Washington County Farm Family of the Year

WASHINGTON COUNTY HONORS THIRD GENERATION FARMER

— Michael Weaver is a third generation dairy farmer, a job that requires milking cows twice a day, seven days a week. Yet, he never imagined himself doing anything else.

“It’s in your blood,” said Weaver, 36, who grew up working the dairy farm with his parents, Ronald and Rita Weaver. His father passed away two years ago but his mom still helps on the farm.

Weaver’s wife, Kristi, grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma raising sheep with parents who were teachers. Her goal was to either be a veterinarian or live fulltime on a farm. She worked in a bank for a few years and then taught school and served as a 4-H leader in her small Oklahoma community.

She married Michael Weaver about a year ago, quit her teaching job and joined Michael and his son, Levi, 10, on their 100-acre farm, located in a beautiful valley in southwestern Washington County known as the Hogeye community.

“I thought I’ll never have the opportunity to live on a farm. It was kinda a dream and I guess it came true,” said Kristi Weaver, 31.

The Weavers were named the Washington County Farm Family of the Year last week. The program, sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau and a number of other agricultural services, is in its 68th year. The Weavers next will be considered for District Farm Family of the Year and could go on for the honor at the state level.

Michael Weaver’s grandparents started the family in the dairy farm business on a farm nearby in Hogeye in the 1950s. Weaver’s parents started a farm near Prairie Grove and moved their operation, known as Weaver Dairy, to the current location in Hogeye in 1983.

“He’s the one that started it here 32 years ago,” said Michael Weaver, referring to his dad.

Weaver has been a fulltime farmer for 10 years and that requires herding the family’s 110-head of cattle to the dairy barn to be milked twice a day, first at 3 a.m. and then 12 hours later at 3 p.m.

“No matter what, we milk our cows every 12 hours,” Weaver said.

Fourteen cows are milked at a time and the herd average is 60 pounds of milk per cow per day. The Weavers sell their milk to Hiland Dairy through a contract with Dairy Farmers of America.

Berni Kurz, staff chairman for Washington County’s University of Arkansas Extension Office, said a committee with representatives from each program sponsor meets annually to select the county’s Farm Family of the Year.

The committee was impressed with the Weavers for several reasons, Kurz said.

For one, they are devoted to giving back to the community. Last year, they took a dairy cow, four sheep and two pigs to Prairie Grove Intermediate School to share with children about the importance of animals and farming and about opportunities through the 4- H program.

The Weavers are instilling new practices on their farm. Michael Weaver built two portable shade structures for his cattle so that he could provide shade for the animals during hot, dry summer months. In 2011, partnering with Natural Resources Conservation Service, he dug a well to provide water to his livestock, which also includes show pigs and sheep. He installed 13 500- gallon big tire water tanks and one mile of water line from the well to the tanks.

Also, Kurz said, the committee was impressed that the Weavers are a young couple who are fulltime farmers and are able to survive, without the assistance of an outside income.

The number of dairy farms has decreased throughout the years and Michael Weaver said that motivates him to stay in the dairy farm business.

“There are only 70 dairy farms left in the whole state,” Weaver said. “It encourages me to keep it going and to work harder.”

Levi, who will be a fifth grader at Prairie Grove Middle School in the fall, already knows that he wants to be a dairy farmer like his dad and Michael Weaver said he wants to make sure Levi will have that opportunity.

“It’s just a legacy for me,” said Michael Weaver.

From her perspective, Kristi Weaver said being full-time farmers allows the family to have more time together. Farming teaches responsibility and work ethic.

Rita Weaver added, “You get to work with family everyday.”

Along with farming, the family is involved with 4- H and the Washington County Fair. Last year, Levi, a member of Bethel Grove 4-H Club in Prairie Grove, showed 25 animals —pigs, cattle and sheep — at the county fair and brought home lots of trophies and ribbons. In the summer, he feeds his animals at 9 a.m., takes care of them throughout the day and feeds them again in the evening.

He likes animals, he said, because “you can show them, wash them and train them. It just gives you something to do.” He has been showing animals since he was 3 years old. Now that he is older, he likes to help younger children and show them how to care for their animals.

The Weavers expressed their appreciation and gratitude to all the sponsors of the program, including Farm Bureau, USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Farm Credit Services, the natural resources service and the extension office.

“I would like to thank God for our farm and being able to be dairy farmers,” said Michael Weaver. “I thank my mom and dad for their support and dedication and encouragement.”

COURTESY PHOTO Michael Weaver’s father, Raymond Weaver, passed away two years ago but Michael has many memories growing up on a dairy farm and working with his dad. Raymond Weaver moved his dairy farm to the Hogeye community about 32 years ago. Michael said he wants...

PHOTOS BY LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Washington County Farm Family of the Year is the Weavers: (from right) Michael Weaver and his wife, Kristi, son Levi, 10, and Michael’s mother, Rita Weaver. Their farm is called Weaver Dairy and it is located on 100 acres in the Hogeye community.

Michael, 36, and Kristi Weaver, 31, have been married about one year. They sheepishly admit they met on a dating service called Farmers Online. Living full-time on a farm is a dream come true, Kristi Weaver says. She grew up on a small sheep farm in...

Levi Weaver, 10, talks to the media about working on the dairy farm and caring for his own animals to show at the Washington County Fair. He has been showing animals since he was 3 years old.