Fall 2020 Faulkner Lifestyle

John Ray and Dian Evans
Julie Sanders, John Hartley Evans and Jill Edwards
Dian’s grandfather, J.L. George
BY JENNIFER STANLEY
PHOTOS BY BRANDY STRAIN-DAYER
AND SUBMITTED PHOTO
H&D Tucker Farm is spearheaded
by John Ray and Dian
Evans and was established in
Faulkner County in 1874. In fact,
the farm was recognized last year as
an Arkansas Century Farm. “I guess
you could say our family has lived in
Faulkner County for 146 years,” says
Julie Sanders, granddaughter of John
Ray and Dian.
John Ray and Dian’s son, John
Hartley Evans, works for the family
business, as do his daughters, Jill and
Julie. John Hartley is married to Lisa,
who also has a son, Brennen. Jill is
married to Bobby Edwards, and they
have a son, Hartley. Julie is married
to Brad Sanders, and they have two
children, Josie and John Bradley.
The farm consists of approximately 2,240
acres of total farmed land in Faulkner
County. The original parcel, which was
purchased by Dian’s grandfather, J.L.
George, was 160 acres. “He settled here
in the early 1870s with his parents and
siblings from Saltillo, Mississippi. They
were en route to West Arkansas when
their wagon broke down. As they camped
for the repair, they realized they liked the
soil condition and the water supply and
chose to stay. They decided to name the
homestead ‘Saltillo’ after their home in
Mississippi they left behind,” says Dian.
Dian’s parents, Hartley and Dorothy
(George) Tucker, bought the farm when
J.L. George passed. Dian and John Ray
bought the farm when her parents
passed and plan to keep it in the family
for generations to come.
Today, the family business consists of a
550-acre row crop farm on the Arkansas
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