OZ Life Pod

If you love and care about the trails here in Northwest Arkansas, this is a must listen. We spend time talking to Robbie Wells (Director of Soft Surface Trail Construction), Summer Reign (Volunteer Coordinator), and Roni Ramos (Community Education Coordinator). We cover a variety of topics including:Trail Team Structure & OperationsThe Balance Between Building and MaintenanceSocial Media Criticism & Trail Builder MoraleTrail Blazers' "Why" StatementDowncountry Trails at the Bike ParkHandcut Hollow Improvements & NICA CourseBentonville Discovery LoopGateway Park & Skills Park UpdatesDisco Stu — New Trail (Secret Location)Trail Work DaysTrail Adoption ProgramSector Leader Program (Coming Soon)Key Volunteers HighlightedCommunity Classes (Free to the Public)Volunteer Opportunities with Community ClassesSocial RidesClosing AppreciationWe'd love to hear from you. Give us a shout at [email protected].

We cover a lot of topics in this episode, some fun, some contentious. Have questions? Want us to cover a topic? Want us to bring on a guest? Email us at [email protected]. 0:00 - Intro1:14 - Colorado Trip Recap12:59 - Victor's 50th Birthday Trip to France38:45 - Wishing Springs Bridge Project56:53 - Trail Blazers Updates1:26:09 - Rogue Trail Building1:33:12 - Electric Motorcycles on Trails1:44:34 - Listener Q: Tire Choice for NWA1:52:33 - Listener Q: What Is Trail Adoption?

Wes Evans is a lifelong Benton County native, farmer, small business owner, and the face behind the "Fix It or Keep Farming" social media series. He joins Andy and Victor for a wide-ranging conversation about farming, rural life, cycling, and the challenges of keeping a generational farm alive in one of the fastest-growing counties in America.Topics Covered:Wes's BackgroundBorn and raised in Rogers, AR – never lived more than two miles from where he lives nowGrew up on a dairy farm; now runs a cow-calf operation in the Highfill areaMarried to Laura (also grew up on a dairy farm); two kids, ages 15 and 17Kids are virtually homeschooled to accommodate their heavy 4-H and FFA involvementFamily was named Benton County Farm Family of the YearThe Evans FarmGenerational cow-calf operation farming with his parents dailyCo-founded a pasture-to-plate steer program for the Benton County Fair with extension agent Johnny GonzalezActive in Farm Bureau (federation side) and the Cattlemen's AssociationPet Cremation BusinessBought a small pet cremation business from a retiring family friendGrew it into a full-time operation; wife Laura left nursing (16 years in geriatrics) to join the businessThe Economics of FarmingWhy you can't make a living on cattle alone anymore: equipment costs, diesel, land pricesThe "moving target" of commodity markets and the danger of "that's how we've always done it"Average age of a U.S. rancher is ~58 — who's coming next?Homesteading vs. hobby farms vs. production agriculture: each has a role, but they can't replace each other when it comes to feeding AmericaChallenges Specific to Benton CountyUrban sprawl and loss of farmland to developmentA proposed new highway (connecting Hiawassee to Hwy 412) runs through the Evans family's generational land, including a 120-year-old hay barnEminent domain concerns, forced sales, and tax implicationsThe Illinois River Watershed, Oklahoma's lawsuit against Arkansas poultry producers, and the politics of environmental regulationGenerational farm succession: how farms get split, worn-out heirs, and the difficulty of keeping it in the family"Fix It or Keep Farming"Wes's social media series about jerry-rigging farm equipment to keep goingBorn from the reality that something is always broken on a farmFeatured his son Weston, who cruises through Rogers roundabouts on a tractorCycling & Rural RoadsThe farmer's perspective on cyclists: some jealousy (who are these people riding on a Wednesday afternoon?), some frustration with road behaviorRepresenting your jersey/kit: if you're wearing a team or club name, you represent themGravel roads are safer and friendlier than paved roads for cyclistsThe mutual challenge of farm equipment and cyclists sharing rural roadsDogs: the #1 frustration for both sides — tips discussed include water bottle spray, air horns, talking to them like their owner would, and bringing Slim Jim treatsElectric Bikes for FarmersWes floats the idea of marketing e-bikes to farmers for moving equipment between fieldsCurrent logistics: wife drives the truck to shuttle between fields; top tractor speed is 16–21 mphE-bikes (legal up to ~28 mph) could fill that gap — someone should market this to John Deere dealersThe Gambler 500A $500-car, 500-mile navigation rally that started in Oregon — now nationwideWes helped bring it to the Ozarks (Turner Bend area); participants pick up trash in the national forestClosing GratitudeVictor: grateful for farmers and everyone who does the work he doesn't want to doWes: grateful for the struggles of the life he's been building, for his kids being invested in ag, and for agritourism efforts helping people understand farmingAndy: shout-out to his wife Jackie, who is 1,900 miles into the Tour Divide — riding fully self-supported from Banff, Canada to the Mexico border

In this episode, Victor and Andy jump on the mic's to go over a few local trail updates. In this shortened 30 minute episode we talk about:The new Walmart HQ soft surface beginner trails.Current progress on the Bentonville Discovery Loop (and what that loop is meant to be).Handcut Hollow is getting a maintenance makeover.Update on the newest Bike Park-adjacent downcountry trail coming, named OZ 8.A new handcut XC trail coming over near It’ll Bluff Out.Should we be giving info on new trails under construction if folks are going to rogue-bypass the "closed" signs and ride the unfinished trails?Coming soon... Trailblazers making public their maintenance and trail building schedule for each month. Update on the new side path’s in Bella Vista.Wishing Springs bridge project update.New OZ Trails merchandise and where to find it.

The OZ Trails Bike Park with Gary Vernon and Cory Kruse.We headed over to the new bike park to chat with General Manager Gary Vernon and Head of Retail Cory Kruse. We talk in depth about a variety of topics including:Gary’s origin story with bikes, motos, and the history of trail development in OZ and his integral part in it. Cory’s story on bikes, motos, and how his career led him to the bike park.How the idea for the bike park was born.The story behind the trails, building, and concepts at the bike park.Memberships, non member activities on offer, the restaurant, bike shop, retail space, and how it all comes together for the full bike park experience. What the future looks like.www.oztrailsbikepark.com