5.25.25
State of Arkansas Agriculture 11 activities for Kelvin and his siblings, were volunteers for Highfill 4-H club their kids were in and are always helping neighbors baling hay or construction or whatever needs to be done.
“ Myself, my brother Rocky, and my sister Dena were all born and raised on the 40-acre farm mom and dad bought,” Kelvin said.“ The farm life enabled countless memories of childhood play, learning and work. Each of us kids had various chores like helping with cattle and hay, repairing fences and buildings, garden work, etcetera, helping our parents with rural life. We were in Highfill 4-H and the Gentry FFA clubs and used our childhood farm life and experiences to raise show animals or build projects and crafts or grow garden things to enter in the Benton County Fair.”
Rocky, Dena and Kelvin collectively have nine kids( the seventh generation) and 10 grandchildren and counting( the eighth generation). Most live in or near the western half of Benton County. They exhibit a variety of talents and interests. Some of their chosen careers include parenting, law enforcement, the health field, teaching, farming and electrical.
The farm today still contains beef
cattle and pasture / hay, however, it is in the shadow of rapid urban development that is occurring in so many places in western Benton County.
“ By all accounts, the farm will be passed down from my parents to me and my siblings, which we in turn will hopefully pass on to our kids,” Kelvin said.“ We want to provide them with great farm learning experiences and memories like what our family experienced multiple generations ago in Europe before relocating to America.”
That Bennett‘ Bend-It’ experience of building and working in the rural countryside in England continues on through Kelvin and his siblings today.
“ I am head of engineering for AGCO Corporation that designs and makes farm products including tractors, combines and more under the Massey Ferguson and Fendt brands for farmers around the world,” Kelvin said.“ Rocky owns an electrical contractor business, Oakridge Electric, in Northwest Arkansas and is the primary caretaker of the farm today. Rocky also owns another farm himself. Dena lives out in the country in Northwest Arkansas and has been a construction project manager for various construction companies during her career.”
Wow!
What a milestone.
FITCH FAMILY continued from page 7
worked for Russell Gay in Springdale as a teenager after helping dad with hay. I asked Russell how he managed to get by when his crops were ruined by late frost. He looked me straight in the eye and said.‘ Son, you have to take the bitter with the sweet.’ These two statements have helped many times to understand hardship along with our Lord’ s guidance.”
Frankie also noted how much farming has changed over the years.
“ The farm started out with horse drawn equipment and hand tools,” he said.“ In the early days, the family was large with nine children and the entire family pitched in to help with the farm work and chores. Now the family is smaller. We use tractors and depend on equipment to get the farming done and have also relied on off-farm income to support our family. My advice today to people starting out in farming is pursue your education along with farming.”
Frankie said he is thankful the family farm legacy was highly valued and passed down throughout multiple generations.
“ Our ancestors worked hard clearing the land and starting the farm. We are incredibly grateful and honored to be able to continue the farming tradition in a world where hanging onto family farms and farming in general has become increasingly difficult. We never want to take for granted those who have worked the land before us.”
Photos by Diana Campos
Congratulations Fitch Family!
Congratulations Fitch Family!
Lesley A Starnes, CPA, PLLC 600 214 S 1st St Suite 201-C Rogers, AR 72756 479-278-2695
Ozarks Electric proudly congratulates the Fitch Family on their well-deserved induction into the Arkansas Century Farm Program. We are grateful to serve families like yours to help shape the heart of our rural communities.
479.521.2900 ozarksecc. com