OFN January 24, 2022 by Eric Tietze

Feed & Supplements • New Products & Technology

Core Values in Agriculture JANUARY 24, 2022 • 28 PAGES

VOLUME 15, NUMBER 16 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Grassroots Ranch founder Daniel Rose wanted to raise animals in a sustainable, humane way

Building Success from Scratch Pass Farm began with a few acres and a dream of owning a farm

The Right Vitamins

Having the right vitamins is essential in preventing health issues in your herd

The Three Es at 3E Cattle Company

Jason Goad works to protect the environment, be efficient and economical

rumor mill

Hall of Fame nominations due: The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is now accepting nominations for this award through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. The award winner will be announced at a recognition ceremony on March 24, 2022, at the State Capitol as part of the annual Oklahoma Ag Day at the Capitol celebration. Nominee’s should have high standards of conduct, leadership, innovation, and accomplishments in agriculture and should be a role model for young Oklahoma agriculturists. Applications can be submitted electronically via email to Morgan Vance at morgan.vance@ag.ok.gov or can be dropped off in person at the ODAFF building front desk, located at 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. in OKC. The fillable application can be accessed at go.ozarksfn.com/vu9. Any questions regarding the application or application process can be directed to Vance at 405-845-5542. Annual conference to be held: Farmers, agribusiness professionals, students and educators across the Mid-South will have an opportunity to learn about new information in the agriculture sector along with policy education at Arkansas State University’s annual Agribusiness Conference. This year’s conference will be held on Feb. 16 and will focus on climate issues and agricultural policy, the politics of agricultural and trade policy, and the commodity markets. On-site registration will begin that morning at the Fowler Center, to be followed by three concurrent commodity sessions to be held at 11 a.m. in the First National Bank Arena. A live stream of the general session and the luncheon presentation will also be available for online viewing. The commodity sessions will not be available online. Visit go.ozarksfn.com/0bv for more information. Former ag teacher honored: Former Owasso (Okla.) High School teacher Scott Nemecek is one of six individuals who received the 2021 National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Service Citation award, presented during the 2021 NAAE Convention in New Orleans. The NAAE Outstanding Service Citation award, sponsored by Goodheart-Willcox, recognizes individuals who have given extraordinary effort to serve NAAE as well as their state agricultural education professional development organization. Nemecek worked as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor for more than 35 years at OHS. Anderson named to national committee: American Farm Bureau recently appointed Ottawa County Farm Bureau member Alisen Anderson to the AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Anderson will serve a two-year term and serve on the 16-member committee to assist in the coordination of YF&R events, competitive events and the Harvest for All program. Anderson alongside her husband Jared own and operate Anders Farms near Miami, Okla., where they grow corn, wheat and soybeans. They also manage and operate their family ranch of 500 commercial cattle as they raise their three children, Grace, Colton and Piper. Anderson also works an agriculture instructor at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla.

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The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

JANUARY 24, 2022

VOL. 15, NO. 16

JUST A THOUGHT 3 Jerry Crownover –

8 10 12

4 5

Showing just who is boss Jody Harris – The big hunt Julie Turner-Crawford – Fake meat isn’t making much of a splash

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 From healthcare to farming 8 The Pass family built their farm

from scratch

Miss Laura’s has been welcoming generations of visitors Eye on Agribusiness spotlights Stull Feeders Town & Country features Dori Davenport 3E Cattle Company has found its market for beef sales Youth in Agriculture highlights Taylor Moffett

FARM HELP 19 Going high tech

23 24

with your farm finances Having the right vitamins is essential for herd health Making a marketing plan Good health, production starts at ground level

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JANUARY 24, 2022

just a

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few weeks ago, I had gathered three of my revontowotheir rC ywinrreJ yB four bulls and hauled them ter abode here at the home place. While the previous three had already had plenty Jerry Crownover is of time to establish their pecking order, I a farmer and former captured the last one two weeks ago and brought him professor of Agriculture in, which began his introduction process to a well-esEducation at Missouri tablished gang. Oddly enough, one of the smaller bulls State University. He is a had firmly settled in, as the one in charge, and when native of Baxter County, I brought in the last, and largest bull, the little guy reArkansas, and an mained the Alpha. author and professional For the winter, I keep the bulls in a 1-acre lot where I speaker. To contact Jerry, can feed them a little grain each day, while also keepgo to ozarksfn.com and ing good quality hay in front of them at all times. They click on ‘Contact Us.’ also have access to a barn that used to serve as housing for show heifers when my sons were in 4-H and FFA. There are four stalls, each with a heated, automatic waterer and they are divided by wooden panels. It’s not unusual when the bulls first arrive for them to butt and push on each other until dominance is established, and it’s also not unusual for me to need to repair a couple of boards on the stall dividers when the bulls get a little rambunctious. Last Saturday, I noticed there were two broken boards on the west side of one of the stalls. I retrieved the tools and lumber required for the repair job. According to the weatherman, this was supposed to be the last nice day for a while and I wanted to get it done before real winter set in. After I had all the boards cut to length, I used the battery-powered hand drill with a screwdriver bit to fasten the second board from the bottom. I had just knelt down on my knees to attach the bottom board, when I heard the deafening bellow and thun-

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Contributors Jessica Allan, Alana Coleman Astrid Gonzalez, Bailey McAlister and Michael Kinney About the Cover Daniel Rose left his job in healthcare and decided to open up Grassroots Ranch in 2014. See more on page 7. Contributed photo Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2022. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

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1-866-532-1960 amanda@ozarksfn.com 4

id you hear about the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s new event? I had not heard of it either. Earlier this month, the AGFC launched the Big Squirrel Jody Harris is a freelance Challenge to celebrate small game huntcommunications ing in our state. specialist, gardener, Our youngest son enjoys tromping around in the ranch wife and mother of woods. When a friend approached me about this four. She and her family unique hunting event to teach her youngest son about raise Angus beef cattle gun safety and hunting, we decided to do it together. and other critters on The inaugural Big Squirrel Challenge started on Jan. their northwest Arkansas 7 and went through Jan. 8. We decided to meet up out ranch. She is a graduate at our farm on that Friday after school. One of our bigof Missouri State University. gest obstacles was finding .410 shells so the boys could To contact Jody, go to carry a small shotgun for our excursion. As parents ozarksfn.com and click on often do, we had to make some adjustments to our ‘Contact Us.’ plan. My son ended up carrying a .22 rifle and her son opted for a 20-gauge shotgun. What most impressed me about both boys was their knowledge of firearm safety and their desire to protect us as we stomped through the woods. They arrived at the farm before me, so we were separated into two groups to scour the woods for big fat squirrels. It was a chilly afternoon. The first wildlife they encountered were four whitetail deer. That is usually how it goes – when you are deer hunting you see squirrels and when you are squirrel hunting you see trophy deer. As I traipsed through the woods with my son, we alternated between stopping to sit and listen for squirrels and walking along the trails looking for signs of wildlife. For a while, my son took out his new knife and whittled on a stick he found during our exploration. We did not have a lot of time after school before sunset was imminent. We ended up meeting up with our friends to talk about our big hunt. We did not see a single squirrel. We did see crooked trees and deer droppings. We enjoyed time with our kids and getting some much-needed fresh air. Our friend who lives in town sent us pictures of squirrels they had hunted in their backyard that were big and fat. They had taken them out with a pellet gun. When I went to the feed store the following day, I asked a local hunter the best way to hunt for squirrels. He advised that it needed to be warmer and to stick close to creeks where they like to hang around. They were nestled up in their nests and unwilling to come out that day. The weather was not cooperative for our excursion this year, but I am sure it will not be our last. Since then, my children have been hiking the woods regularly. Exploration outdoors through the eyes of children is always an adventure. I was in the house folding laundry one day when I heard two of my children bursting through the front door. They were breathless and seemed panicked. They regaled me with a tale of the youngest being chased through the wood by a big fat skunk. I was cracking up. I am so thankful he was able to outrun it. The best laid plans do not always go the way we expect them to. Enjoying the experience of discovery is fun too. I will be saving a few more squirrel casserole recipes in anticipation of the next hunting challenge, neighbor.

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JANUARY 24, 2022

T SMIT R O

Across The Fence

FORT SMITH STOCKYARDS ST

By Julie Turner-Crawford

ne of my longtime friends sent me a video the other day poking fun at a fake meat company and its plummeting stock. The video made me chuckle, but I realized I have seen very little advertising about Julie Turner-Crawford fake food or plant-based meat lately. I guess there wasn’t is a native of Dallas the demand out there these companies thought there County, Mo., where was, and commercials about cows and their flatulence she grew up on her didn’t drum up the customers they hoped for. family’s farm. She is a In a recently published report, some company execugraduate of Missouri tives claim supply chain issues are causing production State University. To slowdowns have contributed to the drop in demand; contact Julie, call 1-866532-1960 or by email at others say people aren’t eating as healthy as they did editor@ozarksfn.com. a year ago. When COVID hit, many of the companies showed a big upswing in sales, but when you have panic buying, everything is in demand. These fake meat and plant-based companies are trying so hard to appeal to consumers and paint animal protein as bad for you, and bad for the environment. As it turns out, the nutritional value is similar to that of actual meat in many ways, yet the fake stuff contains bonding agents, tons more sodium and sugar, and substances like titanium dioxide and pyridoxine hydrochloride. Titanium dioxide and pyridoxine hydrochloride aren’t harmful, but I really don’t want to have to do an internet search to see what

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paigns in an effort to garner more support. There are plans to launch a new line of plant-based “burger” at the world’s largest fast-food chain in the coming months – the McPlant. I think I will McPass. Everyday, I have my own little quite protest against companies that are anti-agriculture; I don’t buy their products. There is a fast-food joint near my office that has a great chicken sandwich, but I have chosen not to go there since July 2020 when the chain opted to run its now infamous commercial with a little singing cowboy. I’m sure they don’t miss the few bucks a month I spent there, but I look it as a principle thing. There are other things I refuse to buy because of their marketing claims and anti-agriculture comments. Again, it’s the principle of it. While fake or imitation meat is concerting. I don’t see it being a significant impact on our industry because there’s nothing like the real thing.

