Stone County Treasures – Roy Buckner
September 3, 2020
Cindy Hembree
Anyone who takes the time to explore Stone County will find all kinds of special treasures. Table Rock Lake is the best known, but there is also Spring Creek in Hurley or Talking Rocks Cavern in Branson West. However, sometimes there are treasures that are less ornate and not considered as grand, until you get to know them. This month, the treasure we want to bring to the forefront is Roy Buckner.
Roy has been around here for a long time, but lately, hardly anyone ever gets to see him. In early summer, when traveling to Branson on Hwy 76, a person can’t miss seeing the produce stand that sits in a garage just off the second curve out of Branson West. It has a history and a strong, but humble man behind it.
Roy Buckner was born in Elder, Missouri which is three and a half hours north of Stone County. When he was a young boy his family moved to North Carolina. His father worked on the dams being built at the time. He served in the Korean War as a messenger delivering messages to the frontlines. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and returned to North Carolina to follow in his father’s footsteps working on the dams. When he was laid off in 1956, he returned to Missouri and settled down in Blue Eye.
Once he felt at home here, in Stone County, he met Bula May Miller from Reeds Spring. On August 1, 1956, they were married. It is unclear as to when Roy bought the land heading east toward Branson. No one knows whether he bought it before they were married or after, but they lived just a short distance east of where the modest home and produce stand sits now. But how did a 26-year old young man become interested in produce. Word has it, at that time, there were only two types of jobs here, the railroad and the tomato canning industry. Roy said, “There wasn’t much work down here back then.” He claims, with a slight smirk on his lips, “I happened to marry a girl who knew tomatoes.”
Their tomato business was so successful, they supplied most of Stone County with tomatoes and the surrounding areas. They had such a good reputation, their tomatoes were being requested and sold all the way up in Kansas City! In this day and age, that may not seem so impressive, but back in those days, it was a big deal. However, when their two boys started getting older, Roy said he stopped taking those trips up north. Their oldest son, Doug, was born in the summer of 1957, and Greg came along in 1963 during the hard winter months.
Eventually, they began adding other vegetables to their inventory. Squash, cucumbers, zucchini, among other things. Now, the timeline is a little fuzzy, but somewhere around 1968 to 1970, Roy planted some peach trees. By 1973, the orchard was in full force. From there the produce stand has developed into what it is today. The boys were a big help to them as they got older. As a matter of fact, Greg can be found at the farm walking in his dad’s footsteps.
Working to keep up with the demands of the farming life is a lot of hard work. “Most people think that we only work six months out of the year when we are open, but that’s not true,” said Greg, “we have to take care of the plants and the beds all year long.” People who are not savvy to farming do not realize that during the fall and winter months the ground needs to be fertilized and covered. Late freezes are always a concern. The trees must be tended to so they can be protected from such things, if possible. One can tell when the plants and trees have been cared for and nurtured. The Buckner’s orchard grow the best peaches and tomatoes in Stone County. They are juicy and full of flavor. Not only has Roy cultivated his trees and plants, but he has also taught his son to do the same.
“My son has been a big help to me,” Roy admitted. “I don’t know what I would do without him,” he said. And it is not just Greg, but his loving daughters, Carli and Holli can also be found lending a helping hand behind the cash register these days.
But what makes Roy Buckner so special? Everyone in this area who know Roy will tell you how kind, friendly, humble and hard-working he is. He was born August 9, 1930, so last month he turned 90 years of age. What is so amazing is he still works with the produce. Up until a couple years ago, Roy was still working out in the field. “It hurts my grandpa that he cannot do that anymore,” remarks Carli. However, even though Roy has had to slow down a little, people can still go in and see him working in and around the produce stand. He may be a little shy at first, but once he starts talking, a person will find out he is sincerely a real pleasure.
We salute you, Roy Buckner! You are a true and valued Stone County treasure.
Anyone who takes the time to explore Stone County will find all kinds of special treasures. Table Rock Lake is the best known, but there is also Spring Creek in Hurley or Talking Rocks Cavern in Branson West. However, sometimes there are treasures that are less ornate and not considered as grand, until you get to know them. This month, the treasure we want to bring to the forefront is Roy Buckner.
Roy has been around here for a long time, but lately, hardly anyone ever gets to see him. In early summer, when traveling to Branson on Hwy 76, a person can’t miss seeing the produce stand that sits in a garage just off the second curve out of Branson West. It has a history and a strong, but humble man behind it.
Roy Buckner was born in Elder, Missouri which is three and a half hours north of Stone County. When he was a young boy his family moved to North Carolina. His father worked on the dams being built at the time. He served in the Korean War as a messenger delivering messages to the frontlines. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and returned to North Carolina to follow in his father’s footsteps working on the dams. When he was laid off in 1956, he returned to Missouri and settled down in Blue Eye.
Once he felt at home here, in Stone County, he met Bula May Miller from Reeds Spring. On August 1, 1956, they were married. It is unclear as to when Roy bought the land heading east toward Branson. No one knows whether he bought it before they were married or after, but they lived just a short distance east of where the modest home and produce stand sits now. But how did a 26-year old young man become interested in produce. Word has it, at that time, there were only two types of jobs here, the railroad and the tomato canning industry. Roy said, “There wasn’t much work down here back then.” He claims, with a slight smirk on his lips, “I happened to marry a girl who knew tomatoes.”
Their tomato business was so successful, they supplied most of Stone County with tomatoes and the surrounding areas. They had such a good reputation, their tomatoes were being requested and sold all the way up in Kansas City! In this day and age, that may not seem so impressive, but back in those days, it was a big deal. However, when their two boys started getting older, Roy said he stopped taking those trips up north. Their oldest son, Doug, was born in the summer of 1957, and Greg came along in 1963 during the hard winter months.
Eventually, they began adding other vegetables to their inventory. Squash, cucumbers, zucchini, among other things. Now, the timeline is a little fuzzy, but somewhere around 1968 to 1970, Roy planted some peach trees. By 1973, the orchard was in full force. From there the produce stand has developed into what it is today. The boys were a big help to them as they got older. As a matter of fact, Greg can be found at the farm walking in his dad’s footsteps.
Working to keep up with the demands of the farming life is a lot of hard work. “Most people think that we only work six months out of the year when we are open, but that’s not true,” said Greg, “we have to take care of the plants and the beds all year long.” People who are not savvy to farming do not realize that during the fall and winter months the ground needs to be fertilized and covered. Late freezes are always a concern. The trees must be tended to so they can be protected from such things, if possible. One can tell when the plants and trees have been cared for and nurtured. The Buckner’s orchard grow the best peaches and tomatoes in Stone County. They are juicy and full of flavor. Not only has Roy cultivated his trees and plants, but he has also taught his son to do the same.
“My son has been a big help to me,” Roy admitted. “I don’t know what I would do without him,” he said. And it is not just Greg, but his loving daughters, Carli and Holli can also be found lending a helping hand behind the cash register these days.
But what makes Roy Buckner so special? Everyone in this area who know Roy will tell you how kind, friendly, humble and hard-working he is. He was born August 9, 1930, so last month he turned 90 years of age. What is so amazing is he still works with the produce. Up until a couple years ago, Roy was still working out in the field. “It hurts my grandpa that he cannot do that anymore,” remarks Carli. However, even though Roy has had to slow down a little, people can still go in and see him working in and around the produce stand. He may be a little shy at first, but once he starts talking, a person will find out he is sincerely a real pleasure.
We salute you, Roy Buckner! You are a true and valued Stone County treasure.