AgriCulture

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but more important to Beverly Scott Chapple are her son and living near him on a family farm. Hear her heritage and joy while shelling purple hull peas in the shade just outside the dwindling delta town of Cotton Plant.

Before Bill Clinton or Mike Huckabee, Hope was known for world-record watermelons and its annual festival returns this weekend offering a “slice of the good life.” Lifelong resident Paul Henley and his wife Dolly share interesting farmer and entertaining festival stories on this episode of AgriCulture.

A tick bite causing temporary blindness and a permanent allergy to meats and dairy, opened Dr. Karen Ballard’s eyes to what was right in front of her. Hear the Jackson County farmer passionately share her discovery while cooking surprisingly delicious, soy-based dishes on this episode of AgriCulture.

Fewer youths are pursuing farming careers. The average age of American farmers is 58 (20 years older than the citizen average). Anna Sweat, a 17-year-old raised on Sweat Farms in Southwest Arkansas, admits she has considered other lifestyles but plans to earn a degree in ag business. Hear her story and her dad’s tips on keeping the next generation farming on this episode of AgriCulture.

Arkansas families are feeling it. Grocery costs are approaching a 30-percent increase since January 2020. Conway County’s Ashley Flickinger says it’s devouring her family-of-five’s budget and Arkansas Pork Producers Association director Jerry Masters offers insight to the increases in this episode of AgriCulture.

One in five Arkansas children is hungry, yet the state’s hunters annually harvest 200,000 deer. Hot Spring County farmer Ronnie Ritter says he has a "calling" to get more venison to famished kids. Heart-wrenching stories drive Ritter as Director of Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry. Hear his stories and how you can help in this episode of AgriCulture.

Industrious Ellis Bell flew alone at night for 45 years in a 1956 Cessna to successfully run a Forrest City farm and St. Louis insurance business. Hear his turbulent ascent to vocational victories and heart to help other minorities on this episode of the national award-winning AgriCulture podcast.

Growing up on a Forrest City farm in the 1940s shaped Ellis Bell. The challenges Bell faced couldn’t stop a strong and studious mind, laser-like focus and two parents from propelling him to a 2023 Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame induction. Hear the hurt, tears and triumphs on this episode of the national-award winning AgriCulture podcast.

Eva Henderson, affectionately known by thousands as “Granny,” lived 87 years on the Buffalo River but was removed from her farm in 1972 by the government. She was one of about 2,000 displaced when the Buffalo became a National River. Her great-grandson Randy Gibbins remembers and is concerned it could soon happen to others, too. A visit with Gibbins completes AgriCulture’s 5-part series on the past and future of the Buffalo River.

Armed U.S. Marshals ushered Susan Halsted’s grandparents from their Buffalo River farm in 1972 when it became a National River. Hear Halsted’s heartbreak, and her concerns about recent talks of another possible river re-designation. Cattleman Bob Shofner, a life-long resident of booming Northwest Arkansas, understands more people present challenges for farmers but says not all development is a heartless attack on long-time locals. It's episode four of our 5-part series on the past and future of the Buffalo River.