Life Is Simple

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something is that’s in my food. I need to be more health conscious because I am in that “middle age” bracket, but I just can’t give up that 1 1/2-inch thick steak cooked on an open flame, and I don’t think a lab-created hunk of “meat” would have the same sizzle. Plant-based products do have their place, however. I have friends who can not eat red meat, so having something that kind of looks and almost tastes like beef is a welcome change to their diets, and they now have more choices. One friend has an emu burger once in a while as a special treat, if she can find it. It’s also about $14 to $18 a pound, so $8 a pound for a plant-based burger is a much better option for her. Also, soy and almond milk are a blessing for many of those who can’t digest some dairy products. Plant-based products also provide a market for the farmers who grow the plants and nuts used to create the products. Can farmers and ranchers ever beat the fake meat companies? I don’t think we will never not see these types of products, but fake meat holds about 1 percent of the “meat” market, so it’s very unlikely animal proteins will disappear. They keep trying, however, by attempting to introduce new products, and they try new marketing cam-

dering hoof beats, of two of the bulls. The largest bull (weighing about 2,100 pounds.) had evidently had his fill of the smaller bull (about 1,600 pounds) acting like he ruled the roost and was ready to show him who was really the boss. The problem was, they were running directly toward me. I had just enough time to stand up before the big bull had Junior pinned, broadside, in the corner of the stall, with me sandwiched between the young bull and the newly repaired board fence. I seriously thought my time was up, and did the only thing I could think of: start screaming like a tiny toddler. I then realized I still had the power drill in my hand, so in between

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shrieks of sheer terror, I pulled the trigger of the drill as rapidly as possible, making it sound as menacing to the bulls as it could. Whether due to shrill whooping, or the drill trigger clamor, the smaller bull managed to escape the pressure of the big bull, and run out of the stall as quickly as he had arrived. The big bull followed and they continued their battle outside, leaving me to collapse into the mud. Once I had caught my breath, I thanked the good Lord that my wife did not become a widow that day, and then I went and closed the access gate that led into the stall – the one I should have shut, before beginning the repairs. JANUARY 24, 2022

Core Values in Agriculture

meet your

neighbors

By Michael Kinney

Grassroots Ranch founder Daniel Rose wanted to raise animals in a sustainable, humane way

Every day throughout the country people talk about wanting to help save the planet. Whether it’s using fewer plastic forks or looking at recycling more, some even make small attempts to change their behavior. But rarely does anyone do what Daniel Rose did. The former healthcare worker was so concerned about the lack of sustainable agriculture that he quit his health care position and started Grassroots Ranch in 2014. “I don’t know if he had a crazy large ambition in the very beginning as to the magnitude of growth that it’s become,” said Christina Winkle, the PR director for Grassroots Ranch. “I think he was just really interested in agriculture, and learning more, and trying to make a sustainable living through sustainable agriculture practices. I feel like he was more passionate about the actual mission than the growth of the company.” According to Christina, Daniel has always had a keen interest in sustainable agriculture. But it wasn’t until he started to see the effects society’s food was having on his patients that he decided he needed to get more directly involved. “At the time when he made the decision, he was working as a nurse, and he just was really unhappy with the day-to-day task of it, as far as being in a very sterile environment, versus being outside in nature,” Christina said. “The big picture of that is he was seeing firsthand how people were trying to fix the problem, dealing with so many diseases being caused through poor diet and malnutrition He was seeing firsthand JANUARY 24, 2022

how people are being treated, but they’re not treating the source, they’re just treating the problem. I think that perspective, plus his love for agriculture and wanting to be outside and doing things really made this perfect storm situation where he knew that’s what he was going to do. He was going to give people healthy, sustainable food in the most regenerative way.” Since opening the gates to the farm in 2014, Daniel has made it his mission to not only produce sustainable food but also make sure it is all-natural. Rose said their cattle are antibiotic-free, hormone-free, and experience no-stress handling. Grassroots Ranch currently produces pastured chicken and eggs, forested pork and grass-fed beef. Daniel also said his USDA-certified butcher is owned and operated by the Quapaw Indian Nation and has been certified by Temple Grandin, a pioneer of humane livestock handling. “Our cows are never treated, but if there was ever to be a situation arise where a cow breaks his leg or something, we would treat that cow, but that cow would no longer be part of our program,” Christina said. Grassroots Ranch doesn’t use one particular breed of cattle. They are more focused on the process of using mob grazing than breeding. “We rotate them through the property to give them fresh grass every day,” Christina said. This style of grazing, Porter, Okla. Daniel said. naturally lowers levels of intestinal parasites in the herd without chemical dewormers. Mob grazing also

Grassroots Ranch was founded in 2014 by Daniel Rose. Daniel worked in the healthcare field before starting the ranch.

benefits the grasslands. “Inserting large ruminant animals back into the landscape and managing them with rotational grazing or mob grazing, we see increased diversity to our grasses and the return of native species that have been lacking for generations,” Daniel said. “This is important because healthy, diverse grasslands with deep root systems naturally take in carbon from the atmosphere as they respire and store it deep underground, where it rebuilds valuable topsoil that has been stripped away by years of conventional land management and erosion.” In 2020, Grassroots Ranch moved its operation from a small piece of land in the Osage Hills to an 800-acre ranch in Porter, Okla. It has allowed the ranch to increase the farm’s livestock operations. Typically, the ranch holds around 100 cows, 120 pigs and 2,000 chickens. “We believe in raising our livestock in a low-stress environment and practicing regenerative farming methods, so we work

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

with nature, not against it,” Daniel stated. “Our core values are stewardship and transparency, so you can trust that you’re really getting what you’re paying for.” Currently, Grassroots Ranch products can only be purchased on their website, Grassrootsranch.com. However, by spring they plan to start selling to Grassroots Larder, which is a locally-sourced grocery and culinary market founded by Daniel. This will give customers a storefront to buy meat, pork, eggs and other produce. This will enable Grassroots Ranch to not only serve more people but also gives them room for growth. “The current property is larger than what we need at the moment. So I definitely know that he plans on growing into it,” Christina said. “Daniel plans on adding other animals, and breeds of animals into our program as well. He has ambition in the future to possibly bring back sheep because that’s how he started, and then also turkeys and maybe duck, things like that. So, we’re going to expand our perimeters.”

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Many farms have generational histories. Fortunately, some brave the daunting task of founding a first-generation farm. One family in Hartford, Ark., is doing just that. Jared and Michelle Pass met while working at Southern Arkansas University’s school farm. Neither was raised on a farm but both went to college to pursue agriculture degrees. They gained cattle farming experience with Michelle also working for a local veterinarian and competing with college rodeo team. Jared was raised in Taylor, Ark., where he enjoyed spending time with his Grandpa Reynolds. There he gained his interest in farming joining FFA and showing hogs. Jared was also highly involved in the FFA forestry and electricity teams. Michelle, on the other hand, had an ear- plained. “We want to teach our kids to ly and still ongoing love affair with hors- set good goals, use all resources availes. She is very appreciative of Margaret able and never give up. We’ve worked Wheeler, her 4-H leader who taught her hard for the last 15 years and it’s all to ride and take care of Aprils Fire for five starting to slowly come together.” Jared is a licensed plumber and owns years, while Michelle showed chickens and saved money from their sale. By age Precision Well Service, where he main13, Michelle had saved $1,200 and bought tains gas wells. Michelle is a licensed her beloved horse, paying for its upkeep professional counselor, as well as a marwith whatever she earned from selling her riage and family therapist and owns her show animals. She was a member of the own private practice, Natural Connections LLC. At the same time, they are 4-H horse judging team. Jared was finishing college and Michelle raising a family of three active children: working on a graduate degree when the sons Brody, 13, and Blaine, 9, as well as couple purchased 1 acre in Cedarville. daughter Bristol, 6. All are involved in They built a home through the USDA multiple activities, sports and 4-H. When searching for property, the couple Rural Development Self-Help Program. They later acquired 14 adjoining acres spied an ad for a 200-acre property they believed they couldn’t afford but through owner financing. The the place had nice land and couple wanted to own cattle multiple water resources, just but land was very expensive Hartford, Ark. what they were searching for. and they needed more. They felt God had led them to “God blessed us all along this farm and were able to work the way because we couldn’t with the owner, Jim Trace by caring have done all these things for his cattle herd in exchange for without Him,” Michelle exOzarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Submitted Photo

the daily farm management experience that would help them qualify for a FSA Beginning and Rancher loan. They founded Pass Farms in hopes of being a generational family farm. They recently purchased an additional 50 acres and the original farm home to bring the farm back to its original size. Jared’s parents now reside there and the kids love having their grandparents next door. Jared and Michelle eventually purchased Jim’s cows, plus more, to reach their herd size of 65 commercial Angus females bred by a SimAngus bull, and two registered Balancers producing both red and black calves. Although the bulls run with the cows all of the time, birthing naturally clusters in the fall and spring. Calves are weaned at 6 months and retained for additional 45 days as they become accustomed to grain while being carefully scrutinized for soundness and health. Any culls, including aging cows, and those that are temperamental or no longer producing strong calves, are sold . JANUARY 24, 2022

