01 Jun 2025 Couple of the Month: Sandra Hill and J.R. Barnett
HER STORY:
I’ve always wanted to be the kind of wife, mother, and grandma that when I put my feet on the floor first thing in the morning, the Devil says, “Oh no, she’s up!”
Native of: Greenbrier
Children: I have a daughter, Nikki Dillard, and a son, Steve Mauldin.
Education: I graduated from Greenbrier High School.
Work: Retired substitute teacher for Conway Christian School.
How would you describe yourself? I try to be a fair and truthful person and the best loving grandmother I can be to our 18 grandchildren.
Special interests: I enjoy painting, sewing and playing music. I play the piano and the upright bass and sing with our little group called the Shade Tree Jammers. In April, we added a new type of contest, Bull Whip Events, at J.R.’s Hobby Horse.
What are you especially proud of: I am proud of raising two children, and of our 18 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Church activities: We attend Highway 65 Church of Christ in Conway.
HIS STORY:
I have only lived within 50 miles of Conway all my life, and I can’t imagine any place with more opportunity.
Native of: Heber Springs
Children: I have two sons and three daughters: Bob Barnett, Jason Barnett, Robin Seals, Leah Colclasure and Laynie Ashlock.
Education: I attended the University of Central Arkansas, but was more interested in farming.
Work: While working in a bank in Heber Springs, I bought the local men’s store in 1962 and named it J.R.’s Men’s Store. Then, in 1984, I built J.R.’s Hobby Horse.
How would you describe yourself? I am energetic about my interests and devoted to my beliefs.
Awards you’re especially proud of: I have won Team Roping Awards. I am also proud of my five children and our 18 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Church activities: We attend Highway 65 Church of Christ in Conway.
Special interests: I like braiding bullwhips and nearly anything that is about horses. I enjoy playing my guitar, and right now we are playing at the Farmer’s Market, different nursing homes and basically any place that we might get fed!
What do you love about living in the 501? It is a sure way to get to know people all around us.
Their STORY:
Little did we know, we both had mutual friends, Wayne and Vickie Evans. Like J.R., Wayne also did team roping, and he and Vickie asked if I wanted to go with them to a roping over at J.R.’s Hobby Horse. So, I polished my boots and put on my jeans and went with them. As we drove to the back of the store, I saw this pair of Wrangler jeans walking out to the arena. Little did I know that they were going to be mine in a few short years. I thought the twinkle of his eyes was the sun reflecting on his bifocals, but I was wrong. We later realized that we both had an interest in horses and music, which drew us closer together.
As far as the proposal went, I had made a small Thanksgiving dinner for just the two of us and it went like this: “Marry Me,” and I said “Yep,” and that was it. The big problem after that was when we could get married — it had to be a weekend that was clear of any roping. We finally got to say our “I Do’s” on December 7, 1996 (Pearl Harbor Day)!
Together we have enjoyed Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Ranch Races, Cowboy Trade Days and of course our new adventure with Bull Whip Events. We were at a Cowboy Trade Days event in Oklahoma and North Arkansas when we saw the Wild West Arts Club perform whip popping, gun twirling, knife throwing and rope spinning, which gave us the idea of having a bullwhip event as a sport in Arkansas. Thus, the contest was developed. After research, we have found contests in Los Angeles, Florida and Utah, and I am sure there are others, but we didn’t find one in Arkansas. That’s why we started this one in April and are planning on more in the future.
