COMBINE-ing Farming and Family

Harvesting more than soybeans along the Kibler Bottoms

Uncertainty, risk and escalating costs of operation. While some may consider the challenges of row crop farming overwhelming, the Crabtree family of Crawford County is proving success is possible. And it’s a family affair.

“I’ll be honest,” explained Paula Crabtree of Crabtree Farms & Produce. “I’m always nervous during harvest time. So many things have to come together and weather is critical. One little issue can bring harvest to a halt and we don’t get a paycheck until the beans are delivered to the elevator.”

A few weeks into this fall’s six-week soybean harvest, a broken part brought the Crabtree’s combine to a standstill.

“Unfortunately, machinery breaks down from time to time,” shrugged David Crabtree. “Frustrating for sure, but that’s farming.”

Paula, who plays an important supporting role during harvest, quickly drove 270 miles round-trip to pick up the needed replacement part.

David and Paula’s fortitude has been honed from a lifetime of row crop farming. The family behind the multi-generational farm understands the risks and navigates the challenges. Along the way, the family has come to embrace the benefits and blessings of the farming lifestyle.

The family farms 2,000 acres of owned and leased land in Kibler Bottoms, adjacent to the Arkansas River near Van Buren. The rich soil along the river allows them to rotate varying quantities of soybeans, wheat, corn, watermelon, sweet corn and pumpkins annually.

David and Paula share ownership and responsibilities for a portion of the acreage with son Matt and his wife Summer, and with David’s brother William and brother Henry and his wife Audrie on another portion of acreage. David and Paula’s three children and five grandchildren play active roles on the farm, as do most family members.

LOVING THE LIFESTYLE

“I love farming and the independence it offers,” said David who stood at the foot of the idle combine during a rare break in the fall soybean harvest.

“I’d say that I enjoy working for myself but, in truth, I guess I sort of work for Farm Credit and John Deere,” he chuckled.

“It’s a challenge every year, but I never want to quit. I don’t want to ever retire,” he added.

“We often say our three children are the best thing we ever grew on the farm by far,” Paula smiled and added from David’s side, referring to the couple’s adult children Matt, James and Andrea.

According to Paula, the children began pitching in from a young age. She remembers having all three in the field hoeing soybeans. The task had to be complete before the family could leave on a planned trip to Branson. It was an early lesson in how many hands make quick work.

“Raising kids with farm responsibilities teaches a strong work ethic, how to treat people and how to treat the land,” Paula said. “I think these life lessons make them stronger adults.”

“While we expected our children to work hard, they also learned it’s OK to play hard when work is done.”

There have also been lessons on helping neighbors along the way. Paula shared that they once lost power to the chicken houses when the electricity went out. She, David and the children were in the midst of the disaster when she looked up and counted 28 neighbors and family members working alongside them. Without being asked, they had dropped everything to come help.

“Picking up dead birds is never anything you’d ask friends to help with,” she said somberly as she remembered what that act of kindness meant to the family.

“It left an impression on the kids. That’s a lesson you only learn by experiencing it.”

Paula is quick to say faith-based lessons are the most important ones they’ve instilled in their children.

“We’re only doing what we’re doing by the grace of God,” Paula explained. “This land is His and we’re really just paying rent as we pass through. We thank God for what this farm provides and we care for His land accordingly. That’s something the whole family values.” 9

Crabtree Farms & Produce is a testament to the family’s values. Not only do the three Crabtree brothers farm together, but they are now joined by spouses, children and grandchildren who love the farm too. Each family member plays a special role. David and his brothers share leadership and each contributes unique skills to the farm’s success.

In David and Paula’s family, Paula handles the bookkeeping and manages on-site seasonal produce sales. While sons Matt and James and son-in-law Jared all have full time off-farm jobs, they assist on weekends as needed. Jared coined the farm’s marketing slogan, “We grow it, you eat it.”

Daughter Andrea and daughters-in-law Miranda and Summer assist with seasonal produce sales. You can find the older grandchildren assisting customers at the cash register when the produce shed is open. Summer also manages the farm’s social media presence. Sister-in-law Audrie plays a pivotal role during planting season. Niece Lettie, an Alma high school senior, has taken on increasing responsibilities managing farm labor and seasonal sales.

Living nearby and gathering on the farm keeps the family connected.

“We consider it a blessing to have our family close and involved on the farm, as well as seeing our grandchildren enjoy this lifestyle,” Paula said.

At the Crabtree farm, each new grandchild receives a farm-related peddle toy. The tradition inadvertently began when David and Paula purchased a new tractor the year their first grandchild was born. Paula jokingly asked the equipment dealership to throw in the child-size peddle-powered tractor toy she saw on display, and they did. Each subsequent grandchild has received their own farm-themed peddle toy to play with at David and Paula’s house, leading the family to refer to the miniature machinery as the grand fleet.

Grandchildren Anna Beth holding Lila, Lawson, Hudson and Lincoln.

THE LOAFIN’ SHED

The Produce Shed is the hub of the farm. While open for seasonal produce sales, Paula said you can find a handful of community folks congregating there at other times of the year, as well. As a nod to the regularity of these neighborly gatherings, Paula has come to affectionately call it The Loafin’ Shed.

Seeing an increasing demand for local produce, they built the shed to facilitate seasonal sales of their sweet corn, watermelon and pumpkins. Due to demand, Paula has added produce from area farms as well.

“Everything is local and fresh. That’s a must. We’re transparent about what’s from our farm and what’s from other farms,” she explained.