meet your neighbors “With young children on the farm as well as ourselves, safety is essential and immediately removing any headstrong animal is a must,” Jared said. Efficient is necessary for the busy family. Consequently, they sell their calves to a stocker, avoiding the extra time, stress and complications of private treaty and auction sales. “Our goal, like quality-centered cattlemen, is to produce genetically strong, healthy and efficient calves that meet the highest standards,” Jared said. Part of reaching that goal is a vigorous health protocol, including a vaccination regimen, deworming and tagging, as well as treating for flies with both sprays and rubs. Additionally, Pass Farms uses supplemented summer mineral with fly protection, thus alternating minerals according to season. Because one of their biggest concerns is preventing an outbreak of anaplasmosis, their mineral also contains medication to ward off the disease. “We want to continually improve our herd and our management practices so we can be successful because being a profitable farmer is so challenging,” Michelle said. Jared and Michelle have begun reclaiming and improving the overgrown land through new land management practices and improved fencing in order to begin an intensive rotational grazing system, a system unfamiliar to them. They consult local experts from the NRCS, including Jane Lowry, for specific recommendations and procedures. Doug and Ann Russell and other helpful and experienced local farmers advise them about raising, caring for and selling cattle. Jared and Michelle felt honored by receiving the 2017 Sebastian County Farm Family of the Year Award in recognition of their hard work. Many revitalization fronts are being attacked at the same time. One is land proJANUARY 24, 2022

ductivity. Thus far they have been able to supply all of their own hay most years but realize the ground is not as productive as it should be. Last spring, they applied fertilizer and lime for the first time. This fall, they over seeded with clover to increase grass protein content. Pass Farms’ water sources are ponds, a creek and three wells. Current water projects include fencing off ponds for limited, a high traffic cattle entry and setting up a tank system using well water in preparation for rotational grazing. They hope for better quality forage, healthier land and cattle, and more efficient resource use as part of a herd expansion plan on the land they already own. “We have a lot going on right now, but everything should come together in the next couple of years,” Jared said. “One of my favorite quotes comes from Teddy Roosevelt who said the only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. We know we will make mistakes along the way but we continue to learn, work hard and persist.” While Jared and Michelle may not have been raised on farms, they appreciate the lifestyle and the impact it will have on their chilSubmitted Photo dren as they model what hard work and the results of that ethic. Part of fulfilling their early dream of owning a farm is its resemblance to Old MacDonald’s farm. Their menagerie of animals includes cattle, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, horses, dogs and cats. They’ve shown cattle, hogs, goats and poultry at the county fair and want to rodeo in the near future while being actively involved in the agricultural industry. “Our early experiences taught us knowledge is power and networking with those who are truly interested in helping us become successful was critical if we were ever going to become the farmers we wanted to be,” Michelle said. “By networking and meeting others we’ve formed great friend-

ships and gained significant knowledge.” The Pass family appreciates all those who have helped and want to be good advocates so future generations will be able to enjoy farming and the rural lifestyle. The couple has participated in numerous advocacy programs. Michelle was a member of the two-year Lead Arkansas Rural Agricultural Leadership Program, covering various state-wide aspects of agriculture, advocacy and leadership. Their active involvement with in Farm Bureau began when they lived in Crawford County where James McGee helped them become part of Crawford County Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. That led to state-level involvement as state committee members and traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with legislators about agriculture issues. Currently, Michelle is a member of the Farm Bureau Rural Health and Safety Committee. When asked about how much sleep they get, Jared laughed and said, “Not much, but we wouldn’t change a thing.”

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ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home Submitted Photos

By Julie Turner-Crawford

The visitors center in Fort Smith, Ark., has a storied past

A house with a somewhat scandalous reputation in Fort Smith, Ark., is an important part of the history of the community and is reminiscing of at time that once was. It’s also a part of the growing tourism community of the town that was once considered part of the Wild West. The former Miss Laura’s Social Club on First Street was one of several row houses in the old “red light district” of downtown Fort Smith, and is said to be one of the most celebrated bordellos in the Southwest. Miss Laura’s ladies were known to be the most sophisticated in Fort Smith. Today, Miss Laura’s Social Club is known as Miss Laura’s Visitors

Center, serving as a tourist center for Fort Smith, and is the only remaining rowhouse in the downtown area. Prior to becoming a “social club,” Miss Laura’s was the Riverfront Commercial Hotel. Laura Ziegler purchased the hotel, which was built in 1896, for $3,000. After renovations, Miss Laura opened the brothel along the Arkansas River in 1903. “Ten years later, she sold it to one of her girls for $48,000,” Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau Marketing Director Russ Jester said. “Miss Laura’s as a high-society bordello. She was a master marketer and referred to her girls as ‘Miss Laura’s Daughters of Joy.’ It was $3 to spend an evening with

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

one of her ‘Daughters of Joy.’ It was $1 at the other bordellos. She also created her own form of currency, like a token. If they had someone come in who was important, they would give them a token and encourage them to come back. She also had her little black book, and if you were in government or of influence, she had the dirt on you.” As the red-light district faded away and business dropped, Miss Laura sold her business in 1910 to Bertha Gale Dean – known as “Big Bertha.” Russ said little is known of Miss Laura after that, and the property soon became rundown, and the house became known as a spot for drinkers and drifters. Bertha continued to operate a brothel until her death in 1948, leaving the property to a man who lived in the house. By 1963, the building was abandoned, and the city planned to demolish it. However, a buyer stepped up and purchased the property. Donrey Media Group founder Donald Reynolds purchased the rowhouse, and Miss Laura’s was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also the first former brothel to be named to the list. Ten years later, restoration began. Reynolds operated Miss Laura’s Social Club and Restaurant for a brief time, but the building again became abandoned. “It got out of shape,” Russ explained. “The city eventually bought it and used grant funding to make repairs, and it became a visitors center. It was a pretty massive project.” In 1996, Miss Laura’s faced demolition again after a tornado ripped through Fort Smith, taking the roof off the 100-year-old structure, but the story of Miss Laura’s still had another chapter. After repairs, the visitor’s center once again opened to share the stories of the community. Russ added the idea of turning a former brothel into a visitors center got many in the community “fired up,” but the building is a part of the history of Fort Smith, Ark., history worth saving and sharing. Russ said on tours, he points out that the women at Miss Laura’s were often running from abusive situations or extreme poverty, and women in those days, had few choices. JANUARY 24, 2022

ozarks roots According to the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau, Miss Laura’s has kept its unique style of architecture through the years. While it is a simple clapboard building, it does have a mansard roof trimmed in wrought iron and oeil-de-boeuf (eye of the ox) dormer windows. These touches make it an example of baroque Victorian architecture. The interior is decorated as it would have been during Miss Laura’s time, with furniture and wallpaper of the period. Each guestroom door has a transom bearing a lady’s name, a lady who was one of Miss Laura’s Daughters of Joy. “Downstairs, it is staged,” Russ said of center. “We have Miss Laura’s living quarters, the parlors and everything is very period correct. We had to bring in materials from the local area to do the stage, and we have displays upstairs with items on loan from the Fort Smith Museum of History. It’s important to have those period items, and when you give a tour, for me anyway, there are certain pieces that are talking points.” A few original articles remain, including a stained-glass window, a table and some original paintings, and clothing items found in the house are on display.

After the tornado, a drawing by one of the former residents of the house was found and turned into a stained-glass window. In addition to tourists, Russ said many locals stop by and many of them don’t know the story of Miss Laura’s. “You tend to overlook what’s in your own community,” Russ said. “When locals come in, they have a really good experience, and they get a sense of pride knowing they have this piece of history preserved in their hometown, right along with the Fort Smith National Historic Site and everything else that’s here. We try to promote the new things in town and past, but you should not promote the future at the expense of the past.” Miss Laura may have faded away from Fort Smith, but she will always be a part of the town’s history. “We don’t even have a picture of her,” Russ said. “We have pictures of Bertha, outlaws and other brothel owners, and some of the girls who worked here. I would imagine she is in the original paintings we have. They are of the same women at different stages of life, but they have to be Miss Laura.”

Submitted Photos

JANUARY 24, 2022

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agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

Stull Feeders By Julie Turner-Crawford

History: Stull Feeders began in 2007 when Randy and Cathy Stull introduced n Owners: a line of gravity flow feeders mounded on Josh and Ashley Hoppis ATVs and UTVs. In January 2021, the n Location: Stulls sold the company to Josh and Ashley Harrison, Ark. Hoppis. “Randy is a customer at our family hardware store, and I have always been interested in his product,” Josh said. “My wife and I own some farms and we needed a little more to keep our employees busy, and we approached Randy.” Since taking over, Josh said they had to hire more employees to keep up with orders during their business season. Products: Stull Feeders came about after founder Randy was injured while feeding his cattle. He had to roll under a feed bunk to keep from being trampled. The incident led Randy to develop the Stull Feeder. Grain or cubes can be loaded in the top of the feeder, and livestock is fed through a chute, which is long enough to reach feed bunks. The producer is not carrying bags of feed through their herds and can remain safely seated. Feeders start with a 200-pound capacity, gravity-flow feeder that can be mounded on an ATV. The line then goes to a 300-, 400- and 600-pound feeders for use on UTVs that have augers or are gravity flow. “My biggest sellers are the auger models,” Josh said. “So many people have UTVs now and are finding ways to utilize them on the farm> Being a producer himself, Josh said he has found the feeders to work well in his operation, and wishes he would have bought himself one mush sooner. “I had to have back surgery last month. For me, I wouldn’t be able to feed my cows for 6, 8 or 12 months because I can’t lift buckets or carry a 50-pound sack of feed,” he explained. “This way, I can load the feeder, go out to my cows and push a button. My kids and wife and go feed the cows now. “I get people calling me all the time about these feeders, and it’s mostly older gentlemen. They thank us for the product because it kept their wife or kids from selling their cows. They don’t want to get rid of them, but their family doesn’t want them out there feeding with bags.” Future plans: Demand has been steady for Stull Feeders, and Josh said there has been a demand for truck feeders, but he is happy making with the smaller feeders. “We’re trying to improve on what we are doing,” he said. “I think we are going to take year and run things like they are and try to figure a few things out before we take the next step.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JANUARY 24, 2022

town &

country

in the field and in the office

Dori Davenport By Terry Ropp

In Town: “My husband Joe Dean and I are the proud parents of four, and I work as a school counselor in Gentry, Ark., where I was born and raised. I have been here in education for 10 years, the last seven as a school counselor.”

