For nearly a century, Steelman Farms has stood as a testament to stewardship and family legacy in Cleveland County. The land has been in the Steelman family since the 1940s, - first as a dairy farm and later as a beef cattle and forestry operation. Today, Dean and Delain Steelman have lived on the farm for almost 38 years, carrying forward the values they were both raised with: work hard, care for the land, and leave things better than you found them. 

A Legacy Rooted in Hard Work

Dean and Delain have been married for 42 years, and their shared work ethic is woven into every acre of their farm. Delain, a retired science teacher, begins each morning tending to the animals, maintaining her expansive vegetable and flower gardens, and managing the farm’s finances. Dean, retired from the Forestry Commission, has served on the Cleveland County soil conservation board for more than two decades. Together, they’ve rebuilt fences, restored old structures, and steadily improved the land they love.

Their philosophy is simple and unwavering. As Dean puts it, “We want it better than it was. That’s our motto.” That commitment has earned the Steelman family multiple recognitions, including three “Arkansas Farm Family of the Year” awards between Dean and Delain, Delain’s brother and his family, and Delain’s parents.

Facing Flooding and Erosion Head-On

Before partnering with NRCS, the Steelman's faced severe flooding and erosion that threatened their pastures and infrastructure. Water repeatedly covered large portions of the land, carving deep ditches, making mowing and bush hogging nearly impossible. 

Despite the challenges, the Steelman's never stopped working toward improvement.

“The last few years we have been blessed that the things we couldn’t do, we had people to help us,” Delain reflected.

That help came through a strong partnership with NRCS. Their first project focused on planting trees—an effort that quickly became the “biggest savior” for stabilizing soil and reducing erosion. From there, they expanded into a suite of conservation practices through CSP and EQIP, including:

• Rotational grazing
• Water trough installation fed by clean well water
• Addressed nutrient deficiency in their pastures
• Tree establishment to prevent erosion

Implementing the practices reshaped the farm. The new water system allows one trough to serve three fields and another to serve two, giving cattle consistent access to fresh water and supporting better grazing distribution. The once‑deep ditch is now stable, and the pastures are healthier and more resilient.

Bailey Darnell, the Cleveland and Dallas County District Conservationist, has watched the transformation firsthand.

”Being able to see rotational grazing successfully implemented is so great,” she said. “It’s our bread and butter.”

 After recent drought conditions, the difference was unmistakable: rotationally grazed pastures held up better, recovered faster, and provided a safety net during tough weather.

 “I’ve noticed the difference within the last three years,” Dean agreed, calling this the best the operation has ever looked.

A Farm Built for the Future

With NRCS support, the Steelman's have transformed flood‑damaged land into a thriving, sustainable operation that will serve their family for generations. Their next goal is to add cross‑fencing to expand their rotational grazing system even further. And as always, they remain committed to helping neighbors and giving back to the land.

As Dean put it, “Everything we do is to make things better.”