AgriCulture

Few face challenges like North Arkansas cattleman Larry Blasdel’s family. Hear how non-stop sacrificial love for a child with special needs helps them thrive on the farm.

Few face challenges like North Arkansas cattleman Larry Blasdel’s family. Hear how non-stop sacrificial love for a child with special needs helps them overcome overwhelming odds in marriage and on the farm.

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.