One Piece at a Time
Submitted Photo
meet your neighbors
By Terry Ropp
Rick Horton’s goal was to own all of his family’s original farm Rick Horton’s great-great-grandfather, David Horton, homesteaded in 1886 near what is now Marshall, Ark. At one time there were 13 Horton families in the immediate area, with the land almost always being passed down to the children. Rick and his wife Janice, whom he met in grade school and began dating while both were attending the University of Arkansas, spent many years and raised their two children in southern Arkansas, where David pursued his career in farm management for nurseries and Janice became a secondary math teacher. The couple stayed in that area for 25 years. In 1997, as soon as their daughter finished college, Rick and Janice returned to Marshall to farm on land they had begun to purchase from one uncle. “My goal was to put back together David Horton’s original farm,” Rick said. “Neither of my two uncles had any children, and I inherited another section from my other uncle. I have pursued this goal until I now have all but 120 acres of David’s land.” The 735-acre farm was created from five separate farms, three of which are contiguous. Although much of that land is wooded, 400 acres is set aside for a commercial cattle operation. Included is an 80-acre hayfield, a compromise between using the land and not fighting the elk. The nature of the land determined the nature of their cattle herd. Rick was raised on a farm with cattle, hogs and row cropping. Rick’s uncle A.D. gave him eight Hereford heifers as his seedstock. Then his father Ezra wanted to retire from farming and sold his cattle, thereby freeing up more land for Rick to work with.
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When the market decided black cattle were best, Rick converted from Hereford to a black Angus/Salers cross. Much of the farm’s terrain is woody and steep, and the Salers are known for being hardy with a substantial carcass well supported by strong legs, which were essential in their original mountain home in France. Other characteristics include handling extreme temperatures, good fertility and excellent milkability. The breed is most popular in the Dakotas though Rick learned of them from a neighbor who brought some back to Arkansas. The current Horton cattle herd consists of 50 momma cows bred by four bulls. Rick Horton’s goal has been to return all of his great-great-grandfaRick prefers a single, but long, calving ther’s land back to the the family. Rick, pictured with his grandson season from December through March Major, now runs cow/calf pairs on the family farm. because the cooler temperatures eliminate fly and heat issues. The practice means calves are of different weights when sold. cattle run both through the woods and in effective and efficient. Just outside his Nonetheless, calves are weaned in No- pastures that were almost all fescue when house he has a beautiful stand of pines with others scattered throughout the vember when all the cattle are lured to he purchased the place. Using a government program, he over property. He manages his timber and pens by using dairy feed. Then the calves are separated and fed a special, personally- seeded with native grasses in the hayfield takes advantage of the constantly imdesigned ration for two to four weeks be- so it is now 50 percent native grass. How- proving genetics in trees. He has also fore being sold at Ozark Regional Stock- ever, pastures are now only 20 percent na- convinced many of the locals to be tive grass, but the land is very fertile and aware of good conservation and forest yards in West Plains, Mo. Support for this system comes in dif- well-balanced, and he has never had any development, helping where he can. ferent forms. First, is in the selection of fescue toxicity problems. He does not fer- The original 31 acres belonging to Dabulls, usually Salers. Rick selects more tilize or broadcast spray for weeds, though vid Horton are devoted to quail, turkey by appearance than EPDs and is look- he does brush hog and backpack spray for and other forms of wildlife that Rick ing for lengthy but not huge animals honey locust. Finally, the cattle receive and his son love to hunt. When not working cows or land, Rick with excellent feet who produce calves excellent water from numerous springs. A true understanding of this farm is a family historian as well as restorwith a low birth weight but substantial emerges by looking at what ing antique vehicles and equipment. In weaning weight. Rick does in his “spare” time. fact, he put his children through colAnother support is that When Rick and Janice lege by restoring antique grist mills. cows are usually culled be- Marshall, Ark. moved back to Marshall, he “My grandfather Ras told me not to buy tween 15 and 17 years old began working for the Forest anything I couldn’t pay for, and I have because the cross promotes Service on controlled burns. lived by that all my life,” Rick said. “Relongevity with his best calves Part of his job was to design the storing those antique grist mills allowed coming from cows 10 to 15 protocols used to make the burns my children to get an education debt free.” years old. In addition, the Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
MAY 25, 2020
