Ayden Massey

By Ayden Massey Photos by Ayden Massey & Ashley Wallace

Family farms are a cornerstone of American agriculture. In fact, roughly 98% of farms in the United States are family owned and operated. The legacy built through family farming is one of hard work, determination and innovation.

For Chris and Denise Sweat of Hempstead County, this legacy molded their past, built their present and laid the foundation for their future. The family was recognized as the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year in 2020, but their story began long before.

Chris is a fourth-generation farmer working the same land that generations did before him. He and his wife, Denise, met over 20 years ago while exhibiting livestock. Their marriage was built on a mutual respect and love for the agriculture industry, and they’ve have spent the last two decades pouring their energy into it.

The Sweat family operates a 1,005-acre cattle and sheep farm in McCaskill. The farm has grown alongside their family, with the pair adding nearly 400 acres after getting married. They raise both registered and recipient cattle with Angus, Simmental and Simbrah herds. Aside from farming, they have served the industry in other roles. Chris explained that every aspect of their lives revolves around their farm, including their off-farm jobs.

Chris recently retired after teaching agriculture for 25 years. Denise works as a regional vice president for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, where she has worked since graduating from college.

“We chose roles in agriculture because even though we might not be farming all day, we are helping farmers in everything we do,” said Denise.

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Their range of involvement in the industry has proved important to their success as farmers. The connections made through their careers allowed the Sweat family to build their operation both financially and fundamentally.

“You can always learn something every day,” said Chris. “Every time you run into someone you are picking up knowledge that you can bring back to your own farm. That’s the cool part of agriculture.”

After spending more than two decades as an agricultural educator in rural Arkansas, Chris explained how satisfying it is to hear from students who have gone on to create their own careers in the industry. Additionally, Chris developed relationships that would lead to future customers and partners.

Chris and Denise credit three factors in their success: their parents, their mentors and those they now mentor. Growing up, the pair were heavily

involved in youth organizations such as FFA and 4-H and continue to be active through their children and volunteer work.

“We’re willing to help those kids because that is what made us who we are today,” said Denise of the local FFA and 4-H chapters. “Somebody gave us a chance at one point, and we try to be there to give back to these other kids.”

The lessons instilled in them as children acted as a guide to operating their own farm. When faced with relentless challenges, as most farmers are, they fell back on those lessons: hard work, determination and innovation.

When his daughters were young, Chris’ interest in goat and sheep production grew. The industry was virtually non-existent in southwest Arkansas at the time, but they persisted nonetheless.

“A lot of times, when you have something that is a hinderance, it just prods you to find solutions,” Chris said. “We went and built a market. We quickly realized we didn’t want to be a niche, we wanted to be an industry.”

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He opened a goat and sheep buying station with the help of family friend, Jesse Duckett. They surpassed their monetary goals in the first year of operation. The operation quickly outgrew the buying station which led Chris to begin working out of the Hope Livestock Auction facility. Last year, the auction generated nearly half a million dollars in revenue with buyers and sellers from across the state and in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri.

“It is really rewarding to know that you have touched that many farmers,” said Chris. “That is one of those things that we know even after we are gone, we’ve built an industry that is here to stay.”

Overcoming obstacles is nothing new to the Sweat family. Their daughters, Sara and Anna, have had a major influence on the flexibility and innovative nature of their farm. Like their parents, the two have worked on the farm since, as Sara puts it, they were “old enough to get in front of a cow.” As they have gotten older, the Sweat girls have continued to impact

both the daily and large-scale operations of the farm.

“We wanted our daughters to learn the things that farm kids learn. They know how to do everything I do,” said Chris. “I really think I could take off a year and they wouldn’t miss me.”

Growing up immersed in the agriculture industry has given the Sweat girls tangible accomplishments such as awards and banners, but Sara believes irreplaceable experiences and opportunities are what hold more meaning.

“My whole life has been growing up and learning life lessons on this farm,” said Sara. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

In addition to these experiences that are unique to farm kids, Chris and Denise have given their daughters an environment that is conducive to exploring their own interests outside of baling hay, which Anna enjoys. She joked about the first time she baled hay.

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“You’ve got grandpa breaking hay and you’ve got dad moving what’s behind you and you just never know what look you are going to get from them,” said Anna. “But it gives me the opportunity to contribute where you might not think it is needed.”

Chris credits the evolvement of the farm to his daughters’ individual strengths. Sara took an interest in the genetic element of production and has worked with their recip herd of cattle. Anna took a different approach and developed an interest in the marketing process. Her skills have allowed the family to reach into untapped markets via social media.

Like their parents, the girls are heavily involved in their 4-H and FFA chapters competing in livestock judging contests, showing their cattle and participating in public speaking competitions.

“It makes my heart swell with pride that Denise and I were both on state winning livestock judging teams and both of our girls have been as well,” said Chris.

Although their personal paths have taken them in different directions, Sara and Anna continue to make contributions to the farm that helped raise them. Chris and Denise are hopeful in the futures of their farm and their children, which seem to be synonymous.

“You can see where this industry is headed by looking at the generation coming after you,” said Chris. “Our goal is to see our kids come back to the farm.”

The same passion for agriculture that Chris and Denise’s parents instilled in them has been passed to Sara and Anna. The girls reflected on the aspects of their childhood that they will hold onto as they enter new chapters of their lives. Work ethic, determination and innovation were among the lessons they cherished most.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got a warm spot in my heart knowing that I did all of the hard work alongside the rest of my family,” said Anna.

Chris said a driving force in his determination was his refusal to be the generation that “failed the family farm.” While the future is unknown, it is evident that the same respect and love for the agriculture industry that brought Chris and Denise together over 20 years ago has found a new home in the hearts of their children. *