Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Barlows are 2006 farm family

David Barlow and his family have been named 2006 Nevada County Farm Family. Barlow, his wife Linda, and their two sons live and work on a farm in the western part of the county.

Barlows have spent many years on that particular piece of land. David said his two sons, Tommy and Justin, are the fourth generation of Barlows to live in the current farm house.

David holds the memories of his own childhood. One very vivid memory, according to David, was when his grandfather gave him his first cow. Years later, Davids father went through the same ritual with Justin, 18, and Tommy, 19. David said he often pays his sons for their work on the farm with additions to their own herds. Both said they approve of that arrangement.

The Barlow farm is a combination farm, as is necessary for most smaller farming operations today. The family owns and operates two chicken houses dedicated to egg production. That portion of the farm has been in operation since 1994.

The family farm also includes a cow/calf operation. The goal is to maintain about 100 head of adult cows, according to David. The majority of the calves sold go to Oklahoma City or other major calf markets.

David said he produces his own hay on family farm and leased land, and occasionally does some custom baling for others in the area.

Timber plays another role in the Barlow farm. David said there are some 200 acres dedicated to the farm near the family home, with another 60 acres in the river bottoms.

The life of a farmer - especially when a layer operation is involved - is demanding. While David is quick to say that the hours are long and the work is often hard, hes equally quick to say that he and his family love the life and the lifestyle.

We work a lot, he said. But we work together. Being on the farm means weve had time together.

Tommy is attending college at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where hes studying agriculture business. He said he plans to eventually settle into an agriculture-related field, likely on a farm.

Justin is a senior at Prescott High School and plans to attend SAU in the fall. He said he also plans to study business with a focus on agriculture, and that he wants to return to a life of farming, similar to that hes known.

David and Linda havent always been on the farm. In fact, Linda was a military brat and her family moved frequently during her childhood. David worked construction jobs from 1977 through 1994. David and Linda met in Shreveport, La., while David was working as a member of a construction crew. There was never a doubt, they say, that theyd eventually return to Nevada County.

Linda said she was initially a city girl, but said she took most aspects of farming and rural country living as soon as the couple moved to the county. She said Davids father taught her to drive a tractor and she quickly learned to help during hay season. She said that shes also worked in the chicken houses and done other chores necessary around a farm.

It took me awhile to get used to the fact that there wasnt a store around the corner, she said. Now I go to the city and Im ready to go home.

David said he was raised knowing about the hard work of farm life, and that hes instilled that knowledge in Justin and Tommy.

I dont think it hurts the boys to work, he said.

Though there are apparently jobs that the boys dont particularly like, theyre both anxious to use farming in their futures. Justin said hes been picking up eggs since he was about 6 years old.

The chicken houses take up a large amount of time, David said. As a rule, the chickens stay for about 11 months. During that time, the egg operation is a job that goes on seven days a week. David said his days start very early and that he usually winds up the last chores by 7 p.m. or so.

About 12 hours most days, he siad.

Every day, the Barlows walk the chicken houses, picking up any dead birds and eggs that have fallen on the ground.

There is a hired hand who works with the eggs, David said. But one person cant handle the sheer volume of eggs to be processed at the peak production times. When birds are very young and when they near the end of their one-year laying term, the production slacks off.

The Barlows produce eggs for Del Mesa and David said that companys trucks arrive every other day to take the eggs away. As an average, that amounts to some 28,000 eggs.

The very best things about farming, according to the Barlows, is the peace and quiet.

I get to be with my family more, David said.

And the worst things about life on the Barlow Farm?

Its 15 miles to town, Tommy said.

That doesnt bother me a bit, David said.