OUR STORY
3rd Generation
Family Operated Business
Our story began in 1979, when Elvin and Linda Armer purchased Yonkipin Dairy, just north of Green Forest, Arkansas. The farm’s name came from the many American lotus flowers—known locally as “Yonkapins”—that bloomed across the large marshy pond on the property. For more than 30 years, the Armers faithfully operated the dairy before retiring from milking and transitioning the farm into a commercial beef operation.
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In 2020, two of their children, Marty Armer and Sheila Nance, stepped in to carry the legacy forward. Together, the Armer and Nance families have worked to honor the values of heritage and dedication that have guided the farm for over four decades. They have expanded the cattle herd and now proudly market their beef directly to customers.
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At Yonkipin Legacy Farms, our commitment is simple: to provide the highest quality beef possible. Every calf in our program is born and raised right here on the farm. Supplying our families—and our community—with healthy, nutritious beef is not just our business, it’s our calling.
MEET THE ARMER FAMILY
Marty and Kristy have been raising cattle since 2006, working to instill in their children the values of faith, family, and hard work. Marty grew up on his parents’ dairy farm, where those lessons took root early. He later served nine years as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army Reserves, deploying twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Alongside managing the cattle, Marty has also dedicated more than 20 years to Barrows Excavation.
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Kristy’s path into agriculture began with a lifelong love of gardening and a dream of living on a farm. She earned her teaching degree from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, followed by a master’s in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University. After eight years teaching Business and Special Education at Blue Eye High School, she now homeschools the Armer children while managing the farm’s daily operations and bookkeeping.
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The Armer kids are an essential part of the farm. From checking, feeding, and working cattle to mending fences and helping with hay production, their contributions keep everything running. They are active in 4-H, where they enjoy showing animals and participating in local fairs, continuing the family tradition of hard work and community involvement.
MEET THE NANCE FAMILY
Raymon and Sheila were both raised on dairy farms before marrying in 1982 and moving away from the Green Forest area. Raymon earned his master’s degree in Agricultural Economics and spent four years working as an extension agent in Oklahoma. In an unexpected twist, his career path shifted to healthcare, where he served as IT Director for Mercy–Rogers and Washington Regional. He dedicated over 27 years to that role before retiring in 2023.
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Sheila devoted her early years to raising their children and homeschooling, later returning to school to earn her master’s degree in Elementary Education. Over the course of her career, she taught preschool, second grade, and English as a Second Language (ESL) to Kindergarten through third graders. After 20 years of teaching, she retired from the Green Forest School District in 2024.
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In 2016, the Nances returned to Green Forest and became active members of New Hope Fellowship. Today, they enjoy working side by side on the farm, continuing their agricultural roots and sharing high-quality beef from their pastures to your table.