Submitted Photo

Saturday, March 5, 2022 12:30 PM • Joplin Regional Stockyards • Carthage, Missouri

Offering 50 Head - 12-18 Month Old Purebred Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls PROGENY OUT OF THESE TOP AI SIRES & MORE

In the Country: “I’m up at 5:30 to get everyone else up, dressed and fed. The kids help by feeding the barn cats and horses while Joe Dean takes care of the cattle. Joe Dean and I own 26 acres and lease another 110 which is where the majority of our herd stays. We have a total of 14 Hereford momma cows bred by a Brahman bull that stays with them all of the time. We have 20 open heifers, some of which we recently purchased in order to expand our n Hometown: Siloam Springs, herd and some as replacements. Ark. While Joe Dean started with black n Family: Husband Joe Dean; Angus when he was young on his children Kya (21), Tripp (14), family’s farm, we now raise F1 Ti Jade (11) and Ty (3) ger Stripes because they are hardy and good mothers. Joe Dean saw Tiger Stripes when driving through Texas and subsequently met Hereford breeder Debbie Bacon and had a friend with an excellent Brahman bull. “Calves are weaned at 6 to 7 months, and kept for 45 days in order to get shots and to ensure their health before they are listed on the internet. Joe Dean’s brother Jarvis handles the techie side, and we sell by private treaty as the calves reach the appropriate age and weight. Most of our cows are young and were purchased with longevity in mind. We work the herd twice a year as a family, which has Jade anxiously awaiting to enter the show ring once she decides where she would like to show. We treat flies both by injection and spraying. We make sure not to over graze and strive to keep the land productive and healthy. We supplement grass and hay by hand feeding cubes in order to keep the herd tame since Joe Dean believes gathering them using a sack is far less stressful. “One day our oldest daughter, who is working on her doctorate, brought some friends from the East Coast who had never seen cattle up close. They climbed into the back of the truck and got to feed the herd by hand. Our bull Travis even came over wanting to be scratched. This is a family farm in the true sense whether we are cutting wood, working cattle or baling hay. As for the future, expanding our holdings and our herd are high on the list which may mean purchasing or leasing more land as we add more cattle, whether at this exact location or somewhere else.” JANUARY 24, 2022

Annual Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale

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Call or Email Us to Receive a Catalog! hilltop-farms@hotmail.com • 417-842-3225

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Elmer, Brenda, Brad, Katie, Kinsley, Brody Benny, Sarah & Taegan McWilliams 27720 Barton Co Blvd | Asbury, MO 417-529-0081 | 417-529-7556 | 417-529-6436 Committed to Raising Quality Seedstock WWW.HILLTOP-FARMS.COM

bulls

(Week of 1/9/22 to 1/15/22)

Arkansas Cattle Ash Flat Livestock Auction

50.00-95.00 †

beef

78.00-98.50 †

Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Auction County Line Sale Barn - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

None Reported † 65.00-99.00*

1/17/22

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo, Nm, Mn) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 135.00-139.00; wtd. avg. price 136.98. Heifers: 135.00-138.00; wtd. avg. price 136.90. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 217.00-220.00 ; wtd. avg. price 219.42. Heifers: 218.00-220.00; wtd. avg. price 219.35.

72.00-88.00 † 60.00-87.50 † Not Reported* Not Reported* Not Reported* 53.00-105.00*

Vinita Stockyards Farmers Regional Sale Barn Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest

cattle

72.00-115.00* 74.00-103.00 † 83.00-106.00 †

sheep &

95.00*

Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat

None Reported † 72.00-103.00 † 86.00-91.50 †

goats 1/6/22

Snow and very cold weather caused the supply to be light. Compared to the last sale; (December 16th), slaughter lambs traded 10.00-15.00 higher. Not enough of the other class of 68.00-113.00 † sheep and goats for a market comparison. Demand was good. 76.00-90.00* Supply included: 56% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (5% Wooled & 73.00-94.00 † Shorn, 77% Hair Breeds, 13% Hair Ewes, 5% Hair Bucks); 11% Welch Stockyards 80.00-111.00* Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 33% Slaughter Goats (58% Kids, 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 13% Nannies/Does, 10% Bucks/Billies, 20% Wether Kids). Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Wooled & Shorn - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 297.50. Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 340.00-405.00. Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 ( per cwt): 277.50-335.00. (Week of 1/9/22 to 1/15/22) Hair Breeds - Good 1-2 (per cwt): 230.00-250.00. Arkansas Cattle Auction 30.00-70.00 † Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 9 (per cwt): 170.00-217.50. Ash Flat Livestock Auction 30.00-75.00 † Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 130.00-140.00. None Reported † Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Hair Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 150.00-260.00. Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 40.00-75.00* Feeder Goats: Cleburne County Livestock Auction 36.00-66.00 † Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 380.00-407.50. 22.00-61.00 † County Line Sale Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 345.00-360.00. Not Reported* Decatur Livestock Auction Slaughter Goats: Vinita Stockyards Not Reported* Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 367.50. Farmers Regional Sale Barn Not Reported* Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 235.00-360.00. 20.00-75.00* Fort Smith Stockyards Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 200.00-295.00. 15.00-76.00* Four State Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 217.50-260.00. I-40 Livestock - Ozark Not Reported † Wether Kids - Selection 2: 285.00-350.00. OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola Ozarks Regional Stockyards Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

slaughter

cows

Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest

35.00-80.00 † 3 76.00* None Reported † 18.00-75.00 † † 3 31.00-68.50 25.00-88.00 †

OKC West Ouachita Livestock Auction Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction Welch Stockyards

