicken, to begin selling dog food to grocery stores – trademarked as Bolo, and later Ol’ Roy Dog Food, in partnership with Sam Walton. McKinney traveled in a Ford Econoline van with Bill Simmons’ words in mind, “Dink, when you get it sold, you can come home.” McKinney did, indeed, sell Bolo to several stores then continued to come back to northwest Arkansas and load up the van with more Bolo before heading out across the nation.
Despite his innovative nature, Bill Simmons disliked the concept of incorporating vertical integration into the company. Much of the poultry industry began to utilize this business model in the late '50s to early '60s. Essentially, vertical integration allows companies to manage each step in the poultry business – genetics, hatcheries, feed, transportation, slaughter and production practices.
“My grandad didn’t believe in vertical integration,” said Todd Simmons, Bill’s grandson and CEO of Simmons Foods, adding his grandfather was worried the company would focus on the cost side of the
business and forget what the customer wanted. “He said we’ll end up growing a giant bird that won’t fit the customers’ needs.”
Despite Bill Simmons’ hesitation, the company struck a balance of meeting the needs of the customer and finding a cost-efficient way to produce chicken. The company turned to vertical integration in the ’70s under Mark’s tenure as president after seeing the growth potential. However, it was a game of catch-up with other poultry producers.
“Farming and the chicken industry is not an easy business. You have to really work hard to survive,” Mark Simmons said.
The company spent the next decade contracting with farmers, buying feed from a local feed mill and building the live production infrastructure to continue this endeavor. In its 75th year, Simmons is among the top poultry producers in the nation, the largest supplier of store brand wet pet food in North America and produces specialized ingredients for animal nutrition industries.
CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITIES
People are valued within the company and in the community. Besides creating quality poultry products and by-products, Simmons Foods has built a culture of giving back.
When the company moved to Siloam Springs in the ’50s, it hosted the Silver Strike Jubilee. This townwide barbecue served as an open house for the community to get a look at the most modern plant in the industry at the time. Beyond this, developing personal relationships was a top priority and is part of the company’s culture today.
“Growing up in the business, we would always encourage members to volunteer and pursue their passions in giving back to the community,” said Todd Simmons. “We structure a lot of that work around opportunities for team building, to help clean up a local park or stream, volunteer at a homeless shelter or food bank and donate food or pet food.”
Simmons Foods employs more than 9,000 across several states. In each community it operates, Simmons has embedded its service values.
“We realize each community is different,” Todd Simmons said.
For instance, when a deadly series of tornados ripped through northwest Arkansas in May 2024 and left a trail of impaired communities, the company acted.
“Our team’s been keeping our smoker going and trying to feed as many families up there as possible,” Todd Simmons said.
Roughly a month after the disaster, Simmons was still serving meals.
Clockwise from top left: Bill Simmons, founder of Simmons Foods, accepts the Arkansas Poultry Federation’s Man of the Year award in 1961; Bill Simmons inspects a grower’s chicken in 1961; Bill Simmons kneels in a poultry house in 1963; Bill Simmons, (left) and Mark Simmons, (right) chairman of the Simmons board, (middle) with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman in 1962.
GIVING BACK
Aside from numerous community contributions, Simmons offers impactful benefits and opportunities for its team members. The company’s culture establishes the need for team member support and throughout its team members’ lives.
As proof, all team members and contract growers (plus dependents) have access to premium health care for little to no cost. Simmons Care Clinics, which are located near its larger facilities, are typically open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to cater to different work shifts.
Scholarship opportunities are also given to graduating seniors of team members or growers. This program was established in 1979 by Mark Simmons in honor of his late father. The M.H. “Bill” Simmons Memorial Scholarship has helped more than 1,300 students with a total of over $1.6 million awarded.
Beyond scholarships, Simmons challenges its team members to improve their work skills. Team members are also frequently internally recruited into the Career Leadership Program and the Certified Supervisor Program.
THE PATH FORWARD
“Focusing on our products, customers and suppliers, and doing that well, is part of that greatness,” Mark Simmons said. “Recognizing that things change, the industry changes
and the needs of the world change, so we have to be willing to embrace change.”
As the company looks toward the future, its leaders remember the core values that have defined its journey for the past 75 years. The Simmons family and the company’s leadership expect a bright future, one that honors its rich history and stands as a pillar of excellence in the industry.
Mark Simmons and Todd Simmons unveil the Bolo Van replica at the 2021 Simmons Pet Food facility ribbon cutting in Dubuque, Iowa.
The 2024 Simmons Foods intern class participates in a service project by packing boxes of food at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, illustrating the organization’s charitable culture.
