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Lorre Huckabay is an integral part of the family farm and the very heart of it. She has a full life as a farm wife, mother, grandmother and a position as a respiratory therapist at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. “I don’t really do anything with the actual farming,” she said. “But I cook them lunch, you know, they get tired of eating sandwiches all the time. When I’m at home, I keep the baby on Monday through Thursday and I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the hospital.” When her husband and sons are working late, she brings them supper to the field. She has also helped them move around from field to field. “I don’t drive any kind of equipment, but I’ll take them to this part and go get them and take them somewhere else. I’m a good goer. I can do that pretty good.”

The other day I read a quote that made me stop and take pause. It read, “Don’t ever work for someone you don’t want to become.” Now at first glance, it makes perfect sense. Some might read that and say to themselves, “Well, of course. That’s a no-brainer. I would never do that.” At closer inspection though, how many people do we all know who work for bosses or companies who exhibit qualities that are unbecoming or downright negative?

Oldest Huckabay son, Keith said of his life on the farm, “I’ve lived on the farm my whole life. That’s what dad and grandpa did and that’s what I wanted to do too. You put in hard work, but it’s rewarding to see your hard work at the end of the year. It’s always a challenge.” He added, “Ever since we were kids, we all were working on the farm. Then, me. Tanner and Tyler came in as partners around 2016 as equal partners with dad.” Keith said the best thing about working with his dad and brothers was that they all get along. “We’re all real close with each other and you know, not having to deal with anybody like at the regular job, you have to deal with a boss and a boss and a boss and a boss. We’re our own bosses. And it’s nice to have your family around all the time. You can always count on your family. It’s real nice to work with them and everything.”

Stephen M. Long’s barn, the largest one in or near Corning, caught fire from some unknown cause last Wednesday night about ten o’clock and burned completely, the fire having gained such headway that the interior was a roaring mass of flames before scarcely anyone knew there was a fire in town. This is the third barn burned in Corning within the past year. Willis Heaton’s about a year ago and W.D. Polk’s last Summer.

“We are truly blessed to be able to do what we love for a living,” stated Tanner Huckabay. “We get to work together as a family so that makes it even better. Our farm is a family-based farm and has been for years. My grandpa and his brother farmed together. My grandpa and my dad farmed together. My dad and his brother Gary farmed together. And now my dad and his three sons are farming together.

Tyler Huckabay knows all too well that life as a farmer is at the mercy of the weather and for this reason, it’s a profession of hope. He and his family are also very aware that it takes a team of people, as well as family and neighbors for farmers to be successful. “Farming revolves around the weather,” said Tyler Huckabay. “Dad has always said the weather can make you look like a fool or a genius. What we do wouldn’t be possible without the great team we have. From our workers who know when it’s go-time, that it’s going to be 15-plus hours a day until it rains, to the people we get seed, chemical, and fertilize from, always being there and having whatever we need delivered to us as soon as we need it. It can be a Saturday evening at 7 and I can call, and they will be there with what I need. Baker Implement always gets to us quickly when we have trouble with a tractor and have some of the best parts guys, salesman, and mechanics in the business and always take care of us. Hill Aviation always gets to our flying needs as soon as we tell them we need something done. And all the other people we do business with go above and beyond to help keep us going.”

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Caroline Goodman was named to The University of Alabama Presidents List for Spring Semester 2022. A total of 11,224 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2022 at The University of Alabama were named to the dean’s list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president’s list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s).

Tyler, Larry and Tanner Huckabay on the farm. Tanner, Kristen and Delaney Huckabay, Grayson Murray, Tyler Huckabay, Larry and Lorre Huckabay, Carly and Keith Huckabay.