Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Patton family part of Gravette Farmers Market
GRAVETTE — Jack and Beth Patton, owners of Patton Family Farms in Maysville, raise a variety of produce for sale at the Gravette Farmers Market.
They are one of the regular vendors, with their booth set up each Saturday, offering homegrown veggies, garden plants and flowers, eggs, farmraised beef and pork products.
Jack Patton was raised on a farm in Decatur and graduated from Decatur High School. Beth Patton is from Gentry. The couple was married in 1992.
The Pattons bought their 32-acre farm, the former Luther Tucker farm, in 1993 to raise kids, grow a garden and butcher their own meat. Both worked off the farm but enjoyed spending time in the garden and raising a variety of produce. Their gardens flourished and they began taking their extra produce to the farmers market in Gravette when it was established in 2007.
“People loved the produce. We grew bigger gardens every year,” Beth said. “The people that bought our veggies wanted to try our meat. So we started taking our animals to a USDA butcher and selling our pork and beef off the farm and at the market.”
Pork offerings include two varieties of breakfast sausage, bacon, pork chops, steaks and ribs. Customers wanting beef can purchase hamburger, a variety of steaks, ribs, brisket and roasts, even soup bones. Bratwurst and summer sausage are also available.
The Pattons grow new potatoes, beets, green beans, squash, tomatoes, onions, peppers, a variety of greens and other veggies. In addition to helping with all the vegetables and meat they produce, Beth Patton stays busy in the kitchen and often brings home-baked breads, jams and jellies to the market.
Family members work their booth and sell their products at the farmers market during its regular hours from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and also sell products off their farm during the week. Customers wishing to make an appointment to visit the farm during the week can call (479) 291-4445 or (479) 787-3313.
The Pattons bought an additional 50 acres adjoining their farm in 2010. The farming operation began to take so much of their time the Pattons both now work full-time on the farm. They also volunteer as co-managers at the market.