Farm Family Salute

2022 Farm Family Salute 16 June 2022 By Randy Rice Madison County's Farm Family of the year began 10 years ago when Brent Hargis took over five acres in Huntsville. Today that farm, officially named Ozark Mountain Produce, LLC, owns 400 acres and rents another 375. The farm's crops include 100 acres of seedless watermelon, 120 acres of pump- kins and another 30 acres of small vege- tables. They sublease all of the livestock pasture out to local farmers. "We are probably of the one of the few people in Arkansas that are doing commercial watermelons and pump- kins," Brent said. "There's not too many people in Arkansas that are doing what we're doing." Brent loves the farm life and credits his grandmother for instilling that in him at an early age. "I love to grow things and I think that comes from my grand- mother," he said. "She's 102 now and she just always loved irises and flowers and growing stuff. My grandfather, he didn't like to farm as much as he liked to log. He was a logger and that's what he loved to do. I actually did that for about 13 years but then I got in the retail business and then I got in the farming business. But I've been around the farms all my life. I guess you would say that I just love to watch things grow and when you have a good crop you get a lot of satisfaction from that." Betty Jo, Brent's wife, takes care of all office duties and the business side of the farm. "The paperwork on these farms is enormous," Brent said. "I mean it's a full-blown business and she takes care of all the accounts payable and the record keeping. She's also my transportation and my adviser. She tells me what will work well, so that's great." Brant and Betty Jo have owned and operated Kings River Country Store for 26 years. Kings River has been crucial to keeping Ozark Mountain Produce operable by providing fuel, food, feed, hardware and other products available 24 hours a day. Ozark Mountain Produce, LLC is Primus certified for Ranch, Packinghouse and Harvest Crew which allows Brent to sell to all markets large and small. "We have developed a network of customers for pumpkins which range from Silver Dollar City to many pumpkin patches," Brent said. "Most of our water- melons are sold to Walmart through a third party and fresh market customers. Our small vegetables are sold primar- ily in Northwest Arkansas to The Food Conservancy." Brent feels The Food Conservancy is providing a vital service to the area. "They're promoting local farmers and small farms," he said. "They're helping us sell small vegetables to markets that we couldn't sell to. When I first started, I was growing lots of small vegetables. We were growing like 20 acres of small vegetables and we couldn't sell them. We would have commitments and wouldn't stick with them and we would have to throw out our crops. "But since the conservatory got on board, they are helping the small farmers make it worth their time and be able to depend on a market where they can sell their products consistently. The Waltons are behind it, too, and I really appreciate them getting involved. It just wouldn't work without their support." Brent feels very strongly about getting the youth into farming and understand- ing where their food comes from. Kings River Country Store Serving Madison County Farmers for 26 Years Brent & Betty Jo Hargis family 479-738-2133 www.arvest.com/agloans (479) 738-2133 104 S Hughes, Huntsville, AR arvest.com/agloans Today's farmers and ranchers have more challenges than ever of lenders to meet those needs. We specialize in: COMMITTED TO AGRICULTURE • Poultry and cattle loans • Operating loans • Construction loans • Real Estate loans • Fixed and variable rate options • Equipment purchases and leasing • Business checking accounts • Loans subject to credit approval Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Madison County: Hargis Family Farm Continued on page 17

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