Passing It On: Meek Family Continues Multi-Generational Farm Operation

by Janice Penix

Thirteen years ago, Mike Meek held a supporting role as his dad and uncle were named the county farm family of the year.

Now, less than two years retired from a career at the local utility company, Mike farms full-time, and it is his turn to receive the accolades.

Along with his wife, Trish, and their children, Kelsey and Walter, – and with his father, Dale, now in the supporting role, Mike’s family is the 2025 Johnson County Farm Family of the Year.

Mike and Trish own a cattle farm off County Road 2301 in Clarksville, right next to his parents’ home and around the bend from the house where his grandparents lived and started the Meek operation.

The Meeks own 152 acres and lease about 140 more, and run 86 head of cross-bred momma cows. It’s a job Mike says he inherited and always knew would be part of his life.

“I’ve always done this,” Mike said. “I guess I got my start as a little kid, hauling hay. We didn’t have round bales back then, and I moved a lot of square bales with my dad.

“We always had cows, and I had some of my own even back then. I bought a dozen or so back in ‘88 or ‘89 and put them on my grandpa’s land across the interstate. I still run some cows over there.”

As an adult, Mike worked full-time in the electric department of Clarksville Light and Water (now Clarksville Connected Utilities), and continued to help with his family’s farm in his off-hours. He also learned to ride horses and competed in roping events at rodeos from an early age.

“I was raised on the Hurley ranch,” he said. “That’s what we did. I started riding horses as soon as I was old enough to ride, and I helped my dad at Hurley’s ever since I was old enough to go with him.”

Mike’s father, a decorated roper himself, worked for Bob Hurley on his ranch in Johnson County, and his children grew up in that environment.

“I learned my work ethic from my dad,” Mike said. “He showed us that you might get down, but you got right back up again. I learned a lot from him.”

In addition to his father, Mike said he inherited a love of the land and farming from both sets of his grandparents.

“My grandpa Hinson had a big garden,” he said. “Boy, I hated to garden. It was a lot of work to do it right, and he did. The Meeks, from my great-grandpa down always had horses and land, and were traders.”

His grandparents on the Meek side lived on Wire Road, not far from where Mike and Trish currently live. The couple moved into that home early in their marriage and raised their kids there until they built a home and relocated next to his parents, Dale and Veda Meek…The full story appears in the July 2 edition of The Graphic, found online and in businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.

Photo: The Mike Meek family is the 2025 Johnson County Farm Family of the Year. Family members include (front row, from left) Annie and Tillie Forrest, Fayelynn Meek; (back row) Cody and Kelsey Forrest, Veda and Dale Meek, Trish and Mike Meek, and Cheyanne, Wynnleigh and Walt Meek.

–Photo courtesy Shelby Phillips Photography