Pigeons named Farm Family of Year
SILOAM SPRINGS — Jim and Michele Pigeon did not plan on winning but the Pigeon Family Farm, just north of Siloam Springs, won the Benton County Farm Family of the Year award for 2022. They were notified of the award in early May.
In addition to raising cattle and poultry, part of the Pigeon Family Farm’s business involves growing and selling flowers at its greenhouse and nursery.
The County Farm Family of the Year is the first award in the process to win Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.
A plaque was presented to the Pigeons during a media day event at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 3, from Charlie Coffelt, representing the Benton County Farm Family of the Year selection team.
Family members present to receive the award included Jim and Michele Pigeon, son-in-law Ronald Flores, daughter Brooke Flores, daughter Megan Pigeon, daughter Emily Melton, and granddaughters Avery and Harper Melton.
Johnny Gunsaulis, Benton County Extension agent for the University of Arkansas, commended Jim and Michele on their farm as the program’s emcee. Also speaking were Coffelt, County Judge Barry Moehring and State Representative Delia Haak. A letter from U.S. Congressman Steve Womack was also read by a member of his staff.
The next step in the awards process is for a judge to come out to inspect the farm to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced on June 14, according to a news release from the Farm Bureau of Arkansas. The state’s Farm Family of the Year will be announced in December at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon, according to the news release.
The Pigeons didn’t expect to receive County Farm Family of the Year. Jim Pigeon said he is not concerned about recognition and prefers to just
work. Michele Pigeon said it was an honor to be chosen.
Pigeon Family Farms has a diverse range of products ranging from raising cattle and poultry to growing various plants, said Michele. Plants grown include vegetable transplants, chrysanthemums, hanging baskets and perennials.
Jim and Michele started the farm at its current location in 1994, he said. Both have been involved with farming all of their lives. Jim grew up on a cattle and poultry farm in Kansas, Okla., and Michele grew up in Siloam Springs and Kansas, they said.
Both attended Oklahoma State University and received degrees in animal science, Jim and Michele said. After college, the two came back and started their farm.
When asked what advice they would give to other farm families, Michele said perseverance is key. Jim pointed out that farming offers lots of challenges. One of those currently troubling farmers is the price of fuel.
“Farming’s an up and down thing,” Michele said. “We’ve got good years and bad years.”
When looking to the future, Michele said they recently quadrupled their growing size so she doesn’t see the farm getting any bigger. She also said the couple started the farm with 25 head of cattle and now has 110 head.
“We’re as big as we can be and still operate as a family,” Jim said. “If we got any bigger we would need full-time help.”
Along with cattle, the Pigeons also raise chickens as contract growers for Tyson Foods, Jim said. The Pigeons have two broiler houses that were built in 1995, which have the capacity to house 40,000 birds, he said. Tyson brings the couple its chicks and the Pigeons provide housing and feed the birds, Jim said.
“We’re humbled and honored to receive this,” Jim said of the award. “It wasn’t a goal of ours. We’ve always tried to do the best that we can do and be good stewards of the land.”