Like many aspects of agriculture, colt starting, horse training and horsemanship are often generationally passed down. But what if there isn’t another generation to pass those skills to or what if there’s no one left in the family to learn from? We spent some time with Top Hand Clinics and Crossroads Cowboy Church in Hot Spring County to learn how they’re working to ensure future generations have access to the knowledge required to use equine for agriculture and hobby purposes.
You had cattle questions, so we got some answers! We visited Jefferson County for Episode 5 of our Ask a Farmer Series to visit with Darnell Davis. Davis has been ranching for 15 years, so he agreed to show us around and answer questions about raising cattle.
Episode 4 of our Ask a Farmer Series took us to Hot Spring County, where John Michael Bearden of Fowler & Bearden Farm took some time to answer your questions about sheep farming.
Every year, thousands of Arkansas kids compete in the ring showing farm animals, but many people don't realize how much work goes into preparing them for competition. To learn more about it, Farm Bureau's Jenny Higgs visited Huck Plyler of Hempstead County to see his show day prep routine for champion steers.
Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks is TaylorHawk Farms, a cattle ranch like many others, but with a unique difference – the Highland cattle they've been raising for the past 16 years. Typically found grazing in the Scottish Highlands, they've become popular for their unique look and for their tasty meat. Lawrence Haight, a farmhand at TaylorHawk, talks about what makes the breed so special.
The Arkansas State Fair’s annual Junior Livestock Auction highlighted the top junior exhibitors. Showing veteran Jack Hoyle tells us what it means to raise and show livestock and ArFB President Rich Hillman talks about supporting the young people involved in the event.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello has added a Katahdin sheep herd for its animal science program. Rocky Lindsey, University of Arkansas at Monticello assistant professor, shares the motivation for the addition and explains how it will provide more "hands-on" learning opportunities for students on campus.
For almost a century, Ogden Ranch cattle have been grazing in the Boston Mountains of Washington County. They are well-known for their angus beef and the family now operates a community meat market right on the farm. However, in recent years they've gained national notoriety for something they started just for kicks. The ranch is quickly becoming prime breeding ground for some big-time bucking bulls.
The Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act of 2019 was passed to help strengthen local farm and food economies and expand access to locally grown and produced foods. The Act asked state agencies, including schools, to set a goal of purchasing at least 20 percent of food from Arkansas producers. We visited Newton County to learn how one local rancher is working to provide meat for the local school system.
