Farm family a step closer to state title
GARLAND CITY, Ark.—This year’s Miller County Farm Family has been named one of Arkansas’ eight district farm families of the the year.
With this year marking the 70th year that the Arkansas Farm Bureau has been handing out the award, Chase Groves’ family, who operate the Rocking CK Farm in Garland, now represent the state’s southwest district and will compete with other district farm families for the title of Arkansas Farm Family of the year. From there, whoever wins the state Farm Family of the Year will represent Arkansas in the nation during the pick for the country’s Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition.
The family raises beef cattle on farmland near Garland City. Like other award recipients, this family’s farming and ranching operations were rated on their management, goals, achievements and plans for development and future expansion as well as on planned improvements and changes in their operations.
Born and raised near Garland City, Groves said he grew up hauling hay and working in pecan orchards.
“I also grew up exhibiting and showing livestock at the county, state and national levels,” Groves said. “As kids, both Krystal and I were heavily involved in 4-H as well as in Future Farmers of America. We both credit the success we’ve experienced in life to those programs.”
After graduating from Lewisville High School in 2002, Groves earned an associates degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College in 2004 before going on to earn a bachelor of science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in animal science in 2006 while minoring in poultry science.
Eventually, Groves leased land, and in March of 2012, he started his own beef cattle growing operations.
“Because I grew up on a family farm, the call for me to come back to my roots was loud and clear.”
Randy Veach, president of the
Arkansas Farm Bureau, said the state’s farm families are beyond measure.
“While collectively, agriculture makes up the state’s largest business sector, it’s almost impossible to calculate the impact our family farms have on the economy, our rural communities and to the overall character of our great state,” Veach said. “These farm families represent a great cross-section of Arkansas agriculture—from row crops to livestock to fresh produce and honey production. We congratulate each of these district winners because no other business sector in the state, has a larger economic impact than agriculture. Both men and women of agriculture and their families , work hard, every day, to maintain business and lifestyle that represent the very best our state has to offer.”