Our Story, Our Roots About Powell Farms
I am Brett Powell and operate the farm along with my wife, Michelle. Although my great, great, great grandfather was one of the original pioneers of Columbia County, Arkansas arriving here in the 1850's, I grew up in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana about 20 miles to the south near the town of Haynesville. We had a cow-calf operation and my father and grandfather made sure that I was kept busy with farm chores such as hauling hay, repairing fences, mowing pastures, feeding hay to the cows in the winter, etc. on a daily basis as a teenager, thus keeping me out of mischief.
This was back before large, round, or square bales and metal fence posts became common. So, building a fence, processing the small square bales of hay in the summer, and feeding the hay in the winter was a much greater task than it is today. A farmer never gets caught up because a farm is a living entity in itself. Changes are constantly occurring so there is always something to do. So, it's an excellent way to keep a teenage boy's mind occupied! This is even more true today! Those years growing up on a farm have long-since passed, but they gave me a sense of work ethic and responsibility.
I have always had a love for agriculture and a constant thirst for new knowledge. I learned much from the older members of the family but have built upon that knowledge to become more efficient and more sustainable as a farm.