June 10, 2015
THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
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2015 Polk County
Farm Family of the Year Br�an & Sonya Maye Family
A Special Supplement of THE POLK COUNTY
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THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
June 10, 2015
June 10, 2015
THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
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BY MELANIE BUCK
Bryan and Sonya Maye and their Maye Club Lambs Farm have been chosen as the 2015 Polk County Farm Bureau District Family of the Year. The Mayes have been raising and selling show lambs for 18 years and are honored to have been selected to represent Polk County for the prestigious award. Bryan was raised on a small cattle farm in Oklahoma and grew up training calf-roping horses. His passion for livestock is apparent and he is passing that same passion on to his students. He said that he idolized his Ag teacher in high school and that’s what made him choose to be an Ag teacher. He has been teaching Agriculture to the next generation for 27 years; 16 of those years he spent at Hatfield Public Schools and for the last 11 years, he has called Mena High school his home. Bryan has three children, Chism, age 17, Megan, age 23, and Lauren, age 24. They are no exception when it comes to winning. Their showcase of awards proves their passion for the agriculture industry is as big as their father’s. Chism, still in high school, helps in the business whether it’s cleaning out lambing jugs, vaccinating baby lambs, or anything else that needs to be done. Chism won Reserve Grand Champion at the Arkansas State Fair in 2014, among his numerous other awards. “My wife is an amazing homemaker and provides home cooked meals and assists with the preparation and photography for our online selling accounts,” said Bryan. Besides caring for the family at home, Sonya works full-time as the Public Relations/Marketing Specialist for Mena Regional Health System. Megan attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and while there, she was active in Enactus/SAU, sorority, and was the SAU Mulerider. Megan and SAU Mule, Molly Ann, turned heads and gained social media fame as the duo galloped around the state in celebration of SAU’s record enrollment in the fall of 2013, even visiting a Starbucks in Texarkana, via the drive-thru, or ride-thru, as it became that day. She is currently employed as the manager of Story Arena on SAU campus. Lauren is married and has two children, Trip and Mabree, and is an RN at Western Arkansas Home Health Care. “All three children have been active in the National Honor Society, numerous sports activities, and showing sheep off of the family
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Leflore County Livestock
394-3373
Corner of 4th St. & Hwy 71
SALE EVERY SATURDAY
Hog, Goat & Horse Sale - 10 am Yearlings Sale - Noon Receiving Pens Open in Potter Friday Afternoon & Saturday Morning
918-655-7462
Congratulations to the Maye Family! 2015 Farm Family of the Year
Supercenter 67 • 600 Hwy 71 N, Mena
FULL ATV
SERVICE & REPAIR
Hwy 71N/Hwy 88E Junction (behind Terminix) 479-216-3519 • OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY
Congratulations Bryan & Sonya Maye 2015 Farm Family of the Year
www.century21perry.com 1118 Highway 71 S., Mena, AR (479)394-6500 • 1-800-394-6521
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THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
June 10, 2015
farm during their school years,” smiled Bryan. His love for sheep came from his first teaching job. “When I moved to Hatfield, the Ag teacher that preceded me had already bought all the kids’ show animals and I had never dealt with sheep, so I had to learn. I enjoyed it and we had a lot of success. My students started winning in 1995 at the State Fair and we won it every year until two years ago. I traveled all over the country buying those lambs… Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, Texas, all over,” said Bryan. When he began his Maye Club Lambs venture, he had only ten head of ewes and one ram, but he has built the business to a whopping 60 ewes and four rams that produced 74 babies this year on his 40 acre farm in Hatfield. Those babies are sold around the country to 4-H and FFA Clubs to be shown by students at various fairs and shows. Although his lambs go outside of his area, Bryan said that many of his buyers have had success and he likes that he has been able to produce high quality club lambs that can win shows nationwide. “We have been fortunate enough to have bred and raised club lambs that have won shows in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and Indiana,” said Bryan with a smile. Efficiency and conservation are also key to his operation. The Mayes constructed a farm pond in an eroded area of the property to use as a water source for the animals. “We also clean out the sheep manure from the barn and the lots and spread it as the sole source of fertilizer on the hay meadow according to our Nutrient
CONT. ON PAGE 20
MENA FEED & SUPPLY
479-394-6100
311 N. Morrow, Mena MenaRegional.com
Congratulations, Bryan & Sonya Maye 479-394-3800
South of Town on Hwy 71
LICENSED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTOR
WE CAN DO IT ALL
Congratulations to Bryan & Sonya Polk County Farm Family JAMES EARL TURNER (479) 234-6244 ERIC TURNER (479) 243-5549
Five J Electric salutes Bryan and Sonya Maye. Thank you for all you do investing into the lives of tomorrow’s farmers!
