Benton County, Arkansas has a new farm family of the year—the Haak family from Gentry, Ark. However, that is not the end of the accolades as they have recently been named the District Farm Family of the Year for the state of Ark.

For Bill and Delia Haak, hard work, dedication and determination is something they live everyday. They own a dairy operation, manage a farm, raise beef cattle, raise approximately 200 baby calves for sale each year, as well as have a sod and shavings business which they mainly sell to local poultry producers in the area.

According to Bill they are honored and proud to be named the farm family of the year, but realize if it wasn’t for the community this award wouldn’t have been possible. Haak states, this is a community award more than anything else.

“If it wasn’t for the community and the support the community provides us we wouldn’t have been able to win these awards, we appreciate everything they have done for us, we are blessed to have a wonderful community,” Bill explains.

Bill and Delia are high school sweethearts and were married at the age of 19. Before they got married both Bill and Delia knew they wanted to live on a farm and run a dairy operation one day. After 33 years of marriage, Bill states he is just as much in love with his wife as the day he married her. According to him the family wouldn’t have been able to win these award without the support of his wife Delia. “She is a great women,” he says.

After they were married, Delia took different jobs in town to work full time while Bill began farming. They started saving money so they could make their dreams of owning their own dairy operation come true. When Bill was 22-years-old, he and his wife had saved $10,000. Their dreams were quickly becoming a reality.

Delia had relatives who worked at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. who told Bill and Delia about property in Benton County that was for sale and provided them with the real estate paper on the property, which they still live on today.

Bill and Delia had been renting 110 acres in Washington for the 52 baby calves they had purchased the year before. With the information provided by Delia’s family they were now able to purchase the land in Benton County, and begin their dreams. In the beginning they purchased 47 acres, by mortgaging their heifers and using the money they had saved. Their new adventure of owning a dairy farm became a reality.

After the operation was underway Delia was able to go to college and obtain her degree from John Brown University. Delia began working at John Brown University and is now retired from the university after working 22 years. She now spends her time as an extensive director at the Illinois River Water Partnership.

The start of Bill and Delia’s dairy operation began with the 52 baby calves they originally purchased to begin their operation. Their operation has grown significantly and today they own and rent over 800 acres, have a beef cattle herd, milk cow herd of Holsteins, raise approximately 200 baby calves for sale and have a sod and shavings business. In addition, Bill has 200 acres of hay, consisting of bermudagrass and ryegrass. As well as 120 acres of soybeans which they will roast for feed.

Bill and Delia have two sons, Luke and Jake. Bill states, he is thankful for his two sons and all the work they have put into the operation.

“Jake is able to come and help relief milk during busy times and Luke comes to help during vaccinations and whatever else is needed,”Bill says.

While the boys were growing up Bill told them if they stayed on the straight and narrow and stayed away out of trouble he would give each boy five acres for them to start and raise a family.

“He only had to remind them once about the agreement while they were in college.”

Both Luke and Jake have families of their own and they both continue to help around the farm in any way they can. Luke and his wife have three sons and one daughter, and Jake and his wife have two daughters.

Bill and Delia are both active in the community and look for new ways to improve their local community as well as the state of Ark. Bill serves on the Benton County Conversation Board, the Benton County Farm Bureau and In Touch Missions.

The Haaks have recently became interested in a new developing program. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is in the beginning stages and the Haaks are interested in implementing this program. CREP is a program working with agriculturist to address the environmental impacts of agriculture. According to the USDA, this program will help protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.

The Haaks are grateful for the Farm Family of the Year award and appreciative of all the support they have received from their community.

According to him this award is an encouragement to me and my wife and we are happy to share it with our community for everything they have done.

“This is a neat recognition for our family and we are thankful and grateful for these awards,” said Bill.

The Haaks are eligible for the state farm family of the year award, since they were named district winners. According to him, they will now go up against eight or nine other district winners to determine the state winner.

Bill is extremely grateful for his family and their support they have provided each other.

“I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my dreams without my wife and sons encouragement through the good and bad times,” Bill concludes.