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Starting Slow By Terry Ropp
When Wayne Olles’ parents reduced their herd size, they helped Wayne start his own operation Wayne Olles was born and raised in Bigelow, Ark., on a small farm that was farmed by grandparents, then his parents. After high school, Wayne attended college for five semesters before deciding he was “smart enough” and was unsure what direction he wanted to take. Consequently Wayne’s soon-to-be wife Bobbie joined the Air Force and they left Arkansas a few years. In 1993, the couple returned to the Natural State, whereupon Wayne enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard. The couple then used the G.I. Bill to finish their degrees at the University of Central Arkansas and American Military University. Bobbie became a junior high school math teacher for 16 years before working for the Arkansas Department of Education in licensure, while Wayne earned a degree in military management and is a maintenance manager for the Arkansas National Guard. When the couple moved back, Wayne’s parents, Leon and Laura, provided a place for Wayne and Bobbie to live. In return, Wayne helped his father with a 55-head commercial cattle herd, especially during the haying season and when the cattle needed to be worked. Later Leon decided to downsize and gave Wayne and Bobbie 10 cows to start their own herd. Now Wayne and Bobbie use the Olles family land for a Beefmaster and Beefmaster-cross herd of 40 females bred by a registered Beefmaster bull. Because both Wayne and Bobbie work full time, the bull remains with the females yearround and calves are marketed in groups weighing 550 to 700 pounds. “I really like the Beefmaster breed because of its docility and heterosis,” Wayne
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Wayne Olles has a mix of registered and commercial Beefmaster cattle.
said. “You won’t find any wild cows here it was very high in protein and total digestsince they are off to the sale barn as soon ible nutrients. The farm has since added a as they are identified. I sell most of my commercial pig operation to have another calves as commercial beef or commercial source of meat for the farmers market. breeding stock, therefore I don’t register “I really enjoy the farmers market because many. Commercial buyers don’t care about people ask questions and I like explaining papers. On the other hand, I do have a few what we do. The added benefit is develregistered females and will register any of oping better educated consumers,” Wayne their calves with exceptional potential.” explained. “They learn that my animals Wayne retains 10 to 15 percent of the heif- are pasture raised and supplemented with ers as replacements and three to four steers spent brewers grain and now know exactly serving as a source for USDA processed what that means.” meat sold at the Conway Farmers’ Market, The pig operation is small but productive held at the Antioch Baptist Church’s park- with three Hereford/Red Wattle cross sows ing lot on Amity Road on Saturdays. and a purebred Red Wattle boar. Wayne The herd is raised on 80 acres around the likes the heritage Red Wattle breed beOlles Farms homestead, with the remaining cause it is docile and produces tender nearby 65 acres used as hay ground. Due to meat. Breeding is spread out so pigs are alWayne and Bobbie’s busy schedules, pas- ways available for processing and markettures and hay ground, consisting mostly of ing. Each sow has at least two litters per Bahia and Bermuda grasses, are fertilized year that reach processing weight in seven only as needed and are typically spot sprayed months. The pigs are pastured in paddocks for weeds, especially for horsenettle. or “pig tractors” which are moved every Recently Wayne came upon couple of days so they always a unique opportunity. A brewhave fresh grass. In addition, ery in North Little Rock, Ark., pigs receive the lion’s share of Bigelow, Ark. Flyway Brewing, needed a the spent brewers’ grain, with a farmer to pick up their spent small amount going to the cattle. brewers grain. Wayne was able “None of this would be possible to start picking up their grain. without my wife who helps feed evHe had it tested and discovered ery afternoon as well as moving pig Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
tractors and our personal laying hens,” Wayne said. “She’s with me every step of the way.” Using the G.I. Bill was a critical crossroad in their lives. Of course, the Veterans Association has programs to help all veterans such as the G.I. Bill that helped Wayne and Bobbie get their degrees. However, less well-known programs are designed to help veterans become farmers, even if they have no background in agriculture. Farming allows veterans to be their own bosses, a quality that helps transitioning to civilian life. Most of the programs are connected to the USDA with the Agricultural Innovation Agenda as an example. The goal is to increase America’s production by 40 percent while decreasing its footprint by 50 percent by 2050. This is to be accomplished using veterans with their diverse experiences and strong work ethic in conjunction with cutting edge technologies and practices. Student farms provide hands-on training that can result in sustainable farming certification or a two year associate degree though other programs have four year options as well. The Armed to Farm program provides training through conferences, two day workshops and weeklong training events. NOVEMBER 30, 2020
