MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Terry Koone family has been recognized as the 2024 Drew County Homestead Family of the Year for their dedication to farming, local community involvement, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Terry and Jackie Koone moved to Drew County in 1981 and have since built a life centered around their family and farm. The couple has two children, Kristen and Steven Koone, and three grandchildren, Brayden Bussell, Madison Bussell, and Beckett Koone. The Koones’ farm, aptly named “Just Another Kid,” focuses on raising dairy goats. For the past decade, they have successfully raised Nigerian Dwarf, Toggenburg, and Alpine goats.
Their contributions to the local agricultural community extend beyond their own family. The Koones work closely with Drew Central FFA and support other youth in the area, helping foster a new generation of farmers. Terry is known for selling goat offspring and milk, while Jackie turns the milk into homemade lye soap, which they sell at the local farmers market, “Market in the Park.”
In addition to their farming ventures, Jackie retired from the Monticello School District after a 35-year career in teaching and now runs a bakery business called “The Wooden Spoon,” where she creates a variety of cakes, pies, cookies, and other desserts.
Terry, who retired after 35 years as an insurance adjuster with Farm Bureau, has also started an apiary business. He is becoming well-known in the community for his beekeeping services, including catching swarms, performing cutouts, and setting trap outs. His growing business, “Bee-Ware T’n’J Honey,” is steadily accumulating hives with hopes of selling honey in the near future.
The Koone family’s dedication to farming, education, and community service makes them a deserving recipient of the 2024 Drew County Homestead Family of the Year award. They continue to enrich the local community through their work and ongoing contributions to Drew County agriculture.
