2016 Farm Family

Roy and Barbara Ross

Roy and Barbara Ross both grew up on small farms in Mayes County. Barbara in the Rose area where they raised cattle. Roy in the Locust Grove area where they raised cattle and hogs.

Barbara is the daughter of Leon and Jane Edens and the oldest of four girls. In 1957 she started exhibiting items in the Mayes Co. fair as a first year 4-H'er. She nor her sisters exhibited animals in the fair but they had many exhibits in the exhibits area winning numerous ribbons and champions.

Roy is the son of Jim and Jessie Ross. He has two older sisters and one younger brother. Roy started showing pigs at the county fair during his freshman year in high school. He and his brother won many ribbons and champions.

In 1969 Roy and Barbara were married. They lived in town for two months and decided that was not for them.
They moved to the country where they started raising cattle. They have two children Layne Alan and Polly Renae. They have eight wonderful grandchildren.

Roy and Barbara have always been active in their community. Roy was president of the Locust Grove
Round-up Club for several years. He was in charge of the Sunday afternoon and Thursday night team roping. Barbara served as secretary for Dave Knott Junior Rodeo Contractor. After Barbara started teaching she served as Volunteer 4-H Leader for almost 30 years. Roy joined her as a 4-H leader for about 20 of those years. Roy has taught several showmanship clinics as well as hauled many 4-H'ers to
fairs around the country. Barbara served as an organizational leader. She has been selected as Volunteer Leader of the Year as well as Lifetime Volunteer for Mayes Co. Barbara served on the Mayes County
Fair Board for ten years. She now serves on the Mayes County 4-H Advisory Board. Both Roy and Barbara are lifetime members of the Locust Grove Chamber of Commerce.

When Layne was five years old Roy purchased three registered Dorset ewes. From there he went from cattle to sheep. For several years he ran a flock of about one hundred ewes. Roy has sold lambs to people in 22 different states throughout the United States. Some went directly into a breeding flock and others were show lambs. Lambs from the Ross Sheep Farm have been champions not only in Mayes County, but also in many other county fairs, district shows, jackpots (in several states), Tulsa State Fair,
Ark/Ok Fair in Ft. Smith, AK and Layne showed sheep, steers, and pigs. He raised, showed and sold Poland pigs. His pigs were champions at several county fairs and district shows.
Layne, his wife Jo and their boys Waylon, Cole and
Dusty live on the farm and help care for the sheep. Waylon showed pigs last year and he and Cole plan to show pigs this year. Dusty is waiting to get old enough to show at the fair.

Polly, her husband David Robinson and their girls Samantha and Jessie live in Locust Grove. Polly is the Locust Grove Volunteer 4-H leader, and President of the Parent Leaders org. and Dave is on the Mayes Co. Fair Board. Both Samantha and Jessie show sheep. Jessie also shows pigs and rabbits.

Both Layne and Polly were in FFA where they won State Farmer. Polly also won Sheep Proficiency and National.

The Ross family enjoys being together, working together and helping others. With young grandchildren still participating in the fair, Roy and Barbara do not plan on slowing down any time soon.

"We were quite surprised and honored to be selected Farm Family of the Year for Mayes County. We would like to thank everyone who had a part in selecting our family."