After 38 years of soil toil, Hilltop Farm announces retirement

Oscar and Amy Cross, owners of Hilltop Farm in Ash Grove, recently announced their retirement, effective June 28, after 38 years in business. The couple posted the announcement on the Hilltop Farm website, as well as its Facebook page.
Oscar Cross said that while he’ll be taking it easier, he actually plans a working retirement.
“(I’ll be) digging in the dirt, getting this 100-acre farm back in some semblance of order,” he said. Asked why, Cross replied, “Because that’s what I like to do.” Displaying his typical sense of humor, he added, “I thought about starting a newspaper, but I’d probably make too much money.”
Cross said he will miss meeting and speaking with his customers.
“We have a fabulous bunch of customers,” he said. “I won’t see them as often.”
There are some things Cross said he won’t miss about the farm, though, including “the minimal government regulations that I have to deal with.”
Government regulations aren’t the only aspect of business he won’t miss.
“I’m not going to miss the stupidity of things ordered and not come in like they should,” he said. “I’m not going to miss sales people who really don’t care if you live or die, so you wonder why they are to try and help you. That type of thing. And in my advanced age, I have less tolerance for stupidity.”
In retirement, Cross hopes to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.
“This is like a dairy farmer, 24/7, 365,” he said. “It’s hard to travel; I’ve got kids scattered around the country; they’ve left the Ozarks for better opportunities elsewhere. So, it would be nice to see more of my children and grandkids.”
Cross said he’s enjoyed his career at Hilltop.
“It’s been fun,” he said. “I absolutely love what I do.”
He also had some parting words of wisdom.
“It sucks getting old, so don’t, but the alternative is pretty bumpy, too.”
As a way to celebrate the new chapter in their life, Oscar and Amy plan to post pictures and memories of Hilltop online; they are inviting customers to share pictures and memories as well.
For more information, call (417) 672-2259, or go online to the Hilltop Farms website at www.hilltop-gardens.com, or their Facebook page.