The Carrel and Louise Bryant family of Ada received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee’s District Eight Farm and Ranch Family Recognition during the organization’s 77th annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 17 in Norman.
The Bryant family has a comprehensive pecan operation that they run with their two adult children, Randy and Lisa. The family also raises cattle and grows hay on their farm ground in Pontotoc County.
The Bryants focus, however, on the pecans.
“We’ve got – I’m thinking – around 4,000 trees on our place now,” Carrel said. “Some of them young trees, some of them are a lot older than me; they were big trees whenever I was a little boy.”
The family harvests, sorts, cleans and cracks pecans they grow on their family farm. They also purchase pecans in lots of all sizes from fellow farmers and local community members.
“We’ll buy just a little bag – a Walmart bag – full of pecans, or we’ll buy semi loads,” Carrel said. “I like to buy the small amounts.”
The Bryant family also does custom pecan cleaning and cracking for farmers.
“We have one of the best cracking set-ups I think you’ll find anywhere,” Carrel said. “My son and I have made the cracking operation, set it up ourselves, and I think we have an awful good cracking operation. We have people from many miles – even from down in Texas, two- or three-hour drive to get here in Oklahoma – to come get us to crack pecans.”
The Bryants sell their pecans to wholesalers and to local customers at their retail shop located on their farm near Francis, which features pecan products and Amish goods.
“We just love it,” Carrel said of the family’s retail store. “I love to have the people come in, my friends, and visit with me. I love to visit with people.”
“We also have a website and ship our products coast-to-coast,” Louise said.
The family also raises around 100 cows, with Hereford cattle being the base of their herd. Crossbreeding with Angus cattle produces animals that Carrel said are desirable at the sale barn.
“That’s one of the best sellers you can get,” Carrel said. “I’ve topped the market several times at Oklahoma City.”
Carrel and Louise have both served on the Pontotoc County Farm Service Agency Board, the Pontotoc County Fair Board and have been involved in the Oklahoma Hereford Association. Both Louise and Carrell taught at Byng Public Schools, and each was honored as teacher of the year during their time in education. Each member of the Bryant family has been active in 4-H.
OKFB’s Farm and Ranch Family Recognition program honors a farm and ranch family in each of OKFB’s nine districts who upholds the best traditions of Oklahoma agriculture and rural Oklahoma as they raise food and fiber for our state and beyond.
“Our farm and ranch families play a vital role in growing food, caring for the land and making our rural communities vibrant,” said Kitty Beavers, 2018 OKFB WLC Chairman. “Our Women’s Leadership Committee is proud to recognize these families’ hard work and dedication to agriculture and Oklahoma. Each of these families is a tremendous asset to Oklahoma as they continue some of the best traditions our state knows.”
As part of their recognition, the family received a cash award along with a custom sign to hang at their farm gate.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is the organization’s largest yearly gathering of farmers and ranchers. At the event, members vote on grassroots policy, elect leaders and award outstanding individuals. OKFB has a presence in all 77 Oklahoma counties and serves as the voice of agriculture and the rural way of life. To learn more, visit www.okfarmbureau.org.
Download a high-resolution photo of the Bryant family.
Suggested caption:
The Carel and Louise Bryant Family of Francis were named the 2018 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee’s Farm & Ranch Family Recognition recipients for OKFB District 8 at the organization’s awards banquet on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the 2018 OKFB annual meeting in Norman. Pictured left to right: Randy, Carel, Louise and Lisa Bryant.