300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

50.00-86.00*

110

stocker & feeder County Line Sale Ratcliff✝ 1/12/22 395

Decatur Livestock*

Vinita Stockyards*

1/11/22 720

Cleburne County Livestock✝ 1/10/22 136

Uneven

-----

5-15 Higher

-----

170.00-193.00 166.00-182.00 147.00-181.00 153.00-158.00 146.00-148.00

185.00-212.00 182.00-206.00 154.00-188.00 150.00-163.50 140.00-154.00

165.00-218.00 160.00-207.00 150.00-184.00 145.00-162.00 140.00-153.00

170.00-195.00 154.00-185.00 145.00-166.00 150.00-154.00 141.00

164.00-194.00 159.00-189.00 153.00-181.00 149.00-169.00 144.00-159.00

165.00-175.00 162.50-177.50 140.00-181.00 132.00 120.00-121.00

168.00-189.00 158.50-187.00 144.00-164.00 133.00-148.00 131.00-139.00

180.00-205.00 159.00-200.00 141.00-169.00 125.00-151.00 116.00-138.00

---------------------

143.00-184.00 145.00-180.00 140.00-169.00 130.00-133.00 -----

--------140.00-153.00 130.00-140.00 121.00-133.00

152.50-180.00 137.50-171.00 139.00-182.50 120.00-160.00 110.00-135.00

153.00-162.50 140.00-161.00 130.00-151.00 125.00-138.00 120.00-134.00

148.00-170.00 145.00-166.00 136.00-155.00 120.00-147.00 -----

130.00-164.00 130.00-160.00 127.00-157.00 125.00-144.00 120.00-138.00

146.00-157.00 112.00-158.00 125.00-152.00 138.00-139.00 -----

139.00-148.00 143.00-155.00 136.00-173.00 141.00 133.00

NOT REPORTED

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1

44.00-108.00 †

12/30/21

240.00, few 255.00-300.00; 150-165 lbs 226.00-231.00. Kalona, IA: wooled and shorn 100-145 lbs 232.50305.00; 150-155 lbs 238.00-247.00. Billings, MT: wooled and shorn 110-115 lbs no test. Missouri: wooled and shorn 100-110 lbs no test. Equity Coop: shorn 15830 lbs 238.20.75. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-2: San Angelo: hair 40-60 lbs 425.00-460.00; 60-70 lbs 400.00-420.00, few 437.50; 70-80 lbs 380.00-405.00, few 407.50; 80-90 lbs 330.00-392.50, few 402.50; 90-110 lbs 315.00-365.00, few 375.00. wooled and shorn 74 lbs 390.00; 80-90 lbs 345.00-370.00; 90-100 lbs 320.00337.50. New Holland: wooled and shorn 46 lbs 470.00; 50-60 lbs 410.00-435.00, few 485.00; 60-70 lbs 390.00-410.00, few 430.00-470.00; 70-80 lbs 375.00-410.00, few 440.00455.00; 80-90 lbs 355.00-390.00, few 405.00-430.00; 90-100 lbs 340.00-380.00. hair 50-60 lbs 400.00-425.00; 60-70 lbs 375.00-410.00; 70-80 lbs 365.00-385.00, few 415.00; 80-90 lbs 345.00-377.00; 90-100 lbs 335.00345.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 80-90 lbs 305.00-310.00; 97 lbs 305.00. hair 90-100 lbs 310.00-320.00. Kalona: wooled and shorn 47 lbs 470.00; 50-60 lbs 435.00-455.00; 60-70 lbs 445.00-465.00; 70-80 lbs 405.00-410.00; 80-90 lbs 370.00-385.00; 90-100 lbs 345.00-360.00. hair 40-50 lbs 375.00-412.50; 50-60 lbs 410.00-425.00; 61 lbs 440.00; 70-80 lbs 380.00-400.00; 80-90 lbs 370.00-377.50; 90-100 lbs 330.00-355.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 59 lbs 425.00; 70-80 lbs 330.00-385.00; 80-90 lbs 345.00-360.00; 90-100 lbs National Sheep Summary 1/14/22 285.00-325.00. hair 64 lbs 385.00; 72 lbs 280.00; 88 lbs 285.00; 90-100 lbs 280.00-290.00. Compared to last week slaughter lambs sold steady to 30.00 higher. Slaughter ewes were mostly steady to 10.00 Billings: no test. Missouri: hair 40-50 lbs 395.00-400.00; 50-60 lbs 400.00lower. No comparison on feeder lambs. At San Angelo, 415.00; 60-70 lbs 372.50-390.00, few 415.00; 70-80 lbs TX 5,412 head sold. Equity Cooperative Auction sold 370.00-390.00; 80-90 lbs 350.00-367.50. wooled and 310 slaughter lambs in South Dakota. In direct trading shorn 80-90 Lbs 365.00-367.50; 90-100 lbs 327.50-340.00. slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 3,046 lamb carcasses traded with no trend due to confidential- wooled and shorn 88 lbs 297.50. Slaughter Ewes: ity. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 specified. (fleshy) 150.00-180.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3: flesh) 170.00-192.50; Utility 1-2 (thin) 150.00-170.00; San Angelo: wooled and shorn 110-145 lbs 245.00Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) 122.50-135.00; Cull 1 275.00. New Holland, PA: wooled and shorn 100-130 lbs 337.00- no test. New Holland: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 380.00; 150-180 lbs 225.00-280.00. (fleshy) 140.00-230.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 140.00-195.00; Ft. Collins, CO: wooled and shorn 155-185 lbs 220.00Cull 1 no test. 235.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 110-150 lbs 231.00-

NOT REPORTED

28.00-59.50*

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy✝ 1/11/22 1,189

Ash Flat Livestock✝

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

1/14/22 1,522

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs✝ 1/13/22 2,295

4-10 Higher

-----

157.00-216.00 165.00-206.00 150.00-207.00 135.00-169.00 137.00-159.00

NONE REPORTED

Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards Sheep/Goat

Receipts: 1,137 A large crowd was on hand for this special Thursday night end of the year sale at Norwood Producers Auction Yards. Compared to last month slaughter lambs traded 40.00-50.00 higher. Replacement ewes traded 20.00-30.00 per head higher. Feeder kid goats traded 30.00-55.00 higher. Slaughter kid goats traded 30.00-45.00 higher. Not enough replacement

goats for a market test. Supply moderate with very good demand. Supply included: 53% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (93% Hair Breeds, 7% Hair Ewes); 5% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Ewes); 11% Feeder Goats (95% Kids, 5% Wether Kids); 30% Slaughter Goats (90% Kids, 8% Nannies/Does, 2% Bucks/Billies); 0% Replacement Goats (100% Families). Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 370.00-470.00. Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 280.00-350.00. Hair Breeds - Good 1-2 (per cwt): 260.00. Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per head): 180.00-245.00. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 130.00-145.00. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per head): 205.00. Replacement Sheep/Lambs: Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per head): 275.00-350.00. Feeder Goats: Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 370.00-455.00. Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 300.00-315.00. Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 475.00. Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 330.00. Slaughter Goats: Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 340.00-460.00. Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 265.00-350.00. Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 235.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 185.00-260.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 3 (per cwt): 160.00. Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 205.00-237.50. Replacement Goats: Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per family): 300.00480.00.

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Ft. Collin 2-3 (fleshy 190.00; C

National Dai

Cheese: Ba The weekl blocks, $2. Fluid Milk steady to i in the rear are workin stronger re sales. Staffi delays con Condense increased reportedly somewhat supplies fr plentiful c within reg F.O.B. crea East, 1.27SPOT PRI BUTTER - $3.4671 -

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St-3 Higher

Uneven

St-12 Higher

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155.00-215.00 152.00-201.00 136.00-194.00 121.00-166.00 118.00-154.00

176.00-213.00 169.00-200.00 165.00-196.00 162.00-179.00 150.00-164.00

170.00-200.00 166.00-204.00 150.00-196.00 131.00-173.00 142.00-158.00

205.00-220.00 190.00-225.00 180.00-201.00 164.00-178.00 158.00-169.00

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150.00-202.00 140.00-189.00 130.00-175.00 127.50-154.00 124.00-140.00

--------135.00-159.00 135.00-147.00 137.00-142.50

------------153.00-158.00 -----

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128.00-175.00 123.00-208.00 123.00-160.00 123.00-164.00 -----

136.00-168.00 138.00-168.00 132.50-163.00 125.00-156.00 120.00-145.00

143.00-150.00 150.00-163.00 135.00-160.00 137.00-148.00 127.00-139.00

162.00-181.00 155.00-170.00 148.00-163.00 148.00-159.50 146.00-155.00

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So 24 18

12 6 0

Fort Smith Four State I-40 Joplin Mi Stockyards* Stockyards - Livestock Regional Stoc Exeter, Mo* Ozark✝ Stockyards✝ 1/11/22 1/13/22 1/10/22 1/10/22 1/ 1,920 969 11,801 1,739

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

prices

Farmers Regional Sale Barn* ---------

NOT REPORTED

slaughter

market sales reports

JANUARY 24, 2022

150. 110. 115. 100 100

100 100 100 95. 90.

The

Complete Package www.juddranch.com

Judd Ranch

Winter 2022

Cow Power Behind Judd Ranch Bulls You can buy with confidence knowing that Judd Ranch bulls will sire efficient, fertile and productive daughters. Behind every good bull is a good dam. Efficient, fertile and productive females are the foundation of the most successful cow herds. For 21 out of the last 24 years — 1998 through 2021 — Judd Ranch has been at the top of two prestigious American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) lists — breeder of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction and owner of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction. In 2021, Judd Ranch was recognized as one of the top owners of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction with 19 Dams of Distinction and 64 Dams of Merit –– 83 total honored females. In the breeder category, Judd Ranch was recognized with 97 honored females — with 20 Dams of Distinction and 77 Dams of Merit. AGA Program The AGA’s Dam of Merit program recognizes cows that meet strict selection criteria including

early puberty and conception, regular calving intervals and aboveaverage weaning weights on at least three calves. The Dam of Distinction honor acknowledges cows that meet the same high standards for superior, long-term production with at least eight calves. Dam of Merit and Dam of Distinction females must qualify each year. Thus, earning the No. 1 spot one year does not guarantee a repeat performance. It all depends on each cow’s performance and the performance of her offspring, year after year. AGA requires each female designated a Dam of Merit or Dam of Distinction to earn her award. Only 5.3% of the registered females in the Gelbvieh breed qualified for 2021 Dam of Merit honors, and just more than 1.1% met the criteria for the Dam of Distinction honors. AGA’s Dam of Merit/Distinction program recognizes breedleading, elite females that excel

in productivity and longevity, two key economic traits that contribute significantly to profitability in the cattle business. But what do these honors mean to you? Bottom line: It means that Judd Ranch genetics are stacked with top-of-the-line performance, fertility and maternal power — and nowhere else can you get this combination in a bull package. Every purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer bull selling in this year’s sale has one or more Dams of Merit/Distinction in his pedigree. That’s extra maternal power for you. 

294 Bulls Sell March 5 170 17-19 month old Fall Yearlings and 124 13-14 month old Spring Bulls View sale catalog online after February 1 at www.juddranch.com

This super stud, JRI Porterhouse 140G42 was photographed at the side of his third-calf dam, JRI Ms Sugar and Spice 140C32. Porterhouse posted the following phenomenal stats: 81 lb. birth weight, 996 lb. actual weaning weight, big ol’ 17.6 square inch yearling ribeye/carcass-plus 4.1 IMF score. March 5, Porterhouse’s homozygous polled purebred ET full brother, JRI Potomac 140H425 ET sells. His stats: scalebusting 1,085 lb. actual weaning weight with a big ol’ 16.7 square inch yearling ribeye.

The No. 1 honored Dam of Merit program for 21 of the past 24 years, 1998-2021.

JRI Triple Threat 285A209 grazes beside his first-calf dam just prior to being weaned. Triple Threat sold in the 2015 bull sale with an 80 lb. birth weight, 895 lb. 205-day weight with an actual 1,015 lb. weaning weight off his firstcalf dam. March 5, Triple Threat’s homozygous polled purebred brother, JRI Struttin My Stuff 285H809 sells. His stats: 833 lb. 205-day weight, whopping 975 lb. actual weaning weight with a mighty impressive 5.63 lb. ADG.

Don’t Miss Judd Ranch on

The American Rancher! Judd Ranch will be featured on The American Rancher Monday, February 14 at 8 p.m. central time. The episode will also air again at midnight February 14 and 11 a.m. Sunday, February 20.

The American Rancher, hosted by Pam Minick, is in its 18th year of broadcasting on RFD-TV. The series began in the fall of 2004 and brings audiences in touch with the people and places that make ranching an American lifestyle. The half-hour television series reaches a vast audience through RFD-TV (DISH-231 & DirecTV-345). The American Rancher features a variety of topics including seedstock producers, genetics companies, breed associations, western heritage and more. Each week, viewers can enjoy a glimpse into the lives of hardworking men and women who contribute to America’s beef industry. “We’re excited to share the Judd Ranch story on The American Rancher,” says Roger Gatz of Cattlemen’s Connection and Judd Ranch consultant. “The episode will feature footage from around Judd Ranch including females and bull calves on pasture.”