TASTE ARKANSAS
Comfort
Simmons Foods’ chicken pot pie is a seasonal treat
WHAT BETTER WAY TO USHER IN FALL than with a delicious, savory meal? And what better way to celebrate Simmons Foods’ 75 years of success than a hearty chicken pot pie, cooked with Simmons chicken? Simmons boasts a storefront in Decatur, where its locally raised chicken is available – some products are even available fully cooked or in bulk. Flip to Page 22 to read more about the Arkansas poultry industry cornerstone Simmons Foods or scan the QR code to learn more about its storefront. The company also offers discounts for active military, veterans and seniors.
DOUBLE PIE CRUST
• 2½ cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of ground sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of salted butter, chilled and cubed
• ½ cup of ice water
CHICKEN POT PIE FILLING
• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 chicken thighs (chicken should total 4-5 cups)
• 2 red potatoes diced (about 2 cups)
• 3 carrots diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 stalks of celery diced (about 1 cup)
• ½ yellow onion diced
• ½ cup of frozen peas
• ½ cup of frozen corn
• 5 tablespoons of salted butter, divided
• ½ cup of chicken stock
CHICKEN POT PIE FILLING SAUCE
• 2 cups of chicken stock
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon of onion powder
• ½ teaspoon of garlic
• Black pepper to taste
EGG WASH
• 1 tablespoon of whole milk
• 1 large egg yolk
MAKE THE CRUST
1. Add flour, salt, sugar, cubed butter and water into a bowl and cut together until a coarse crumb begins to form.
2. Place the dough mixture onto a work surface and form it into a ball. Divide it into two equal parts and form them into discs.
3. Wrap each disc of dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour (up to overnight).
MAKE THE FILLING AND SAUCE
1. In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of butter over medium/high heat. Cook chicken in skillet for 4-5 minutes on each side or until it reaches and internal temperature of 165 degrees. On a cutting board, dice into chunks, then set aside.
2. Add potatoes, 2 tablespoons of butter and ½ cup of chicken stock into a large nonstick saucepan. Cover and cook for 10 minutes over medium/high heat or until potatoes are soft. Stir occasionally.
3. Add carrots, onions, celer y and 2 additional tablespoons of butter to your pan of potatoes. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally.
4. Add flour to your vegetables and gently stir to coat. Cook 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5. While stirring, slowly add 2 cups of chicken stock and slowly add heavy cream until combined. Stir in onion powder, garlic and black pepper to taste. Simmer until thickened, about 5-10 minutes.
6. Gently fold peas, corn and chicken into your filling mixture after it has thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
ASSEMBLY
1. Remove dough from chilling and roll out both discs.
2. In a 12-inch cast iron pan, fit one disc to the bottom of the pan, gently spreading dough to the sides of the pan.
3. Pour pot pie filling into your dough-lined cast iron pan.
4. Place the other rolled out dough on top and gently pinch the edges together to form a crust, then cut an “X” in the top.
5. Whisk together egg yolk and whole milk and then brush over crust.
6. Use tin foil or a pie shield to protect the edges of the crust while cooking.
BAKE, COOL AND SERVE
1. In an oven preheated to 425 degrees, bake chicken pot pie for 30-35 minutes or until the curst is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Be sure to use the lowest oven rack and remove the pie shields for the last 5 minutes of baking.
2. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Tip: If you’re looking to save time, substitute fully cooked chicken and vegetables and use a premade pie crust. You could even place your filling and top it with biscuits instead of pie crust.
SCAN FOR MORE RECIPE INFORMATION
The savory chicken pot pie is a homestyle fall treat.
ARKANSAS AGCAST
Mental health professional Brandon Wolfe undertstands the stresses that farm life can bring and offers some guidance on how farmers and ranchers can better understand those challenges.
FARM STATE OF MIND
WITH BRANDON WOLFE, A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
The Arkansas Farm Bureau talks mental health resources for rural Arkansans
Photography by ISABELLA JACKSON
As a third-generation cattle rancher and a licensed clinical social worker, Brandon Wolfe understands the mental health challenges on the farm and knows resources available to help. For a recent edition of Arkansas AgCast, Farm Bureau sat down with Wolfe for a step-by-step look at finding help from a rural perspective. Excerpts follow.
Q: What makes farming uniquely challenging for our mental health?
A: If there's anything unpredictable, that's farming. You never know what a day is going to bring. By nature, we're very independent people, but in the farming industry, we have to be quite dependent oftentimes. There's a lot of things we can't control, ... the weather. We can't control when we're out there and we’ve got to get that crop in and the combine decides it's going to break down or we can't [predict]
the day that the tree is going to fall over the fence and the bull is going to get out. All those types of things. There's a lot of, certainly, financial challenges, and there's certainly infrastructure and all those types of things that make it difficult. But also, it can be very isolating. You’re not around as many people, which oftentimes can lead us to say, hey, we've got these problems and issues, but man, we don't feel as comfortable talking to people or we're
just going to keep 'em to ourselves. It's a personal business too. We don't like to [discuss amounts of acres] and things like that; we like to keep to ourselves. Just to share a statistic, which was extremely alarming to me, in the agricultural industry as far as male farmers go. According to the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], 50% of male farmers that work in the farming, ranching or agricultural industry are more likely to commit suicide. Of course we
can have theories behind that, but man, that's sad. That's scary. We’ve got to touch on this. This is something that obviously, especially in the state of Arkansas, a large portion of our population are farmers.
