Methodist woman donates 25 acres for Arkansas bird sanctuary
Betty Hinshaw addresses the crowd at the June 2 dedication of the Betty Hinshaw Bird Sanctuary in Tonitown, Arkansas. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Thompson)
Betty Hinshaw had always lived in cities when her husband decided, in 1956, that they should move to rural Northwest Arkansas. She made him promise there wouldn’t be snakes.
They saw one the first day as they drove the dusty road to their old farmhouse. It had a newly installed bathroom but no air conditioning. The nearest school was two rooms—not counting outhouses.
So much was new, but Hinshaw quickly took to country life and especially the land she and her husband owned: Rocking Chair Ranch. They raised four children there, and she became deeply involved in the community, including the Methodist church.
