On P. Allen Smith’s 600-acre Moss Mountain Farm in Roland, just 20 minutes northwest of Pinnacle Mountain, he shepherds a flock of sheep.
These aren’t your plain-Jane, run-of-the-mill sheep. They are white Dorper, an early 20th-century South African breed prized for its meat rather than its hair. “Their hair is not wool,” Smith said. “It’s a breed we chose because they do well in Arkansas.”
Smith’s farm is also home to dogs, donkeys, peacocks, horses, heritage poultry and a cat named Marge, who, like her master, is quite the media mogul. The feline dispenses a monthly column, dubbed “Marge Says,” on Smith’s website.
There’s a lot more on the website in addition to the cat’s musings. There are links to tons of articles and videos, tutorials, project ideas and more, all of it a reflection of the well-established brand that P. Allen Smith has built.
Here’s a quick glance at that brand: Smith hosts the public television program, “P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home,” and the syndicated 30-minute show, “P. Allen Smith Gardens.” He has a quarter of a million gardening books in print, a cookbook, 100,000 weekly e-newsletter subscribers and, at press time, almost 10,000 Facebook fans. He’s also a regular contributor on NBC’s “The Today Show,” and he’s been featured in numerous national magazines, including House Beautiful and Elle Décor. He’s even been called the “Martha Stewart of the South” by The New York Times.
Entrepreneur and longtime friend of Smith’s, Herren Hickingbotham, calls him a “true Arkansas treasure.” Hickingbotham is serving as chairperson of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation’s upcoming Celebration of Excellence, for which Smith has been named the honoree.
“Allen is the embodiment of the mission and purpose of 4-H,” said Charlie Conklin, president of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation board of directors. “4-H helped him develop his life’s passion, and people across the country now enjoy the benefits of his talents and gifts. We are delighted to spotlight Allen in our Celebration of Excellence because it is just that—a celebration of the excellence he brings to his many fans, viewers and readers.”
Born in Jacksonville, Smith grew up on a middle Tennessee farm, immersed in the natural world, growing plants and tending livestock. He returned to central Arkansas to be closer to his mother’s family when his father, at 37, suffered a fatal embolism after back surgery. Coping with the loss of his father, Smith dove into Arkansas 4-H, raising and exhibiting his own poultry and livestock and participating in 4-H art programs.
After high school, Smith went to Hendrix College in Conway and then the University of Manchester in England, where he studied garden history and design and was appointed a Fellow in the Royal Horticultural Society, an honor he mentions nonchalantly.
In 1993, he started a production company that created 90-second gardening and lifestyle reports for local news affiliates. Before long, Smith said, they had become so popular that stations began requesting a longer format. Soon, the reports blossomed into 30-minute shows highlighting his gardening expertise.
As 4-H was such a big part of Smith’s childhood, he is happy to help bring its mission to new generations of children. “4-H is one of those organizations that is available to every child, despite race or socioeconomic status,” he said. “At the core of my 4-H experience was livestock, but it’s about a lot more than raising animals. There’s a wide range of hobbies, crafts and activities that children can become involved in with 4-H. The organization came about at a time when much of the population was involved in some ways with farms. Today, while it remains an important organization for children in rural communities, it has applications for children of all backgrounds. There’s something in 4-H for every child.”
The annual Celebration of Excellence is the Arkansas 4-H Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, and it allows the group to recognize leadership and service in Arkansas that adheres to 4-H missions. Themed the “Art of Farming,” this year’s celebration will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, at the Peabody Little Rock, and tickets are $200 per person or $2,000 for a table of 10.
Fittingly, Smith will be involved with the evening’s menu. “Chef Andre Poirot is drawing some recipes from my cookbook,” he said, “and we will be providing some food from my farm.”
Smith seems giddy with excitement about the event. “The opportunity to help the Arkansas 4-H Foundation stirs a deep emotion for me,” he said. “Helping others is what I am called to do, and I am honored to help celebrate the art of farming with the Arkansas 4-H Foundation.”
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, call 492-3309.
4-H Celebration of Excellence: “Art of Farming”
when: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11th
where: Peabody Little Rock
tickets: $200 per person; $2,000 for a table of 10
info: 492-3309