Farmer of the Month - November 2015 - John Turner
TEXARKANA, Ark. –
John Lee Turner, Jr. is our farmer of the month for November. He is the retired Miller County Extension Service’s Agriculture Agent. Mr. Turner has provided valuable education and training in all aspects of agriculture (especially pecan production) during his tenure, and continues to consult on pecan production since his retirement.
John Turner was born fourth of eight children into a family of farmers with both his parents and
grandparents farming.
Much of his childhood was spent on Sims Island, 20 miles east of Texarkana where he attended Harvey Elementary,
a small three-room building. This is where he first developed a love for agriculture.
After high school, John received a B.S. at UA-Pine Bluff and a M.S.E. from UA-Fayetteville.
Mr. Turner also attended Texas A&M University and studied pecan production. By the time he retired from the Miller County Extension Service in January, he was considered the number one authority on pecan production in Arkansas, earning him the nickname, “Pecan John.”
John specifically farms pecans and cattle. He said he loves to be outdoors and knowing that he is responsible for making all decisions on everything economical because all prices in farming are expensive.
Before becoming employed with the University of AR Division of Agriculture in Miller County in 1988, he taught vocational agriculture in West Helena, AR for 14 years.
Some of his career achievements since 1990 have been:
• Organizing the Gateway Farmers Market (originally named the Four States Farmers
Market)
• Organizing the Red Dirt Master Gardeners.
• Organizing the 4-H Back to Nature program for disadvantaged youth.
• Organizing the 4-H Fishing Derby.
• Organizing Train the Trainer Leadership Program, specializing in Parliamentary Procedure,
By-Law Writing and Effective Meeting Training
The most important thing he would like for you to know is management. The pecan tree is a tree that will not compete with any other vegetative growth for nutrition. This means you have to control all vegetative growth around and on the tree.
He says he believes in being fair in every aspect of his life. One of his favorite sayings is, “You can’t run with the rabbits and hunt with the hunters.” In other words, you must choose the direction you will take in this life.
By Jennifer Caraway
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Jennifer Caraway
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
400 Laurel Street, Suite 215 Texarkana AR 71854
(870) 779-3609
jcaraway@uada.edu
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