Missouri Neighbors

Growing up in Lockwood, Mo., about a mile from his current farmstead, Charles Obert was deeply frustrated by his father’s refusal to buy exotic animals. Instead his father ran a dairy and raised chickens and hogs for personal use.

Greg Hoelscher has lived on a 40 acre farm near Humansville, Mo., in Polk County since 1992. He rents another 100 acres.

Spend any amount of time raising cattle and eventually most people will end up with a bottle calf. It’s a typical occurrence. The cow, maybe a first-calf heifer, doesn’t accept the newborn or maybe she isn’t giving enough milk.

Twin sisters Sharon Jolley-Ballowe and Karen Jolley-Leighton have a lot in common. They live five miles apart from each other in Rogersville, Mo., in Greene County. They each have a son (Kolbey, Sharon’s son, is 5 and Connor, Karen’s son, is 10). And not only do the Jolley twins look alike, they both share the same passion for Missouri Fox Trotters.

According to 80-year-old Claude Nolan of Rogers, Ark., the public has him overrated. But according to his close friend, Brentley Wilkerson of Pea Ridge, Ark., Claude is still the best cow-buyer Brentley’s ever seen.

No matter how fast-paced and full her life sometimes becomes, Chloe Iiams is never far from tranquility.

Jim and Vali Suddarth of rural Camden County, breeders of gaited Morgan horses, are an extraordinary couple in many ways. Both are self-proclaimed ‘horse nuts’ which they admit is a good thing as a married couple. “We know others where only the man or woman is horse crazy and that makes it hard on the couple as one is often riding and the other is waiting around, trying to understand this strange attraction.” Anyone who has ever known someone afflicted with this particularly delightful compulsion understands.

Jim Pipkin is the fourth generation to farm his family’s farm, which dates back to 1856 just west of Springfield, Mo. Jim’s parents, W.D. and Bonita Pipkin still reside on the farmstead and play an active part in the day-to-day farm chores.

Located on a curve of the Little Sac River sits a stable. It’s a peaceful scene: horses grazing and birds singing. At first glance, Sac River Stables outside of Springfield, Mo., in Greene County appears to be the ideal place to ride. And it is, with beautiful trails and two riding arenas. But it's more than that – it’s also an ideal place to worship.

What started as a hobby project has grown exponentially into something much more rewarding for Michael Hinton and family of West Plains, Mo., in central Howell County. “I always wanted an antique tractor, so when I got the chance to buy a 1949 Farmall Cub, I took the chance,” he explained.