Set your DVRs, you won’t want to miss the Judd Ranch feature on RFD-TV the week of February 14.

www.juddranch.com

Page 2

Judd Ranch

Consider Free Sight Unseen Program Judd Ranch offers free sight unseen program with 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. The Judd family understands their customers are busy. For those who cannot be in the seats, the Judds offer a sight unseen (SUS) program. It’s a free service allowing individuals to participate in the bull sale on an absentee basis. Ranch Consultant Roger Gatz handles the SUS program. Roger has worked with the Judd Ranch family for 30-plus years. Roger helps decide all the ranch matings and keeps in-depth records on every female on the ranch. Thirty days prior to the sale Roger personally goes through and writes detailed physical notes on every bull, a process that usually takes him five to six days. Anyone can use the SUS program. In addition to those who have a date conflict, it’s also for individuals who prefer not to travel to the sale. You don’t have to have a specific reason to use the SUS program. “When you use our sight unseen program, a person represents you in the bleachers and does your bidding for you,” explains Gatz. “Your proxy bidder knows what bulls you want to bid on and your maximum bid for each bull and tries to purchase the bulls on your behalf. Never does the bidder go over your maximum amount.” The program is so popular that in past years, 20 to 25% of all bulls offered in the sale were sold to SUS customers. The SUS program, which has been in operation for more than 10 years, takes the risk out of purchasing bulls as it comes with a customer satisfaction guarantee. You either like the bull(s) purchased for you or they are returned to the ranch at no cost to you. Bull buyers who use the SUS program typically use it for one of three key reasons: 1) They have a conflict on sale day and can’t make the sale. 2) They live a significant distance from the sale and this service saves them time and money driving to and from the sale and allows them

to spend the day as needed. 3) They’ve used the SUS program before and liked the bulls purchased for them better than if they had attended the sale and chosen bulls for themselves. SUS bidding assignments are handed out, so proxy bidders do not know what bulls fellow proxy bidders are seeking. In addition, there are no “rafter bids.” “The program has been built on honesty, and it is in everyone’s best interest that we keep the program honest,” Dave Judd explains. Gatz adds, “If we can purchase a bull for less money than a sight unseen customer has given us, we will, and numerous bulls are purchased for less than their SUS customers’ maximum bid.” Past SUS customers’ experiences Nick Scott, a commercial cattleman located near Checotah, Oklahoma, purchased his first Judd Ranch bulls in 2018. Before the sale, he says he contacted Gatz and visited with him about the bull offering and explained what he was looking for. “Roger suggested several bulls he thought would fit my program,” Scott says. “I intended to buy one that day but ended up buying two and I’m very pleased with how they have worked in my program.” Happy with the results, Scott was looking for another bull to add to his battery in 2021. He reached out to Gatz again to discuss the offering. Unable to attend the sale, this time he utilized the SUS program giving Gatz a bid and a list of bulls. He was able to get the bull he wanted for $5,250, a savings of $850 off his max bid. Scott’s herd includes 120 head of mostly Angus-influenced cows. He calves about 80% in the spring and 20% in the fall. He retains his calves through the stocker phase as well as keeps replacement females to improve his herd. He says the Judd bulls have improved growth in his steer calves as well as produced

outstanding replacements to keep in his herd. Scott says he would recommend the SUS program to other producers in a heartbeat. He complimented Gatz’s knowledge and quick response. Likewise, Iowa commercial producer Willis Jones is a satisfied Judd Ranch customer. Jones says he visited the Judd Ranch about three years ago on a bus tour. “I had the opportunity to meet the people and see the cattle. The Judds treated us like family during the tour and they are the type of people I want to do business with.” The Jones herd includes about 125 commercial cows that are all Red Angus-based. He said the SUS option worked well for him since he calves in the spring and it is hard for him to leave his farm at that time. Sold on the cattle and the people after his visit, he says he felt comfortable working with Gatz and the SUS program to purchase a bull in the 2021 sale. Prior to the sale Jones dis-

What a scalebusting bull calf! This is JRI Black Panther 214G44 photographed at the side of his 9-year-old Dam of Merit honored dam, JRI Ms Peek A Boo 214Y34. This homozygous black, homozygous polled purebred sold in last year’s sale. Black Panther’s stats: 888 lb. 205-day weight, actual 1,020 lb. weaning weight, 1,465 lb. 365-day weight, 6.06 lb. ADG and the scalebuster posted a big ol’ 18.3 square inch yearling ribeye. cussed the Red Angus offering with Gatz and narrowed down his choices and placed an order. Jones’ SUS proxy bidder purchased Lot 296 for $2,500 less than his maximum bid. “The SUS program sure worked well for me,” he summarizes. “I look forward to my first Judd Ranch-sired calves hitting the ground in March.“ Call sooner rather than later Because the key to a satisfied SUS customer is knowing what that person wants, Gatz asks that anyone wanting to use the SUS program call and talk to him about their bull(s) as soon as possible. “I can give a person the time and

Sight Unseen Customers: Please call two to three weeks before the sale to discuss your bull needs. The sooner you call, the more time Roger has to help identify the best bulls for your program.

All Sight Unseen orders must be placed with Roger by noon on Friday, March 4 (the day prior to the bull sale). Prior to sale week, please call Roger’s toll-free office number:

1-800-743-0026. During sale week, please call Roger on his cell phone:

785-547-6262. This newsletter is brought to you by Judd Ranch Inc. Dave & Cindy Judd Nick & Ginger Judd & family Brent & Ashley Judd & family Pomona, KS 66076 Phone: 785/566-8371 www.juddranch.com

attention he or she deserves when I’m called two or three weeks prior to the sale,” Gatz explains. “Calling as early as February 11 would help us both big time. These conversations can last 30 minutes or so. I don’t like to hurry when it comes to helping a person find the bulls that will best fit their situation.” Calls made to Gatz to learn more about the SUS program and to talk about the bulls in the sale prior to sale week need to be made on Roger’s toll-free office number: 800-743-0026. Calls made to Gatz during sale week should be to his cell: 785-5476262. Because SUS orders need to be organized and proxy bidders assigned, Gatz requests that all SUS orders be placed by Friday noon, March 4. 

FREE TRUCKING within continental U.S. on purchases totaling $20,000 or more. This is convenient, door-to-door delivery, not to a central location.

www.juddranch.com

Judd Ranch

Page 3

JUDD RANCH PRIORITIES: Producing Stout Bulls, Developing Next Generation Three generations of Judds work together to raise superior Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus cattle that exceed customer expectations. The Judd Ranch story began in 1981 when high school sweethearts Dave and Cindy Judd purchased the ranch headquarters just west of Pomona in the picturesque Kansas Flint Hills. Judd Ranch is home to stout bulls, fertile females and a family who works together to produce superior cattle for their customers. As soon as you drive on the ranch you quickly realize it is a family operation, with three generations of Judds working together to raise quality seedstock for the commercial cattleman. The Judd family has enjoyed decades of success and realize it all started with satisfied customers. Along with providing solid, dependable cattle, customer service is a top priority. “You can have the best cattle in the world, but, if you don’t have a person’s trust, then those cattle aren’t worth a dime,” Dave explains. “Cattle have to meet a customer’s expectations and you have to be a man of your word. Those two factors go hand-in-hand. One without the other doesn’t work.” The Judds stand behind what they sell and are appreciative of the loyalty and repeat customers they have had through the years. “Sometimes we take for grant-

Meet the Judd’s: (left to right), Nick and Ginger Judd with children Lacy, Levi and Lily; Ashley and Brent Judd with son Oliver (missing is daughter Avery Jo born in October 2016); and Dave and Cindy Judd. You are seeing the Judd Ranch family just as they often spend their day—on horseback. That said, it takes a lot of coordination to get everyone together in one photo. Like most ranchers, the Judd Ranch crew prefers to be working rather than posing for a family photo. ed the miracles that happen in our business, such as a healthy, newborn calf or a good rain to green pastures up,” Dave says. “We feel especially rewarded when our customers return to us year after year to purchase seedstock.” Judd family members agree that they are constantly trying to improve their genetics to meet customer demands. “We all have the same goal of producing a great product for our customers,” Cindy says, explaining customers to include those who buy beef at the grocery store and those who buy

Super mom JRI Ms Amber 017S9 flat knows how to raise babies and wowsa, note the testicular development on her fall 2011 bull calf. Amber’s homozygous polled purebred grandson, JRI Hyannis 017H58 ET sells March 5. His stats: 823 lb. 205-day weight, scalebusting 1,095 lb. actual weaning weight with a feed efficiency 5.31 lb. ADG.

