Page 3 - Women in Business

Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CODY GRAVES/THREE RIVERS EDITION Karen Crawley, left, produce manager, and Sandy Odom, co-owner, greet and help
customers at Holland Bottom Farm’s roadside fruit and vegetable stand.
Sandy Odom and Karen Crawley Holland Bottom Farm
Women in Business • Sunday, October 18, 2015 • 3SS
By Cody Graves
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Holland Bottom Farm has become a staple of the Cabot community. The farm, co-owned by Larry Odom, has
been in business for more than 33 years. Larry’s wife, Sandy, has been a big part of the business. Sandy and Larry’s son, Tim Odom, now runs the day-to-day operations
of the farm.
Sandy, who spent 29 years working at a
law firm in Little Rock, said that even while she was working during the week, the farm was a big part of her weekends.
After retiring from the law firm in 2010, Sandy now works at the farm’s stand during strawberry season and behind the scenes the rest of the year. She said the business has changed considerably in the time it’s been open. The farm used to be a U-pick farm where visitors could come and pick their own strawberries and peaches. Now, with the con- struction of the bypass and the construction of the farm’s roadside stand, the business has changed to offer dozens of types of fruits and vegetables that are packaged and ready to go.
“It’s a lot of work, especially during peak season. Strawberry season is a ‘berry’ deli- cious time at Holland Bottom Farm,” she said.
Sandy takes care of a variety of other tasks. She does the bookkeeping and payroll, takes care of expenses, completes the paperwork for the farm’s H-2A workers and takes care of the billboard business and also mows 3 acres around the home and produce stand.
Sandy said her role model has been her
YOU HAVE TO ENJOY YOUR JOB. YOU’RE
NOT GOING TO BE GOOD AT
SOMETHING IF YOU DREAD
GOING TO WORK.”
— Sandy Odom
husband, Larry, who was recently diagnosed with a Stage 4 brain tumor.
“He’s a workaholic,” she said. “He grew up poor, doesn’t like to waste anything, and he loves people. He is a very caring and generous person. I love him very much.”
In addition to selling fruits and vegeta- bles, Sandy also makes a variety of jams in the winter when business is slower. The jams are sold at the stand, too. She said she enjoys getting to meet everyone who comes to the stand and the friends she has made along the way.
Karen Crawley is the produce manager and runs the produce stand. She has been a regular employee at the stand for five years and became involved with Holland Bottom Farm when her husband, now deceased, did some work for Larry. Before working at Hol- land Bottom Farm, she was a truck driver who would drive back and forth from Mem- phis to the West Coast every week. She said the pace at the farm can be busy, but it still beats driving trucks.
Crawley said everyone who works at the stand is adopted family and that the service the stand provides gives local people fresh produce.
Holland Bottom Farm
A “Real” Famers Market
Get Ready for Fall!
Mums, Corn Stalks, Wheat Straw, Pick Your Own Pumpkins
Hurry! Time is Running Out on Summer Vegetables Homemade Jams
Farm: Cabot Exit 16 A | 1255 Hwy. 321
Open 7 Days a Week! M-Sat. 8a-6p | Sun. 10a-6p