The Meads Retrievers family consists of Jim and Alexis, their two beautiful daughters, and a whole host of family and friends. Jim is a true southern rebel, born and raised in Jonesboro, AR. Opening a family business, he was moved to Southern Illinois where he graduated from Carbondale High School. It was in Southern Illinois that he and Alexis met and married. Alexis is a born a raised native to Southern Illinois. She graduated from Marion High School, and then obtained her Bachelors of Science in Social Work at Southern Illinois University. Both have an intense love for all things adventure and outdoors. Jim is an avid waterfowl hunter, traveling to at least 5 different states in a season to chase ‘em. He has also participated in hundreds of bass tournaments, and is a part time Trout Fishing Guide on the famous White River. When Alexis isn’t enjoying time on the softball field, either playing or coaching, she is sitting in the woods waiting on that big whitetail to step in front of her. The two truly enjoy their many adventures through life together, and have given that wanderlust to their daughters.
Jim has held many positions from being a business manager to all kinds of sales experience and trained many retrievers and shot hundreds of thousands of ducks all the while. But it was becoming a Correctional Officer for the Department of Corrections in 2010 that the two newlyweds were able to carry out the hope of moving back to Jim’s home state of Arkansas. Jim worked his Correctional Officer years at both Mississippi County Work Release in North West Arkansas, and at North Central Unit in Calico Rock. It was in this time that he began reenergizing his lifelong passion for training retrievers and began working with Meads Coal Miners Daughter “Loretta.” After moving to Mountain Home, AR they began conspiring for future dreams of a kennel that bred high quality dogs that could fulfill a niche in every family. Jim began training retrievers for close friends, which then extended to their friends and so on. Eventually feeling God’s (sometimes not so gentle) push to leave the world of Law Enforcement, they decided it was time to focus solely on the kennel and training. Today, they live in the beautiful Ozark Mountains near Mountain Home. Jim has dedicated his life and career to the kennel and their brand, from training to breeding, to running hunt tests and delivering puppies, and everything in between.
Jim and Alexis and their girls have been blessed with a strong faith, and loving support from family and friends. There is absolutely no way they would be where they are without the Grace of God. Below you will see a few of the many people who have made this journey a possibility. They know they can continue chasing their dreams because of these folks. Thank you is not a bold enough statement to express their gratitude.
