Building on Family Land in Rural Arkansas
Why the Branscums chose to build in Searcy County and how they made it happen.
For Ethan and Katie Branscum, building a home was never just about square footage, floor plans, or finishes. It was about coming home.
After more than a decade in Little Rock building careers and raising their family, the couple never lost sight of a dream they had since they married: returning to rural Arkansas and raising their children on the land that shaped them.
Now, that dream has taken root on a hilltop in Searcy County, looking out over rolling pastures.
Their white brick house sits on a hundred acres of Ethan’s family farm near Marshall. Out back, cattle graze and the views seem to go on forever. It’s the kind of place where their three kids—Maeve, Maverick, and Georgia—can grow up the way their parents did, with family close by, plenty of room to roam, and a life rooted in agriculture.
“Moving back home was always a dream if it could ever work out,” Ethan said. “We both grew up on farms, and we wanted our kids to have that same experience.”
Over the years, the Branscums chased after different opportunities to make their dream happen. There were farms they hoped to buy and places that just didn’t pan out. Even when things didn’t go their way, they kept their eyes on the goal—coming home.
Looking back now, Ethan sees those disappointments as stepping stones that led them right where they were meant to be.
That perseverance is something their Farm Credit loan officer, Brady Willis, witnessed firsthand.
“We worked together for several years trying to put different properties together,” Willis said. “To come out here today and see this home sitting on their farm is incredibly rewarding. They stayed committed to their vision, and now we’re getting to see it come to life.”
The Branscums moved from Little Rock in 2025, helped by the flexibility of remote work. Ethan is a Partner and Director of Investments at Sower Farmland, and Katie is Assistant General Counsel at Leggett & Platt.
Katie grew up on a farm in eastern Arkansas, so she always hoped to return to small-town life, even if she wasn’t sure it could happen.
“We looked up one day and realized we could do it,” she said. “And so we did.”
Cattle are still at the heart of life on the farm. Ethan and his dad run a cow-calf herd of about 200 cows, including some registered Angus. Staying connected to agriculture was a big part of why they wanted to come home.
“It’s rewarding to see our kids interested in the farm,” Ethan said. “Checking cattle, spending time with grandparents, seeing them attend the same school I attended—those are things you can’t really replace.”
Step inside, and you can see the couple’s priorities reflected just as clearly as you can out on the farm.
Big windows let in plenty of sunlight and frame the countryside beyond. Open spaces invite family to gather and friends to linger. The kitchen, living room, and patio were all designed with one thing in mind: bringing people together to share meals and make memories.
You can see the home’s personality in all the little details. There are arched doorways, clean lines, bold light fixtures that catch your eye, and colorful wallpapers that bring warmth and character to each room.
Katie worked with interior designer Austin Ward of Palomino Design Company, choosing bold patterns and textures that really show off her style.
“One of the best parts about building your forever home is not worrying about what the next buyer might want,” she said. “We got to design a home that truly feels like us.”
The Branscums are quick to credit the team that helped bring their vision to life. Longtime family friends, Matt and Jackie Hinchey from Marshall, served as builders on the project, while Ethan’s close friend, Zack DeYmaz, helped develop plans and provided guidance throughout the process.
For Farm Credit, helping families like the Branscums reach their goals is what rural lending is all about.
As the sun dips behind the cattle pasture, it’s easy to see the Branscums have found what they were looking for. It’s not just a house but a place where family traditions, rural values, and future generations can all grow together.
“If it’s in your heart to come back,” Ethan said, “just go for it. Rural America needs more people, and I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
Other News