Congratulations,
Bryan & Sonya Maye
Servicing Mena & Surrounding Areas
(479) 394-3419
fivejelectric@sbcglobal.net • Fax: (479) 394-3716
June 10, 2015
THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
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“It is certainly an honor to be recognized as the Polk County Farm Family of the Year. My husband has a great passion for raising sheep and observing their successes as they are shown across the country. Maye Club Lambs has provided Bryan with such a rewarding career, in addition to teaching which allows him to follow, encourage, and support so many students and their families. Our life together on the farm is such a blessing and we give God the glory for it all.”
- Sonya Maye J & B LIQUID FEED & FERTILIZER 1357 Polk 74 • Mena, AR 71953 Office: 479-394-6111 Jerry & Barbara Hansbrough Cell: 479-243-5608 Fax: 479-394-6110
CONGRATULATIONS BRYAN & SONYA MAYE!
MENA - HATFIELD - WICKES 479-394-2211• www.unionbankofmena.com
CONGRATULATIONS BRYAN & SONYA MAYE!
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THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
June 10, 2015
Management Plan,” Bryan explained. Bryan and Sonya said that Rita Keener and Cathy Singleton have also been a huge help. “Rita has been the nurse and caretaker when I have to be gone. Cathy has just started this year. When we’re at work, they’re here delivering babies, feeding when I’m gone to an FFA function, they’re a lot of help,” said Bryan. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” said Sonya. In addition to farming sheep, Bryan also hauls hay, and, in his spare time, travels the country as a Professional Livestock Judge and teaching at Show Clinics. He is also a Polk County Fair Association Advisee, Mena FFA Alumni, in the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association, member of the Hatfield First Baptist Church, and has several state level activities as well including Ark. Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, Ark. State Fair Livestock Committee Member, and Ark. State Sheep Council Member/President, and a Livestock Judge on the national level. Sonya is also civic minded, serving on the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce, a member of Rotary Club, and the Mena Regional Hospital Foundation Board. When asked how they seem to balance their jobs, their children, and the farm, Bryan said, “It gets hard. From February to May, it’s really tough. You basically work all day and come home and work until about 10:30.” Sonya added in, “If you’re lucky. It’s usually later than that. And sometimes you’re up in the middle of the night and then up before daylight doing chores.” However, they both agree, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Sonya summed it up well by saying, “It is certainly an honor to be recognized as the Polk County Farm Family of the Year. My husband CONCLUDED ON PAGE 21
Congratulations 2015 Farm Family of the Year
394-6201
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Closed Sunday
(479) 394-5000 816 S. Mena St.
Historic Downtown Mena
Congratulations
Farm Family of the Year!
Rex Dollar
1607 Hwy 71 N. 394-1027
Team Mena Salutes Bryan & Sonya Maye 2015 Farm Family of the Year
Mena Public School is proud to call Bryan one of our own! Mena High’s Ag/FFA advisor for 16 years and counting.
June 10, 2015
THE POLK COUNTY PULSE
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“We have been fortunate enough to have bred and raised club lambs that have won shows in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisana, Kansas, and Indiana.” - Bryan Maye
has a great passion for raising sheep and observing their successes as they are shown across the country. Maye Club Lambs has provided Bryan with such a rewarding career, in addition to teaching, which allows him to follow, encourage and support so many students and their families. Our life together on the farm is such a blessing and we give God the glory for it all.” You can learn more about the Mayes and their operations at www.mayeclublambs.com The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has been going strong for 68 years. Along with Farm Bureau, other program sponsors include Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas, Ag Heritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Midsouth Associations, and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. Program partners include Arkansas Press Association; University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture; Cooperative Extension Service; Arkansas Department of Workforce Education; USDA, Farm Service Agency; USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and USDA, Rural Development.
CONGRATULATIONS, Bryan and Sonya Maye
2015 Polk County Farm Family of the Year
Farm Family of the Year
Congratulations, Bryan & Sonya Maye! 309 S. Morrow, Mena • 479-394-3650
515 Janssen, Mena
394-4140