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Linda’s
family brought Agar to Alabama to visit the family farm near Ansley in
Pike County during Christmas of 1960.
"That
was the first time I’d seen this farm. I immediately fell in love it.
Linda and I decided that Christmas one day we were coming back to her
family farm," said Agar.
Agar
had an interesting and exciting life as an engineer. One of his first
jobs was at White Sands Missile Range. Later he was employed in various
fields of electronic warfare. In 1984, he opened his own consulting
company and taught at New Mexico State University. While Agar had
several high profile jobs, he and Linda just couldn’t get the family
farm in Pike County out of their mind. In 1975, they bit the bullet and
bought Linda’s family farm. Chuck and Linda soon got interested in
pecans and began planting a state-of-the-art pecan orchard.
Linda
said even though she had spent time on the farm she had never lived on a
farm. "This farm had been in my family since 1848, so I definitely
had a mental connection to it."
Linda
and Chuck began reading about pecan orchards and were soon grafting and
topworking trees to obtain scab-resistant trees.
"We
now have several varieties of trees. Linda and I believe a multiculture
of several varieties is the way to go," said Agar.
"We
have a rigid spray program we go by to combat scab, shuck worms, aphids,
case borers and other insects. Linda helps me keep up with the spraying
schedules. There is never time to rest when you have a pecan orchard.
Hurricane Opal did a lot of damage and we are still recovering from it.
There is a lot of grafting and topworking to keep the orchard at peak
production," explained Agar.
The
Agars also have a first-class Angus cattle operation.
"I
had always wanted a cattle ranch, so we started with a few head,"
said Agar.
Linda
is the backbone of their cattle operation.
"We
sell registered replacement bulls and heifers to ranchers in the area.
Linda can handle the cows better than I. She keeps immaculate records on
breeding dates, weaning dates, weights, etc. Buyers often call me with
questions on our cattle-I discreetly have to put them on hold so I can
get the facts from Linda. To tell you the truth, she runs the place and
I’m her hired-hand," laughed Agar.
One
would think at age 66 a cattle and pecan operation would be enough for
the average farm couple, but not Agar.
"I
recently bought a breeder hen operation near Goshen. I just thought all
that chicken litter would be ideal to put on the pecan orchard and
pasture. I got in this bind–– if it wasn’t for Tony Woods and Adam
Kilcrease with Wayne Farms I wouldn’t have made it. These guys have
really given me a lot of helpful advice and have been very patience with
me as a greenhorn egg producer," said Agar.
Many
are amazed at Agar’s mechanical abilities on the farm. He is an
accomplished welder, mechanic, plumber and electrician.
"Hey,
here on the farm I might be the design engineer, but I have to quickly
put on a laborer’s hat and do the dirty work, too. I can’t complain
though; I’m in my element when I’m building or working on a piece of
equipment," remarked Agar.
Chuck
and Linda raised two sons and a daughter. All three graduated from
Auburn University. Karl and Alan are graduate engineers, but, like his
father, Karl has answered the call of his first-love: ranching. He
operates a working cattle ranch in New Mexico. Lori is an attorney.
Agar
is very complementary when it comes to the employees at Goshen Farmers
Co-op. "Mike Thomas is one of my very good friends. If he doesn’t
have an answer to an agricultural question, give him a few minutes and
he will be on the phone finding an answer. I buy virtually all my
agricultural supplies at Goshen Farmers Co-op," said Agar.
Agar
may have a PhD, and has earned the right to be called doctor, but a
visit to the farm will find him in well-worn blue jeans and an old
cowboy hat that could stand an oil change. Chances are one would find
him on a tractor or in his welding shop.
"I
realize what a wonderful country this is." Agar rubbed his
posterior and laughed as he joked about the birdshot still imbedded in
his rear from his potato-stealing days.
Agar
said he has had several titles during his working days including Dr.,
defense consultant, engineer, professor and several others.
"I’ve
worn a lot of hats, so to speak, but the title that makes my head swell
and my chest stick out the most is when I’m referred to as an Alabama
farmer," stated Agar.
Ben
Norman is a freelance writer from Highland Home. |