The family agrees that the shed becoming a community gathering spot is an added plus for the farm. David and Paula’s children surprised them with a 40th anniversary party at the shed in 2017.

Direct produce sales to the community ties in with Paula’s passion to help people of all ages understand where their food comes from. While COVID-19 prevented the event this year, the family normally hosts an annual Family Farm Day as a thank you to customers. For years, she’s also volunteered at a farm day for elementary students. She jokes that she’s the hamburger lady, using a giant hamburger prop to explain how each component of the burger comes from the farm.

David gives back to the community as a member of the Levee District #1 board. The Van Buren levee held during the 500-year flood of 2019, protecting Van Buren, the industrial park and valuable farmland.

David's at home in the cab of the combine.

Paula at the produce stand.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

David and Paula were raised on farms. Both were familiar with row crop operations and Paula’s family also raised poultry. When they married, they settled in Mulberry and began raising turkeys.

In 1983, the Crabtrees borrowed $35,000 from Farm Credit to construct a turkey brooder house. Ironically, that was the same year middle son James was born. Ironic because James went on to work for Farm Credit 30 years later. James is Vice President and Branch Manager of Farm Credit of Western Arkansas’ Fort Smith office.

“That was a lot of money in 1983,” remembered Paula. “I remember thinking we’d never pay it off.”

Instead, the couple repaid the loan in seven years. A testament to the couple’s strong farming and managerial skills. 37 years later, those skills continue to benefit their operation.

In 1998, they moved their family to a home on 65 acres in Kibler and built three chicken houses. The remaining acreage farmed by the family is within a five-mile radius.

THE CHALLENGE IS REAL

Growing up, David says he spent untold hours helping with all facets of soybean farming. He worked hard and purchased a new 1975 Camaro for $4,500 the year he graduated high school. Soybeans averaged $8.00 - $9.00 dollars a bushel and went as high has $13.00 a bushel that summer.

David and son James examine the 2020 soybean crop.

Today, sitting at the controls of his combine, he’s looking down on rows of soybeans he knows will bring about $11.00 a bushel. He explains that for much of 2020, soybean prices have averaged $8.00 - $9.00 a bushel. Now, a new Camaro can easily cost more than $50,000

While total bushels per acre have improved somewhat over time, David’s example highlights the struggle of row crop farming. Commodity prices remain unchanged in 45 years, yet every other cost of farming has increased dramatically.

“Back then, a combine would run about $45,000 to $50,000. Today, that piece of machinery is $600,000 plus,” he explained.

“My father raised a family of seven on about 300 acres. That’s impossible today. More land is required to make a living this way and young people can’t afford it,” he continued.

According to David, about 50 families farmed the roughly 25,000 acres comprising Kibler Bottoms when he was a child. Today, nine farms make up that same total area. David predicts fewer farmers will farm the area in the next generation.

FROM FARM TO FARM CREDIT

As mentioned earlier, the Crabtrees’ connection to Farm Credit runs deeper. Son James Crabtree joined Farm Credit in 2013 as Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer. He has an ag business degree from the University of Arkansas and had seven years of lending experience under his belt when he joined the Van Buren office.

Being raised in farming and having a continued connection to the family farm gives James a valuable and unique perspective when sitting across the desk from a customer.

"I empathize with farmers," he explained. "I know first-hand the highs and lows that come with the industry because I’ve lived it with my family and continue to have a personal connection through the family farm.”

“I became intrigued with lending when my family financed their chicken operation in 1996. It was my first glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes and I know what Farm Credit has meant to my family and their farming operation over the years.”

He knew Andrea Leding (Van Buren Branch Manager at the time) as his parents’ loan officer, but didn’t apply to work for Farm Credit until he saw an ad in the newspaper. Ironically, he’d run into Andrea at a farm expo not long before. When teased about wearing a suit and tie because he’d come straight from his job at the bank, he joked that he’d like to work for Farm Credit one day so he could ditch the tie.

Timing is everything. James said the loan officer opening in Van Buren was perfect because it allowed him to stay in the area. Other than college, he’s never lived further than two miles from the farm.

In 2015 the Van Buren staff moved to the newly-constructed Fort Smith office. James was named Vice President and Branch Manager in 2018.

Summer, Miranda and Andrea

THE FARM CREDIT CONNECTION

Andrea Leding remains the Crabtrees’ loan officer. Strict regulations preclude James from having any access to, or connection with, family loan business.

While now Regional Vice President, Andrea still maintains a direct lending relationship with a number of members.

“Lonnie Jennings was our first loan officer and we appreciated his patience and guidance as we got started,” Paula shared. “Andrea became our loan officer when he retired and she never missed a beat with our lending needs.”

“I’ve been fortunate to build a relationship with the Crabtrees over the past twenty years,” Andrea said. “I’ve come to know them, how they manage their business and the ins and outs of their operation.”

“When they come to me with a financing need, I know they’ve already thought it through and made a plan. It takes strong business management skills to have long-term farming success and the Crabtrees definitely do.”

Audrie, Lettie, Paula, Anna Beth and Summer

Paula said the most valuable part of their relationship with Andrea is knowing she understands the uncontrollable variables that can impact profit margin in row crop farming.

“We can pick up the phone, let her know what’s going on and what we need. It’s like doing business with a trusted friend,” Paula said.

When it comes to working together on the family farm or working with a lender who understands agriculture, one thing is certain – trusted relationships are the foundation of success.

David and Paula planting watermelons in the spring.