Q: What about some signs of these stressors – something to look out for … indicators that someone may need to talk to somebody or maybe try and find some assistance?
A: The biggest thing that most people struggle with is going to be depression and anxiety. Most of the time those run hand-in-hand. As far as depression goes, feeling down, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, no appetite or sleeping too much. Some people, when they get stressed, they have an over-appetite. Also, thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore. Just like, there's no end or there's no light at the end of the tunnel. The future's grim and bleak. Just extreme anxiety and anxiousness, inability to sit still or restlessness. All those things are sure signs. Just like we have signs of a lot of physical health problems. And there is a correlation with mental health and physical health. The last I looked, 37% of actual physical health problems are related to mental health. So, you're talking about cardiovascular problems, [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], diabetes, all those things. Our physiological bodies and our minds, they work together simultaneously. Especially somebody with anxiety, feeling like they can't breathe, difficulty, any tightness in your chest; things like that could be signs of some extreme anxiety that might be leading to some type of panic disorder or panic attack.
Q: How do you know these are just [signs] I'm kind of in a down mood today, I didn't sleep well last night – or that I'm to a point where maybe I might want to talk to somebody? Should I just pick up the phone and call?
A: We're our worst critics, just to be honest with you. I would always encourage people; it never hurts to call and ask. And again, when people come to my office, ... just sit back. It's OK, let's talk about it. Let's see where you're at.
I see people from 5 years old all the way up to in their 80s. And so many of my clients that are in their, what we would call the older generation, if you will, they say man, I wish I would've done this a long time ago. And I'm kind of sitting there thinking, I know you [went through
this] all these years and we could have helped you.
A lot of people, I'll ask them, how long have you been having these symptoms? And they're like, “I can't think of when I didn't have them. I've had them my whole life to a certain degree.” And so that's why they feel so normal maybe. And that's why I say, contact somebody. Because when you're used to something, you don't recognize it.
Q: What would you say to somebody ... who may be reluctant to seek out mental health services?
A: One-in-four people have a mental health problem. So, what I'm saying is it's out there. It's just one of those things that's not been talked about. And the other thing is this, that it's OK to not be OK.
It's kind of like this: If I go in and I've got, let's just say some type of heart problem, you wouldn't think anything of me going in and taking a medication for that. But when we look at it from a mental health perspective, we don't have the same outlook. And I think that's just because of stigma. I do feel like, and I am hopeful, that it's getting better. I think that we're addressing that a lot more, but certainly mental health is no different. Actually, we find many mental health illnesses are genetic related. And certainly, there's always the argument for social learning. If I grew up in a household where my father was depressed, he probably didn't address it or look at it. I grew up and that's what I looked at, or that's what I modeled myself after. But either way, that doesn't make the problem go away, it's still there.
Q: Let's say that someone has decided to get help addressing mental health. What's the first step in that process?
A: All you need to do is make a phone call and say, “I need an appointment.” Sometimes you may need a referral according to your health insurance and things like that. But again, it's really easy. You can make an appointment, and we take it from there. You fill out some paperwork, and we do all the legwork as far as insurance and things of that nature. Come in, you'll do an assessment and we just kind of see what you need and what you're dealing with and go from there. Just like eye doctor appointments, we have all the [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] and all the confidentiality. You certainly have all that with mental health.
Q: What is that first meeting? What does that look like?
A: The great thing is the first conversation, you don't even have to leave your home now. You can be out there on the tractor. I've had sessions with people out there on the tractor before. Telehealth has provided that. You never have to even walk into a clinic or a building. And medication management can be done the exact same way. We do medication management through telehealth all the time. If you have any type of connection with a smartphone, anything like that, that you have an internet connection with, we can do telehealth.
I see people all throughout the state of Arkansas, mental health providers, we do it all the time. And so basically, you don't even have to leave the farm to come and see us.
Q: The cost of health care coverage can be a challenge for full-time farmers. Are the resources available to help address or cover those costs for mental health services?
A: Absolutely. You give us a call, we'll do the background on all that, getting ahold of your health insurance. Living Well [where I work] also accepts Medicaid. We have a lot of people that actually provide, some people call it scholarships. There are certainly outlets to help so I always tell people, don't let the dollar be an influence on whether you receive help or not.
