SOCIAL HILL — C. Carl Schultz, 52, grew up on a small family farm near Donaldson.
“Back in the day, everybody had a little farm,” he said, smiling. “We had mostly chickens and pigs.”
Carl is still farming, now with his three adult sons — 28-year-old twins, C. Ryan Schultz and Ethen C. Schultz, and 24-year-old Zachary C. Schultz. Carl’s sister, Cynthia Knoerr, is also a partner in the farming operation, which they call the Whiskey Ridge Ranch.
The family owns 334 acres in the Social Hill community. They raise 100 acres of hay and 152 head of cattle, including Angus and longhorn cattle. The acreage also includes 67 acres of pine forest.
Carl said he is honored to have been named Farm Family of the Year, adding that he includes his farm employees as part of the family.
“I just wish they had recognized us back when the kids were young and all working on the farm,” he said, laughing. “They are the ones who have done all the hard work.”
Carl is a son of Lillie Dvorak and the late Kenny Schultz.
Carl also has one brother, Keith Schultz of Hot Springs.
“Cindy and I are partners in all of our businesses, fifty-fifty,” Carl said.
Carl’s mother and sister live on the farm property, as do his sons Ryan and Ethen.
“Zachary is here on weekends,” Carl added.
Carl said all three of his sons graduated from Bismarck High School and from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.
Carl was active in 4-H and FFA activities when he was growing up. He graduated from Ouachita High School in 1984 and from Henderson State University in 1988 with a business administration degree with an emphasis in accounting.
Carl, his sons and his sister work off the farm as well.
“We got into the real estate business in 1995 and started an investment business (Intrepid Investments Inc.) in 1997,” he said.
The Schultzes operate Intrepid Management Inc. in Little Rock, and the business focuses on the management of lower-income housing, especially for the disabled and those with special needs.
“We currently are all working together in our real estate investments headquartered in Little Rock,” Carl said. “We continue to share the farm responsibilities as a family.”
Carl said they “intend to develop self-sustainable production of organic beef” at Whiskey Ridge Ranch.
“We are partnering with our neighbors and other cattle owners/operators in the area to spread the knowledge of this type of farming throughout our community,” he said. “We share our products to show the community the difference in fresh-off-the-farm products versus the store-bought products in texture, taste and waste.”
Carl said he has employed “many school-age children and taught them the value of hard work. These activities included herd management, tool/equipment maintenance and repair, lawn maintenance, plant care and maintenance, calving, delivering foals, the training of equine, preparation for showing with cows, chickens and horses, record-keeping, time management and learning to be decision-makers,” he said.
After acquiring the initial 147 acres of forgotten land in 2003, Carl and his sons began the recovery of the fields that were overgrown with many types of vegetation.
“We removed all of the old fence lines and installed new barriers,” he said. “The main area is now pipe-fenced, but the most impressive are the barbed-wire fences on the 76 acres installed by the hard work of the children and friends. The posts were cut from the overgrown cedar trees on the land and each posthole dug by hand, … by the children over two summers. The additional 101 acres is still under the recovery plan, with all exterior fencing replaced by the children.”
Carl said the clearing of additional overgrown areas — once fields that were potato fields in the 1940s — are being recovered for grasslands. He said careful attention is paid to the wet areas to maintain the viability of shade and natural vegetation for the creatures that currently exist there. Hardwoods are preserved in these areas, as well as dogwood and redbud trees.
Schultz and his family moved onto the property in 2008.
Virginia Haydel, 22, is one of the young people who has continued to work on the farm; she now oversees the farming operation. She is a graduate of Bismarck High School.
“She was visiting during a fitness class for show cattle as a 14-year-old girl in an FFA class one evening,” Carl said. “She has since become the leader, … making sure the property is maintained as my children have graduated from college and are working in our office in Little Rock.”
Virginia will finish her college degree this semester after taking time off to train at a cutting-horse ranch in Texas. She is working on a degree in animal science with an equine emphasis at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
“She trains all our foals, show cattle and children who want to learn the basics,” Carl said. “I cannot say enough about this remarkable young lady.”
Carl has also built an indoor horse arena on the ranch, which is managed by Mark and Jennifer Bailey.
“This facility is used by 4-H clubs, FFA clubs, special-needs events and other fundraising efforts without fee to the organization,” Carl said. “The facility is also used for barrel-racing clubs, team roping, team sorting and other family-style events with equine and cattle. The facility has been rented for weddings, political gatherings, private parties and children’s birthday parties as well.”
The Baileys, owners of Wild Bunch Horse and Mule Co., train all types of equine on the ranch, using the arena as needed.
The Baileys also conduct youth clinics/camps for all skill sets of equine enthusiasts. They oversee the planned events that include carnivals, weddings, memorials and private events.
Carl said he hopes to farm full time someday, maybe after retirement.
“The farm is the dream,” he said, smiling. “This is my therapy. This is what I want to do.”