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Taking an Opportunity By Larry Burchfield
Sortomme Family Farms began after Levi Sortomme spent 15 years in the military Levi Sortomme of Ward, Ark., a result of the pride they take in excellence grew up in a family of veterans. in all they do,” Levi explained. “While in His father James served in the Arizona the military, failure drives us but success from Air National Guard, with his grandfa- hard work and planning empowers us. Agrither James having served in the Navy culture is so very similar to military service and his step-grandfather Lyndon “Dutch” in that failures breed ingenuity and successes breed pride. As an agriculturalist the tangiVrooman in the Marines. Although Levi’s father never attempted ble success of any operation is paid in multo persuade him into a military career, he titudes when one observes the acres of baled often spoke passionately of his own mili- harvest at the end of the day or the survival of a struggling calf after an enduring sleepless tary experience and upbringing. As a child, Levi never thought he would night. Building and operating our farm with my wife and children is a joy and tradijoin the military but rather pursue a cation I expect to continue to build reer in information technology upon long after retirement.” and programming. Then as Levi and Brianna have his adult life took an unknown each other for expected twist, he folnearly 20 years with lowed the desire for a both having been change to be proud raised in producof, and joined the tion agriculture. Air Force remainThen another one ing on active duty of those twists of for 15 years and life brought them took advantage of back together as she the opportunity to helped care for three explore more than of Levi’s children and 50 countries. The time her own daughter. The away from agriculture couple recently celebrated and his family’s substantial their first anniversary. They Arizona cattle ranch and adown 40 acres and lease another 360 ditional dairy goat farm made him realize how suited he was for agriculture. as hay ground. Sortomme Family Farms beHe switched gears once again and joined gan as a forage farm, with Levi and Brianna the Arkansas Air National Guard with the taking a chance and appropriating retire154th Training Squadron where he works ment funds to purchase farmland and equipment outright to forego the typical as a C-130 H loadmaster flight agriculturist’s banker burden. instructor in addition to buildNow, after even just two years ing his and Brianna’s full-time in operation much of the hay is farming operation in preparation Ward, Ark. sold before it hits the ground. Adfor his military retirement in the ditionally, resourceful farm managenext five years. ment stores enough forage for their “Veterans have enormous agriown cattle and goat operation. cultural potential which is largely
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Levi Sortomme and his family operate Sortomme Family Farms, which has multiple operations.
Levi maintains that the secret to success in agriculture is to start small and let the small mistakes and successes allow for learning and growth. He says those entering the industry often have had experience as a youngster or knowledge from books. However, real life always brings about unexpected changes and challenges that force practical growth; and if new farmers start small, they grow without a devastating cost. An example is the Nigerian Dwarf goat herd which started out with eight does and two bucks. Last year seven of the does died from unknown causes. Driven to succeed, Levi and Brianna plan to rebuild the herd again with the intention of selling meat, as well as cheese, with dairy and cheese-making familiar to Levi from his parents’ goat operation. The Sortomme Family operation is in its infancy. Last year Levi bought two heifers from the St. Joseph Center in Little Rock
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and another two from veteran Nathan Whatley at WW Farm and Cattle Company in the Mullberry area. “Knowing who you buy from is very important and makes visual selection more a matter of making sure the animals have a healthy appearance with no visual genetic defect. The goats we purchased came from someone I didn’t know well who was downsizing, which may partially explain their unexpected deaths,” Levi surmised. The pureblood Angus heifers will not be bred until they are 24 months old to minimize birthing issues, which means they have another year to go before breeding. Then Lady Luck smiled. Nathan was looking for a temporary location for a breeding bull to allow recovery to breeding weight and agreed to loan the bull to Sortomme Family Farms. The heifers will be ready to breed about the time the bull should be back to breeding weight. Levi and Brianna’s goal is to build a herd of 40 NOVEMBER 30, 2020
