Perry County family receives farming honor
ADONA — Michael Henry “Hank” Simo-nis and his wife, Jennifer Arnold Simo-nis, are in the process of rebuilding the old farmhouse that holds so much history for Hank’s family.
Hank Simo-nis’ greatgrandfather, Joseph Thien (pronounced “teen), was born in 1879 in Illinois and died in 1950 in Perry County. He married Catherine Foppe, who was also born in Illinois, in 1907. They moved from their native state to Arkansas in about 1914 and built a home on 80 acres in the Lake Township of Perry County, not far from Adona. Hank and his family continue to farm the land, now known as the Simo-nis-Thien Farm, and they were recently among the 32 families to receive the 2021 Arkansas Century Farm Family recognition.
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said the Arkansas Century Farm program recognizes Arkansas farms of 10 acres or more owned by the same family for at least 100 years. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture began the Century Farm program in 2012 to highlight the contributions of these families to the agriculture industry, as well as their overall contributions to the state.
“It took us quite a few months to do the research and get all the legal documents, but it was well worth it,” Jennifer said.
She said Catherine Foppe Thien continued to own the farm after Joseph died in 1950 and lived there until she died in 1962.
Joseph and Catherine Thien’s son, Ferdinand Henry Thien, was born in Illinois in 1908 and died in 1956. He married Maxine Redman Simo-nis in 1949, and Maxine continued the farming operation until 2001; she lived there with her mother-in-law until Catherine’s death in 1962. Maxine raised her son, Michael Joseph “Mickey” Simo-nis, in the old farmhouse.
Ownership of the farm came to Mickey and his son, Hank, in 2001; they continued joint ownership until 2005, when Hank and Jennifer assumed full ownership.
“The family has raised four generations in the original house,” Jennifer said. “Recently, we began renovations to make room and preparations for our growing family and to preserve the home’s history for many more generations. Unfortunately, the house is in desperate need of new floors, a new roof and siding.
“The original house did not have any insulation. Last year, we completely insulated one room (to include drywall to help with insulation) and have almost completed the second room. We have been doing what we can, as we can. With the costs of lumber going up,
our funds have not gone as far as we had hoped. We have also begun painting permanent fixtures … as needed.”
Jennifer said Joseph Thien also built the original St. Elizabeth Church in Oppelo, as well as the Rehm house, also in Oppelo.
Hank and Jennifer now raise hay and goats on the farm. They have three children — Harrison Simo-nis, 22; Aaron Arnold, 15; and Lily Arnold, 12.
“Harrison does a lot of the farming now,” she said. “Our other children love to pitch in when they aren’t involved with school and church activities.”
Jennifer said she and Hank will soon “be looking to preserve our property’s forestland with the state.”
Hank and members of his family attended the recent Arkansas Century Farm recognition program at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson noted at the ceremony that agriculture “is Arkansas’ largest industry, contributing more than $21 billion to the state’s economy annually and providing one of every six jobs in the state.”
“Arkansas consistently ranks in the top 25 nationally in the production of more than 15 agricultural commodities,” Hutchinson said.
“Year after year, decade after decade, in the face of many challenges, Century Farm families put everything on the line to earn a living and produce our food, our fabrics, our forests,” the governor said. “Farm families are great for our economy, but they are much more than that. The work ethic, common sense and family values that are the bedrock of a family farm are a model for all Arkansans. For the good of Arkansas, I hope their children and grandchildren choose to continue on the family farm, and that someday, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture will create an Arkansas TwoCentury Farm program.”
For more information on the Arkansas Century Farm program, visit agriculture.arkansas.gov.