Tested and Approved

0

Steve Stewart runs cattle on his dad’s farm in Christian County near Spokane, Mo. His dad had cattle as long as Steve could remember. Steve said, “I think I bought my first ones in 2002. The first ones I bought were Gelbvieh and then I started looking at the Balancers and the hybrid vigor. So I bought an Angus bull and put it with the Gelbviehs.”

The Perfect Balance

0

Floyd Renner met his future wife, Carrie, when his father was harvesting wheat on Carrie’s place. Though Floyd and Carrie went their separate ways, they eventually reconnected and now live in Fairview, Mo. Floyd left a dairy farm when he went on his honeymoon but returned to a cattle ranch when his father decided to get out of the dairy business. The couple has three children; Maci age 11, Marshall age 8 and Macelynn who is a little over a year old.    

Pam’s Pet Project

0

Piney River Valley Sheep is located west of Licking, Mo., literally on the east bank of Big Piney River. Ray and Pam Wallace have lived there almost 40 years and have had several types of farming operations. Ray is a retired union lineman from Intercounty Electric. Pam was the licensing agent for the Department of Revenue in Licking for several years and more recently has been employed at Wal-Mart for the past eight years. In 2006 they purchased their first sheep and they quickly became Pam’s pet project and captured the hearts of their grandchildren, Cole who is 9 years old and Linzie who is 7. Both are very involved with the sheep on a daily basis as well as in the show ring.

All-Natural FFA Project

0

The Osage orange tree, also known as a hedge apple has been a part of the landscape of Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas long before the white settlers moved in. Historically speaking the wood has been used as an excellent heating fuel, fence posts and in the making of the world’s best archery bows. However, Bronaugh, Mo., student and local FFA chapter member Cole Diggins got an idea from his grandfather and revived using the hedge apple as a green alternative for home insect control.

A Business of Beefmasters

0

Managing Flying Miner Ranch like a true business and budgeting every expense is the recipe for success according to Parker Vandivort of Hartville, Mo.

A Booming Purebred Operation

0

After spending their childhoods enduring the endless chores of their families’ dairy farms, both Wayne and Connie Galbraith swore off following in their parents’ footsteps. They both chuckle about their adamant pledge to stay out of the cattle business as they look out on their herd of Limousin cattle in Marshfield, Mo. “You have to enjoy it. And we really do enjoy it,” said Connie Galbraith.

Breed Exploration

0

Danny Fanning of Joplin, Mo., is a man with a busy mind and restless spirit. The one constant thing in his life has always been his love for livestock, more yet the love for purebred cattle. Danny said, “Showing my first heifer when I was 6 started my whole life’s career. I remember it just like it was yesterday, caring for my first heifer project and showing her for the first time. Our three children were all raised in the 4-H program and now 60 years later some of my grandkids are heading down that path. I love it and it’s what keeps me going.”

Aiming for Quality

0

Reggie Terry has lived on a farm all his life. His dad was a dairy farmer, but Reggie didn’t go into that. Around 1984, he started buying and raising bottle calves. He came across some crossbred heifers and decided to start a beef cow herd.

The Tools for Tasty Beef

0

Education, grazing systems and records are important tools on Reisner Ranch in Rolla, Mo., owned and operated by Craig and Susan Reisner and their two children Renee and Keith.

Better on Browse

0

Ask Fred and Linda Schupbach of Ozark, Mo., what they think of their Dorper cross sheep and they’ll tell you that Dorpers make better mothers, sell at a better price and have minimal birth problems. Six years ago, Fred and Linda began their journey with meat sheep as a bit of an experiment; today, what started out as a group of nine sheep has grown into a healthy flock of 140 head that Fred and Linda are very proud of. “We really like the sheep,” Linda said. The sheep flock shares the Schupbach’s Lone Pine Ranch with 40 head of Boer goats, three cows, four Missouri Foxtrotters and one pony, a flock of guineas, two guard dogs and two female Border Collies, Kempee and Cricket, who are trained to herd the sheep.

- Advertisement -