Judd Ranch bulls and females. In the beginning The original ranch purchase included a herd of Polled Herefords. Brangus females bred to Gelbvieh bulls were quickly added to the herd. Impressed with the results of Gelbvieh-influenced calves, the Judds purchased a large number of half-blood and 3/4 blood Gelbvieh females in 1982 and began working toward a purebred Gelbvieh herd. Dave says this decision was based on extensive research, including data from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) that showed Gelbvieh produced more pounds of weaned calf per cow than any other widely used breed. Gelbvieh had also earned a reputation for its heat tolerance and maternal qualities, such as fertility and milk. “Data from USMARC continues to show the power of the Gelbvieh breed,” Dave says. “Through the years, Gelbvieh has reduced mature cow size and research shows that Gelbvieh has the earliest age at puberty and has the lowest birth weight of the four main continental breeds.” Since 1981, Dave and Cindy have built the Judd Ranch from the ground up, adding land and cattle while raising their family. Today, Judd Ranch with Gelbvieh, Balanc-

er and Red Angus seedstock ranks in the top 25% of seedstock operations in the country and both sons are back on the ranch with their families. The Judds host two sales per year at the ranch — the Annual Bull Sale is the first Saturday in March, and the Annual Female Sale is the second Saturday in October. Dave and Cindy have been members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) since 1983. They have been very active, including Dave serving on the AGA Board of Directors from 20042009. The couple was inducted into the AGA Hall of Fame in 2016. The Judd program Producing the complete package — calving ease, growth, carcass, fertility and being a source for heterosis — is the goal at Judd Ranch. Strengths of the Judd Ranch cow herd are productivity, fertility, uniformity, calving ease, moderate frame, easy disposition and udder quality. The herd is genetically uniform and possesses a good balance of traits, due to stacking generations of like phenotypes and genotypes. Thus, the bulls they produce are deep bodied, thick and structurally sound. Dave explains his focus has

always been the maternal traits. “They make the cow-calf guy the most money, yet they are the least heritable. Milk and fertility can be antagonistic traits, so you have to select for both,” he explains. “We require our cows to be pregnant each year and bring in a big calf.” The Judd Ranch program has both fall and spring calving seasons. About 90% of the females are artificially inseminated (AI), with the remaining 10% pasture bred to Judd Ranch herd sires. In addition to its extensive AI program, Judd Ranch’s top genetics are propagated via embryo transfer (ET), flushing 15-20 females three times a year. Dave is a stickler for timing. This attention to detail is why Judd Ranch has been the AGA’s No. 1 breeder of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction for 21 of the past 24 years. In 2000, when customer demand revealed the need for a second breed, Judd Ranch chose Red Angus. “Identifying a second breed required as much research as when we were looking for a breed back in the early 1980s,” Dave explains. “We chose Red Angus as our second breed because it complements Gelbvieh. (Continued on Page 4)

www.juddranch.com

Page 4 Look at the bull calf nursing this Judd Ranch honored Dam of Distinction female, JRI Ms Eternal Echo 148K60. Eternal Echo produced scalebusting progeny for 15 years with a remarkable 366-day annual calving internal. Her homozygous black, homozygous polled Balancer grandson, JRI Ruger148H270 sells March 5. Ruger’s stats: 965 lb. actual weaning weight, 1,350 lb. 365-day weight and the meatwagon posted a sale leading 7.81 lb. ADG.

First-Time Sale Attendees: Travel Expenses Covered by Satisfaction Guarantee Not convinced Judd bulls are for you, but wanting to check them out? If you like what you’ve read in this newsletter, talked to us about this year’s sale offering and are curious if the bulls are as described, then check us out by attending the sale. If you are attending the sale for the first time and the offering is not as described to you, talk to us after the sale and we will reimburse your travel expenses. “The Judds and I are confident in the program and my ability to accurately describe the bulls that a travel expense reimbursement customer satisfaction guarantee is offered to first-time sale attendees,” explains herd consultant Roger Gatz of Cattlemen’s Connection “We don’t care if you drive or fly to the sale. Judd Ranch will reimburse your travel expenses if the bulls don’t measure up to our assessment

of them to you.” To qualify for Judd Ranch travel expense reimbursement program, you must call ranch consultant Roger Gatz prior to sale day and talk to Roger about your herd and your herd sire needs. The bulls will be described to you in detail. If you attend the sale and find that the bulls are not as described, then you will be reimbursed for your travel expenses. It is that simple. “I can honestly say that the first comment of many first-time sale attendees is that they are extremely impressed with the bulls and the depth quality of the sale offering,” Roger says. “In fact, most say the bulls were better than how we described them.” To learn more about this customer satisfaction guarantee or to discuss the sale offering, contact ranch consultant Gatz toll-free at 800-743-0026. 

Judd Ranch females are widely known for their superb teat/udder quality and this Judd Ranch Dam of Merit mama, JRI Ms Perfect Replica 140C76 ET flat knows how to raise babies. Perfect Replica’s black, homozygous polled purebred son, JRI Superstar 140H86 sells March 5. Superstar’s stats: 852 lb. 205-day weight, 975 lb. actual weaning weight with a feeder delight 5.73 lb. ADG.

Judd Family Ranch

(Continued from Page 3) “Red Angus excel in carcass quality, and they have excellent maternal characteristics and moderate size. They also have great dispositions and feeding characteristics.” With a Gelbvieh herd and a Red Angus herd, it was a natural fit for Judd Ranch to offer customers a third breed: Balancer. Balancers are the result of mating Gelbvieh with either Red Angus or Angus. A registered Balancer must be at least 25%, but not more than 75% Gelbvieh, with the remaining percentage either Angus or Red Angus. A Balancer combines the fertility, growth, muscle and leanness of Gelbvieh with the maternal and marbling qualities of Angus or Red Angus. “Balancer bulls are an excellent option for cowmen who would like some benefits of heterosis, but don’t want 100% Gelbvieh influence,” Dave adds. The ranch When Dave and Cindy put the ranch together, they tried to develop a balance of grasses. The cattle run on native prairie and fescue grass. The bulls go through gain test in large, rocked pens. After gain test, they are turned out in pastures with no supplemental feed. “We don’t pamper the cattle,” Dave says. “We don’t want feet problems. We want them ready to go to work for our customers.” Cows carrying the Judd Ranch brand must thrive in both extremes when it comes to weather. Summers at Judd Ranch can be extremely hot and humid, and the Kansas Flint Hills winters can be harsh with a lot of moisture. The ranch averages about 111 days below freezing each year and averages 38 inches of precipitation. With females and bulls selling to herds across the country, customers report that Judd Ranch cattle thrive and breed well in all parts of the U.S. In addition to the seedstock operation, Judd Ranch has a diversified farming operation, consisting of corn, beans and alfalfa, producing its own feed. In good weather years, the family also markets a large portion of the ranch’s alfalfa, prairie and brome hay. Built on years of data Numbers are important at Judd

Judd Ranch Ranch — not numbers as in who has the most cows or sells the most bulls, but numbers related to objective measurements. The Judd Ranch program has more than 10 generations of objective performance data that it relies on when it comes to decision-making. Data includes birth, weaning and yearling weights, rate of gain and measurements for pelvic area, scrotal circumference, frame, back-fat and ribeye area. In recent years, DNA testing has been added to this data. “At Judd Ranch, every cow is viewed as a factory,” Dave explains. “As a beef factory, each female’s job is to cycle, breed and calve on a regular basis and then to raise a calf that is genetically superior to her and the sire of her calf. In addition to being extremely fertile and a high-quality factory, each female must be structurally correct, have a quiet disposition and have that all-important marketability. We have to keep all traits in balance and can’t fall down in any area.” While almost every ranch visitor is quick to notice and comment on the herd’s amazing teat and udder structure and their moderate frame, Dave adds, “our emphasis on the teat and udder structure of our cows is showing its rewards. That said, teats and udders are constantly scrutinized.” Ranch consultant Roger Gatz calls Judd Ranch “the No. 1 herd in the nation for teat and udder structure.” Team approach It’s a team at Judd Ranch with each family member contributing their strengths to the success of the ranch. Dave handles the overall management of the ranch and is the go-to man. He and ranch consultant Roger Gatz of Cattlemen’s Connection oversee all mating decisions and decide which animals go into the female and bull sales. Judd Ranch’s matriarch, Cindy, serves as office manager and oversees night calving. Dave and Cindy’s oldest son, Nick, graduated from Kansas State University in 2002 with an animal sciences and industry (ASI) degree. He manages the ET center — including detecting heats on donors and recips — and is in charge of clipping sale cattle. He also manages hay sales and grain storage and handles the certification of

chemicals for crop and pasture management. His wife, Ginger, is a 2003 K-State graduate with an ASI degree. She manages the pen bulls for the National Gelbvieh and Balancer Pen Bull Show including halter breaking and preparing to show. She also helps with payroll. Their three children are Lily (17), Levi (14) and Lacy (11). Youngest son, Brent, graduated from K-State in 2005 with an ASI degree. He serves as AI technician, processes all newborn calves, pregnancy checks, heads up the row crop planting and assists with sale duties. His wife, Ashley, is a 2005 K-State finance graduate and a 2008 Washburn University School of Law graduate. She handles cattle registrations, the ranch’s web site and projects such as submitting DNA tests and the female sale’s annual judging contest. They have two children — Oliver (8) and Avery Jo (4). In addition to these specific tasks, each Judd Ranch family member chips in when and where needed — and that includes the grandchildren. “I’m a super proud grandparent,” Cindy says. “Everyone works hard to get the job done daily. While working cows everybody has an ‘age appropriate’ job. As a family we help gather each morning, then at chute side, everyone has a station they are responsible for.” Each grandchild has a role including tagging, keeping the alleyway loaded, collecting DNA samples, paperwork, etc. Even 4-year-old Avery is part of the action. “Avery makes sure we are good in snacks! That’s an important job,” Cindy explains. “It is definitely a team effort around here and all hands on deck.” Oldest grandchild Lily says it is a privilege to be able to spend time with family working on the ranch. Cindy also points out the great hired crew that also helps the family. “They help keep the operation going daily.” Dave adds, “We raise cattle, grass, hay and feed around here, but the No. 1 thing we are doing is raising the next generation. We want our grandkids to feel like they are part of the operation and valuable to its success.” 

