Meet the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year
Matthew Magdefrau, Arkansas Farm Bureau
Murry Henderson Jr. has always had his head in the clouds. While other children might dream of becoming professional athletes, firefighters or doctors, Henderson knew from an early age he wanted to be an agricultural pilot, an interest stoked by the planes that flew over the Delta.
While it is not unusual for a young boy in the Delta to aspire to work in agriculture, Henderson’s ambition was unique — his family neither farmed nor flew planes. Without that foundation, his dream seemed improbable.
Almost 30 years later, Henderson operates Lepanto Crop Service, which serves between 40 and 50 farms in Poinsett, Mississippi, and surrounding counties in northeast Arkansas. In addition to his aerial application business, Henderson farms approximately 4,200 acres of cotton, corn, rice and soybeans.
The Hendersons were honored in December as the 2024 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, a headline for the story of one family’s success through faith, farming and living out
their own version of the American dream.
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
HENDERSON’S path did not lead directly to aviation. Upon graduating high school, he had the opportunity to attend college and pursue a degree, setting himself up for a traditional career. However, the desire to sit in the seat of an airplane never faded.
“I guess it was just in my blood,” he said.
Unable to ignore his passion, he made a bold decision. While sitting in class, daydreaming about flying, Henderson chose to leave college. The next day, he enrolled in flight school.
“My parents were less than pleased with this decision. It wasn’t good around the house for a while,” he admitted.
Determined to fund his dream, Henderson took a job at a local factory.
“I would fly during the day, working toward my license, and then clock in
at the factory at night.”
For two years, Henderson balanced flight school and factory work until he earned his commercial and agricultural pilot’s licenses. From there, he transitioned into full-time agricultural aviation after landing a job with Lepanto Crop Services.
Though initially hesitant, his parents eventually came to support his career choice wholeheartedly. Their support grew so strong that when his father, Murry Sr., retired in 2010, he wasted no time joining his son’s business.
“He retired from his job on a Friday, and on Monday morning he showed up at my place ready to get to work,” Henderson recalled.
His father had only one condition: He starts at 8 a.m. and is home by 4 p.m. To this day, Murry Sr. remains an integral part of the operation. The Henderson men share a hearty work ethic.
While this might seem like the perfect conclusion to Henderson’s story, he was far from settling. In 2001, he and his uncle, the late Winston Bowman, had the opportunity to rent an airstrip in West Ridge — a key step toward operating his own agricultural service company. However, the rental agreement came with an unusual stipulation: He was required to farm the 100 acres surrounding the airstrip.
A TWIST IN THE STORY
THIS REQUIREMENT posed a significant challenge for Henderson and wife, Dee. By this time, he was experienced in agricultural aviation but had no background in farming. Fortunately, his friend Ron Holthouse provided encouragement and hands-on support.
Holthouse assured Henderson he could farm successfully, offering guidance and even lending equipment.
Henderson figured being a farmer would only help build trust with his clients of the crop service business.
Before long, he was not only piloting aerial applicators but also farming in the Mississippi River Delta. Being a first-generation farmer can be difficult. Someone who embraces that role must be willing to take on significant risk, everything from equipment costs to land needs and labor.
Within five years, Henderson secured additional rental agreements with local landowners Travis Senter and J.C. Portis Land Co., expanding the Henderson’s farming operation to nearly 700 acres by 2005. Henderson attributes much of his success to these connections: “Being a first-generation farmer, it’s hard for landowners to turn you loose on something critical without knowing if you will succeed. People stepping out, giving me a chance to prove myself is what made all the difference early on.”
From there, steady growth became the goal, and they have slowly and steadily increased their acreage.
The labor issue has always remained but Murry and Dee both agree they have had their fair share of great employees over the years. Reggie Horton and Barry Blake were names mentioned several times among the helping hands that quickly became like family for the Hendersons. Labor today remains an issue, and since 2022 Henderson has employed some H2A laborers.
A PILLAR TO STAND BESIDE
DEE GREW UP on a small farm in Crittenden County, where she was exposed to the farming way of life. She was a labor and delivery nurse when she met ,Murry. After they married and started a family, she found herself missing important moments, such as tee-ball games and family time, due to her nursing schedule.
As the Hendersons’ agricultural service business expanded alongside their farming operation, it became evident that someone needed to oversee the logistics of both ventures. In 2003, Dee took on that role, diving headfirst into managing the business. Today, she handles everything from mapping out fields and directing pilots to managing payroll. She is a cornerstone of the operation.
“She does it all, and she’s been by my side all the way,” Henderson said.
“It’s a lot of chaos,” Dee laughs. “I deal with our farmers every single day. It’s gotten to the point where farmers call me before Murry. At this point I know more names of fields than Murry does.”
“She also writes a little neater than I do,” Murry said. “Jokes aside, I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
The flying business continued to grow alongside the farm. As Henderson built relationships with farmers, they exchanged knowledge. By working with farmers from multiple generations, he gained wisdom from experienced growers while staying current with new agricultural technology introduced by younger farmers.
In 2012, Murry and Dee acquired full ownership of Lepanto Crop Service,the company where Henderson began flying. They now operate two planes full-time, with Henderson being one of two full-time agricultural pilots.
THE NEXT GENERATION
BOTH DEE AND MURRY’S active engagement in farming meant their children, Bryce and Macy, grew up immersed in the operation.
“We had pack-and-plays in the office, and our farmers would come in and pick the kids up and bounce them on their leg while they would book work,” Dee and Murry laughed.
Bryce followed in his dad’s piloting footsteps, graduating from Delta State University with a degree in commercial aviation. He now flies for Republic Airlines. Meanwhile, Macy is completing a nursing degree at Arkansas State University, following in Dee’s initial career path before she transitioned to farming.
Bryce still enjoys visiting the farm on his days off, helping with fieldwork and getting seat time on the tractor. Macy’s fiancé is working toward his agricultural pilot’s license, potentially becoming the next generation of the flying service.
“It fills me with pride seeing what they’ve already accomplished, whether they want to come back and farm or not. They’re hardworking and don’t think they’re better than anyone else. I am very, very proud of my kids,” Henderson exclaimed, with a lump visible in his throat.
THE HENDERSON MOTTO
SUCCESS IS DIFFICULT to quantify. The Hendersons have received numerous accolades, with their recent recognition as Arkansas Farm Family of the Year being the latest acknowledgment of their hard work.
However, if one was to ask Murry or Dee what defines their success, they would not focus on personal achievements. Instead, they would credit those who helped them along the way — their family, employees, customers and community — and how they pass that help forward by always being willing to help others.
An example of this that hits close to home for Henderson is when his brother lost his job at the Memphis airport after being unwilling to relocate around 2010. Henderson helped him get started in farming, much like Holthouse did several years earlier.
His brother now farms around 3,800 acres and has a son who is gearing up to be the next generation on that operation.
“You don’t get ahead by going at it alone,” Henderson said.
Whether referring to employees, customers or even a stranger arriving at his farm to take photos for the Farm Family of the Year program, Henderson and his family treat everyone with respect and kindness — this is the Henderson motto. For Henderson, gratitude remains at the heart of his journey.
“The good Lord blessed us,” he continued. “A lot of people consider farming a gamble every year; however, if you love what you do, it’s not a gamble.
“People tell me I work too much with flying and farming, but I love it, so they couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Watch to learn more about the Henderson family.