Here at the Bar- J, we invite you to enjoy the comforts of home while experiencing the peace and quiet of the country.   Our love of ranching and the joy we get from sharing all of this with others is the reason we do what we do.   Bar-J is a year round ranching operation.  We often say we work from "can to can't"!  We are here 7 days a week, night and day.  Many of our employees live here at the ranch, so we feel like we are one big family.  We all work together to make Bar-J the very best it can possibly be.               

Daryl and Barbara Nelson, owners of Bar-J Guest Ranch are native Arkansans, who have moved back to their home town of Calion Ar, to retire,  (although ranching isn't exactly retirement!).  They lovingly share this ranch, not just with those of us who live here, but with anyone who wants to be here!  Together they tend to the ranch and guests, coach our riding team and give riding lessons, along with everything else they do.  They put in long hours and a lot of heart and soul to keep it going.  Our Ranch Foreman,  Anthony Young- takes care of our Black Angus Herd, and just about anything else that needs to be done!   He is the wheels of the ranch.  Anthony's wife Lisa works at the Bar-J Saddle and Tack store, (just look for the giant rocking chair!). Lisa is also our aviator- taking care of our many chickens, ducks and geese.   Brandy Norman is our Ranch Coordinator and Stable Manager.  She oversees the care of our horses and guests.  Miss Brandy is also the Head Wrangler and Summer camp director for our summer camp program.  She and her husband, Sam and their four children live and help out  here on the ranch year round.  You can often find Sam and Brandy out wrangling children-either guests or their own!  Sam is an engineer at a local chemical plant and a cowboy on his off time.  Toby  comes to us from North Arkansas.  He is one of our Wranglers.  He'll likely be found in the stables or out breakin colts.   Lil' Red, Tick and Brit are our year round interns.  They are here anytime school is out, riding and helping out on the ranch.   Linda is our Southern Cook and Housekeeper.  This great woman keeps us all fed day after day!  The rest of our friendly staff consists of the Bar-J Riders and students , stable and ranch hands, and our summer staff.