15 Jul 2026
Wes Evans - Benton County Farmer
Wes Evans is a lifelong Benton County native, farmer, small business owner, and the face behind the "Fix It or Keep Farming" social media series. He joins Andy and Victor for a wide-ranging conversation about farming, rural life, cycling, and the challenges of keeping a generational farm alive in one of the fastest-growing counties in America.
Topics Covered:
Wes's Background
Born and raised in Rogers, AR – never lived more than two miles from where he lives now
Grew up on a dairy farm; now runs a cow-calf operation in the Highfill area
Married to Laura (also grew up on a dairy farm); two kids, ages 15 and 17
Kids are virtually homeschooled to accommodate their heavy 4-H and FFA involvement
Family was named Benton County Farm Family of the Year
The Evans Farm
Generational cow-calf operation farming with his parents daily
Co-founded a pasture-to-plate steer program for the Benton County Fair with extension agent Johnny Gonzalez
Active in Farm Bureau (federation side) and the Cattlemen's Association
Pet Cremation Business
Bought a small pet cremation business from a retiring family friend
Grew it into a full-time operation; wife Laura left nursing (16 years in geriatrics) to join the business
The Economics of Farming
Why you can't make a living on cattle alone anymore: equipment costs, diesel, land prices
The "moving target" of commodity markets and the danger of "that's how we've always done it"
Average age of a U.S. rancher is ~58 — who's coming next?
Homesteading vs. hobby farms vs. production agriculture: each has a role, but they can't replace each other when it comes to feeding America
Challenges Specific to Benton County
Urban sprawl and loss of farmland to development
A proposed new highway (connecting Hiawassee to Hwy 412) runs through the Evans family's generational land, including a 120-year-old hay barn
Eminent domain concerns, forced sales, and tax implications
The Illinois River Watershed, Oklahoma's lawsuit against Arkansas poultry producers, and the politics of environmental regulation
Generational farm succession: how farms get split, worn-out heirs, and the difficulty of keeping it in the family
"Fix It or Keep Farming"
Wes's social media series about jerry-rigging farm equipment to keep going
Born from the reality that something is always broken on a farm
Featured his son Weston, who cruises through Rogers roundabouts on a tractor
Cycling & Rural Roads
The farmer's perspective on cyclists: some jealousy (who are these people riding on a Wednesday afternoon?), some frustration with road behavior
Representing your jersey/kit: if you're wearing a team or club name, you represent them
Gravel roads are safer and friendlier than paved roads for cyclists
The mutual challenge of farm equipment and cyclists sharing rural roads
Dogs: the #1 frustration for both sides — tips discussed include water bottle spray, air horns, talking to them like their owner would, and bringing Slim Jim treats
Electric Bikes for Farmers
Wes floats the idea of marketing e-bikes to farmers for moving equipment between fields
Current logistics: wife drives the truck to shuttle between fields; top tractor speed is 16–21 mph
E-bikes (legal up to ~28 mph) could fill that gap — someone should market this to John Deere dealers
The Gambler 500
A $500-car, 500-mile navigation rally that started in Oregon — now nationwide
Wes helped bring it to the Ozarks (Turner Bend area); participants pick up trash in the national forest
Closing Gratitude
Victor: grateful for farmers and everyone who does the work he doesn't want to do
Wes: grateful for the struggles of the life he's been building, for his kids being invested in ag, and for agritourism efforts helping people understand farming
Andy: shout-out to his wife Jackie, who is 1,900 miles into the Tour Divide — riding fully self-supported from Banff, Canada to the Mexico border
