Keith and Georgia Harper got away from life on the farm as a young married couple, but have never regretted returning to their roots.
The Harpers were named Benton County Farm Family of the Year for 2012 Friday.
The couple have built a chicken-growing operation on 10 acres of land off Cripps Road, west of Gentry. While Keith works full-time for Tyson Foods, Inc., Georgia handles the day-to-day business of growing broilers for Peterson Farms. Both Keith and Georgia grew up on small farms and never really intended to leave that life.
"When we got married we moved to Gentry," Georgia Harper said, to which Keith added "We couldn't wait to leave the big city."
The couple have kept their operation at two chicken houses, with a capacity of about 21,000 broilers each.