Q: Maybe I've got somebody in my life; a friend, a family member, somebody who I think maybe could stand to know some of this information. Is there a good way to share that? Is there a right way or wrong way?
A: I think just making awareness. Maybe ... they were talking about mental health, and I think this would be something neat. Or some people are very comfortable with sharing their own experiences. I tell people oftentimes, sometimes it's just like changing oil in your car. Sometimes, it's just good preventative maintenance.
Q: You've given us a lot to think about. Is there a good way that you feel comfortable sharing how to find you?
A: Absolutely. It’s 501-359-6850. Or email me at brandon.wolfe@arkansasfamilies. com.
QUICKSAND AND OTHER WORRISOME THINGS
By TALYA TATE BOERNER
Iwas talking with a friend recently about childhood fears, which led to a lengthy discussion about quicksand. Surprisingly, quicksand had never been a worry for her. As a farm girl living in rural Mississippi County, I kept an eye out for it and assumed everyone else did.
My first introduction to such a mysterious material came years ago on a Saturday afternoon – while watching a Tarzan movie in the den. After two evil men tricked Boy into helping them locate a lost city filled with incredible riches (during Tarzan’s day, there were many lost cities in the Amazon), Tarzan confronted them, demanding, “Where Boy?” The bad guys, trying to sidestep the lord of the jungle, walked straight into a pit of quicksand. Spellbound, I watched as they panicked and struggled against the churning muck, only to be sucked down in mere seconds.
One way or another, bad guys always got their due.
Later, during an episode of Gilligan’s Island, Skipper stepped into a pool of quicksand. Unlike the greedy Amazon hunters, Skipper maintained his cool, grabbed a fistful of vines (a la Tarzan), and hoisted himself out. That day, I learned that if you kept your head during trying times, you might just survive a calamity.
You know of the Bermuda Triangle, right? Realizing that boats and jet planes disappeared without a trace in a specific triangular area of the Atlantic Ocean made me awfully glad to live in Arkansas. Other worrisome childhood concerns included accidentally eating a razorblade while consuming my Halloween chocolate, earthquakes (we lived smack dab on the New Madrid fault line) and much to do with Russia. Coming of age during the Cold War meant nuclear war dangled over our heads. Should Keiser Elementary be bombed, we students knew to duck and cover.
The most anxiety-producing fear of all involved the rapture, as portrayed in my King James Bible and emphasized from the pulpit of Brinkley Chapel. To be clear, having grown up in a church-going family, I knew
about the book of Revelation and the events prophesied. I attended Vacation Bible School every summer and knew all the Sunday School songs by heart: “Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world … .”
Even so, terror gripped me one Wednesday night while watching “Left Behind” with the Keiser Baptist youth group. That eerie film convinced me the apocalypse was imminent, and I would be left behind – the only person left in Mississippi County – not because I deserved it but by accident.
Recently, I celebrated another birthday, and so far, the rapture hasn’t yet happened. In my 62 years, the closest I’ve come to quicksand was witnessing my cousin’s brand new saddle oxford being sucked from her foot by the gooey sludge in the bottom of a shallow ditch between Daddy’s soybean fields. We never saw that shoe again, and sweet Aunt Lavern came close to making good on her alwaysempty-threat of “cutting a switch.”
The things that keep me awake now feel broader in nature, sometimes insurmountable even. Sometimes, I long for those childhood afternoons of watching “Gilligan’s Island” while doing math homework. Worry over the Bermuda Triangle has been replaced with concerns about extreme weather, the loss of family farms and how conspiracy theories are often taken as the gospel truth. Empathy for our fellow humans seems to have gone the way of cursive handwriting. Already, I mourn the next school shooting and imagine kids today have much weightier concerns than I did.
Occasionally, an old Tarzan movie catches my attention, and those black-and-white classics flood me with the cozy comforts of home. Sometimes, when I’m aimlessly scrolling, I’ll pause on a rerun of “Gilligan’s Island” and cheer for those castaways still hoping for a rescue.
When the wider world seems to be sinking in quicksand, I consider the life lessons learned all those years ago. I remain unruffled, follow the golden rule and trust that good will eventually triumph over bad.
Talya Tate Boerner, a fourth-generation Arkansas farm girl, has been published in Arkansas Review, Ponder Review and Writer’s Digest.
DELTA CHILD
Two Great Podcasts. One Great Channel.
AgriCulture is not a podcast about raising crops or cows but how farmers navigate challenges and cultivate meaningful lives. They tell their stories, struggles and satisfactions from the farm in Arkansas.
ARKANSAS
AGCAST
The Arkansas AgCast is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news, trends and issues impacting Arkansas farmers and ranchers. Plus, occassional DeepDive episodes take the conversations further.
