4 State of Arkansas Agriculture 5.25.25
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I. It is thought the insurance money the family received from the Army was used to purchase the original 30 acres of the farm.
“ Washington’ s son, William Clifford Crawley, was my grandfather,” Tim continued.“ He married Tena All in 1922 and as he would say,‘ They set-up housekeeping on that corner.’ They planted an apple orchard in partnership with his father shortly thereafter.”
Their farm was like most other farms in that day. They milked a few cows, had some chickens and hogs, and grew the grain and forage to feed the animals. At one time, they had up to 40 honeybee hives that they marketed honey from at local grocery stores.
In 1932, William Clifford and Tena purchased 40 acres from a neighbor. The purchase price was 10,000 white leghorn chicks – 1,000 per year until paid in full.
“ My father, Don Crawley, was born near Maysville in 1925,” Tim said.“ Immediately after graduation from high school in 1943, he entered the Air Corps, serving as a tail gunner on a B-17 in the 447th Bombardment Gray stationed in England.”
After discharge from the Army, Don returned to the farm. William Clifford had put in their first electric milking machine during World War II. Don and Clifford milked Jerseys, but in 1950 when beef prices
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were relatively high, they switched to milking shorthorns so they could take advantage of the good prices with their bull calves and cull cows. The herd eventually gained national prominence with the milking shorthorns by setting breed milk production records and winning at state and national shows.
“ My father married Jewel Swart of Tulsa
in 1955,” Tim said.“ Together they raised three sons, Russell, Dennis and myself. All of us were active in 4-H and FFA with their milking shorthorn dairy projects. My dad chaired various committees during his 40- year involvement with milking shorthorn cattle. He served on the AMSS board from 1963-69, was president of the AMSS board for two terms during 1982-88.”
In 1986, the operation was diversified when two breeder hen houses were built. The milking herd was dispersed in April 1988. Milking resumed in early 1989, but was again dispersed in 1990 when I became
manager of Arkansas DHIA. I traveled the next few years, representing Tru Test milk meters in the United States and Canadian milk recording circles. Back on the farm, dairy replacement heifers were marketed and excess hay was sold.
“ Like my father before me, I went to the city to find a bride,” Tim said.“ In 1995, I married Nikki Stewart, a Columbus, Ohio, native who was living in Tulsa. We have two daughters, Jessica and Brittany.”
1997 brought low springer heifer prices. Rather than take a loss selling the heifers, the milking equipment was put back in the
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