Neighbors

Al and Pat Chapman’s farm is nestled in a valley outside of Anderson, Mo. Pat said, “When Al’s grandfather first drove on this land over 100 years ago, he was eye-to-eye with a walnut tree that now towers over the house and protectively shades it during the hot summer months.” The original Chapman homestead was 80 acres but divided during the Depression by a WPA project road. Later the acreage was expanded to 120 as Al grew up. When Al took over the farm, he added more acreage until now the Chapman farm is 340 acres and home to a commercial cattle herd.

Opportunity in farming and agriculture gives people ability to choose what works for them. Sue Beagle, of Exeter, Mo., chose raising broiler chickens because it was something she could do for herself, and it was something she could do into her retirement years.

Will and Tamara Lane use their farm in Jay, Okla. to teach their children many life lessons. They have a family-owned farm and run a show cattle operation on 62 acres supported by another 90 leased acres. A sign in their barn reads, “Purple banners do not make a champion: hard work does,” reflecting the underlying premise behind Lane Cattle.

James and Mary Ann Skelton live on 11 acres in Springdale, Ark., but also rent an additional 300 acres in the Springdale area. They are also in a partnership with James‘s brother on an 800-acre farm near Winslow, Ark. Sons Louie and Joe bought out their uncle’s cattle operation and equipment and are partners with James and Mary Ann in a commercial herd while James and Mary Ann have a registered Beefmaster herd of their own. The commercial herd is comprised of 165 Angus and Charolais cows. The bulls put with these cows are registered Beefmaster bulls making the progeny E-6 cattle. James said, “E-6 replacement females are very difficult to find, so we raise our own.” James and Mary Ann’s registered herd consists of 100 cow/calf pairs, 15 bulls and 30 yearling heifers, all registered Beefmaster.

Many years ago, historians who know about such things suggest that red cattle were brought to Great Britain by both the Romans and the Vikings. Fast forward to the early 1800s. John Reeve, a tenet on the Earl of Leicester’s Holkham Estate in Norfolk, crossed horned Norfolk red beef cattle with the Suffolk dun, a polled dairy cow. Reeve’s cattle became known as Red Polled cattle. The cattle were recognized as a separate breed in 1846 and in 1873 were first imported to the United States.

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Many people have heard this famous quote but how many people actually live by the words? Jason Bates, general manger of Vaughn Family Farms manages the Beefmaster herd by this philosophy.

“Life’s about learning,” explained Barry Slayton. “If you’re not learning you are going backwards – and that applies to all areas of life these days.”

Developing the very best Limousin genetics and encouraging future leaders in agriculture is the main focus at Pinegar Limousin, owned by Ed and Carol Pinegar.

Dale and Amy Hill bought 60 acres with an additional 40 rented acres next to the farm in Fayetteville, Ark., where Dale was raised in order to expose their children to a lifestyle that teaches responsibility on all levels. Dale still works with his dad and is the fourth generation on the land while Dale and Amy’s four sons are the fifth generation.

North of Pryor, Okla., on highway 69 in Mayes County, is the site of the shipping and receiving end of the A-Bar Ranch, owned by Mike Armitage and managed by his son Merrit Armitage along with several ranch hands. Merrit inherited his marketing business-like sense from his dad and uses it on his ranch that he shares with his wife, Michelle.