Missouri Neighbors

Once upon a time in the West, according to cowboy lore and Hollywood legend, cattlemen and sheep herders didn’t mix, but fortunately for 17-year-old Derek Miller of rural Dallas County, Mo., times have changed.

An Ozarks woman is working to preserve the heritage of the American cowboy, one photo at a time.

Mitchell Smith, who operates Mid-State Farrier Services out of Licking, Mo., in Texas County, was born and raised in New York state and attended horseshoeing school at Cornell University, a long way from the Ozarks.

Early mornings in Ozark, Mo., finds J.J. Leak and grandson Ethan picking the blueberries and blackberries she’ll sell later in the day at the Nixa Ozark Area Farmer’s Market.

The harvesting of local forage is an important task in the management of all livestock. Glenn Obermann of Freistatt, Mo., takes it very seriously.

The fields at Troup Land and Livestock are picture perfect with green, lush grass swaying in the breeze with few weeds hindering its movement. But this property was far from this healthy state when Marcus and Amanda Troup purchased it a couple of years ago.

On any sunny day, mares and colts can be seen grazing in the lush pastures of Bob Redfearn’s Three Waters Ranch in Polk County, Mo., just outside of Bolivar.

Jon and Ann Goodnight’s Spring Valley Farm is located on old Route 66 near Bois D’ Arc, Mo., and was originally owned by Ann’s grandfather, who operated a Grade A dairy.

For Steve Guthrie near Miller, Mo., in Lawrence County, Boer goats are no laughing matter. They are what he hopes may provide a full-time income some day, but there are still funny things that happen on the farm.

Randy and Melody Wehner of rural Dallas County, near Long Lane, Mo., will be the first to tell you they have had different breeds of sheep over the years, but without a doubt, Katahdins, which are haired sheep, are their hands-down favorites.