99% of the sale bulls are sired by breed-leading AI sires

www.juddranch.com

Judd Ranch

Problem-Free Bulls

Customers can feel confident when buying Judd genetics; they are backed by a strong herd health program and are tested guaranteed to be problem-free. The Judd family prioritizes herd health. They have two beliefs when it comes to herd health. First, it’s better to prevent disease than to treat it, and Judd Ranch customers deserve disease-free females and bulls. “Our herd health program starts the day a calf is born and continues throughout its lifetime or until an animal is on a buyer’s truck,” explains Dave Judd. “Our program integrates vaccination, medicine and management to prevent disease. We keep disease at a minimum by preventing exposure to disease, and keep disease resistance high through nutrition, management and housing programs. While this takes a continual effort, it is worth the investment. We benefit, and our customers deserve this reassurance.” Dr. Larry Mages, Cottonwood Animal Hospital, Ottawa, Kan., oversees the ranch’s day-to-day

veterinary service and has served as the ranch’s local veterinarian for more than 20 years. Dr. Mages is the guy you typically see at the settlement table on sale day signing health papers. All bulls sell with a breeding soundness guarantee. Judd bulls are tested fertile and ready to go to work for you. All bulls are also tested negative for BVD-PI, so you can feel confident in better health and performance. Negative for Brucellosis Judd Ranch tests all cows and herd bulls annually for brucellosis and is an Accredited Brucellosis Free Herd — Certification #271. Judd Ranch has maintained this brucellosis-free status for more than five years. Negative for Johne’s Disease The prevention of Johne’s dis-

ease, a silent chronic infection causing intermittent to continuous diarrhea and wasting in cattle more than two years of age, is always on Judd Ranch’s radar.

All sale bulls are free of known lethal genetic defects, have tested negative for BVD-PI and have passed a breeding soundness exam. Even though Judd Ranch has never experienced, or even suspected, any cases of Johne’s disease in the herd, Judd Ranch has tested for Johne’s disease. “I can say with confidence that we are an extremely low-risk Johne’s disease herd,” Dave says.

DIRECTIONS, MOTEL INFORMATION The Comfort Inn in Ottawa, Kan., is the official sale motel for Judd Ranch’s Annual Bull Sale. Located just off I-35 at the south end of Ottawa, the Comfort Inn has a heated indoor pool and offers a complimentary breakfast, including eggs, sausage, biscuits, waffles, muffins, coffee and fruit juice. An Applebee’s restaurant is within walking distance of the motel. To reserve a room, call the Comfort Inn at 785-242-6150 or 785-242-9898, and request the Judd Ranch Bull Sale room block. Because rooms at the Comfort Inn will be blocked for Judd Ranch customers only until February 22, we suggest you reserve your room as soon as possible.

Page 5

Genetic Defect-Free Bulls Important When Michigan State University surveyed beef producers who purchased performance-tested bulls what they wanted when selecting a herd sire, topping the list was purchasing a bull “free of lethal genetic defects.” The next four popular answers were disposition, breeding soundness, negative for TB and negative for BVD. All of the bulls selling in Judd Ranch’s 44th Bull Sale are free of known lethal genetic defects, have tested negative for BVD-PI, have passed a breeding soundness exam and have passed a keep/cull disposition test. “I wish I could say we’re a Johne’sfree herd, but no cowman can say that. We’re a Level 4 Johne’s-free herd.” When it comes to herd health and Johne’s disease, only an elite group of U.S. beef herds can say that they are a low-risk herd, and testing shows Judd Ranch is among the herds that can make that statement with confidence. Genetic Defect Free Dr. Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef extension specialist, urges cattle producers to avoid purchasing animals that carry known genetic defects and can pass these defects to their offspring. And, while a genetic defect is not a disease, a genetic defect is similar to a disease because it can cause significant problems in a herd. “Almost every breed has one or

more genetic defects, and they can sneak up on you if you’re not careful,” Lemenager said. He advises producers to study every animal’s pedigree and know which animals are free of genetic defects. The alternative is to only purchase breeding stock that have been DNA tested and declared free of known defects. Ranch consultant Roger Gatz, Cattlemen’s Connection, and the Judd Ranch crew agree with Lemenager. That’s why Judd Ranch herd sires and AI sires have been tested for known genetic defects and are known free from known genetic defects. Every bull selling through the Judd Ranch Bull Sale and every female selling at a Judd Ranch Cow Power Female Sale in the fall sells with a genetic defect-free guarantee for known genetic defects. 

To get to the Comfort Inn if you are coming from the north on I-35, take Exit 183B to the first stop light and turn right. The motel is on your right. If you’re coming from the south on I-35, you will get off on Exit 170. S. Princeton St.

68 To Judd Ranch (1 mile west of Pomona)

S. Eisenhower Ave.

23rd St.

5 To Kansas City OTTAWA

Comfort Inn

15th St.

To Emporia

= North

To reach the motel from Judd Ranch, travel east on Highway K-68 toward Ottawa. At the west edge of Ottawa, K-68 goes north. Rather than going north, turn right on Eisenhower Road and go about 2 miles to 23rd St. Turn left or east on 23rd St. and go 1 mile. After you pass through the intersection, which has a stoplight, the motel is located down the road a bit on your right. If you’re traveling using a GPS, the motel’s address is 2335 Oak Street, Ottawa, Kan. Additional rooms may be available at the nearby Super 8, 785-242-5551.

Oh my, checkout this 1,155 lb. actual weaning weight bull calf photographed with his Dam of Merit mama, JRI Ms Pure Elegance 254B451. Pure Elegance’s black, homozygous polled purebred grandson, JRI Special T 254H310 sells March 5. Special T’s stats: 917 lb. 205-day weight, 1,045 lb. actual weaning weight and the beef machine pegged the yearling weight scales at 1,335 pounds.

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Judd Ranch

Judd Ranch Customers Profit from Selling on the Grid True or False: Gelbvieh-influenced and/or Balancer-influenced calves won’t grade and won’t work on the grid. If you answered “False,” you are correct. Judd Ranch bull customers who have been following their Gelbviehinfluenced and Balancer-influenced fat cattle on the rail and selling on the grid have found that their Judd Ranch-influenced Gelbvieh- and Balancer-influenced cattle outperform the U.S. industry average of 7 to 8% Prime and 70% Choice. And they either meet or surpass the averages of the American Gelbvieh Association’s 2017 Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Carcass Contest when 85% or more of the 107 Balancer steers from across the country graded Choice or better. Performing on the rail Commercial cowman Gerald Merz from Missouri had a “happy camper” experience selling his Gelbvieh- and Balancer-influenced fats on the grid. Every steer in Gerald’s first load of 36 head of fats in 2018 graded Choice or better, with 14 of the 36 grading Prime and 11 qualifying for the CAB program. Sired by Judd Ranch

purebred Gelbvieh bulls and out of Angus cows, these steers were what Gerald calls “the industry’s highly desired Continental X British crosses.” In another group of Judd Ranch Gelbvieh- and Balancerinfluenced fats, 11 out of 18 went Prime and four or five went CAB. All were Choice or higher. The Missouri cattleman’s formula for success: Judd Ranch purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls on Angus and Angus X Judd Ranchinfluenced females. “I’ve been using performance bulls for more years than I can count and have been retaining ownership and selling on the rail for 15 to 20 years. I figure I can either get paid for my better genetics or someone else will,” Gerald explains. “With the dryness, I’ve been weaning the middle of August. The calves go on silage and a little corn. They stay on that ration, and I increase their corn as they get bigger. They’re 17 to 18 months old when they are harvested. “As the kill sheets show, Judd Ranch Gelbvieh-sired and Balancer-sired cattle are definitely

performing mighty fine on the rail for me.”

Wowsa, check out the scalebuster nursing this Judd Ranch mama, JRI Ms Secretly Inspired 253Z53, photographed as a first-calf heifer. Secretly Inspired is currently a 9-year-old Dam of Distinction honored female with a 359-day annual calving interval. Her homozygous polled purebred son, JRI Bring It On 253H63 sells March 5. His stats: 71 lb. birth weight, 822 lb. 205-day weight and the scalebuster posted an actual weaning weight of 1,115 pounds.

Bill and Kathy Stoltz, BK Ranch, Wisconsin, are among the cow-calf producers who expect more from their Gelbvieh-influenced cattle and simply wouldn’t be happy if only 7 to 8% of their fat cattle went Prime. “We’re getting right at 50% Prime, and it’s been a long time since we had any cattle grade less than Choice,” Bill explains. The cattle that have been performing so well on the rail for Bill and Kathy are “more Gelbvieh than anything else.” The Stoltz’s cow herd has a “bit of Angus” in them and a whole lot of Judd Ranch Gelbvieh. Bill adds that, the last five to six years, they have been using purebred Gelbvieh bulls. “If people think Gelbvieh and Balancers won’t grade, then they might want to pick different bulls,” Bill interjects. “A lot of how cattle grade hinges on picking the right bulls. I am really fussy about buying bulls with good carcass values, and that has been paying off.” Tracy Lake, a cow-calf producer from Idaho, has been using Judd Ranch bulls for close to 20 years. He’s also been feeding out cattle and selling them on the grid for the same amount of time. His 1,500 head of mother cows are black crossbreds, primarily Gelbvieh X Simmental or Gelbvieh X Angus.

Using Charolais bulls on his Judd Ranch-influenced Gelbvieh cross females, his calves are averaging 61 to 64% on yield. Tracy estimates that, on average, his steers hit about 10% Prime and 70% Choice — or better. “Genetics are important, and feed is equally important,” he tells. “We like to turn over the cattle. As soon as we think they will grade, they sell on the grid.” Tracy attributes being successful on the grid to two factors: genetics and feed. And he’s adamant that it takes a darn good cow to produce a good calf that performs start to finish. “We love our Gelbvieh-influenced cows,” he continues. “I can’t say enough good about our Gelbvieh crossbred cows. Their calves perform well on the rail.” Mark Wray started feeding cattle when he got out of college. At first, he purchased what he thought were “really good calves” from the auction barn. But, despite the calves being Angus, he said they were missing the boat when they hung on the rail. “Then I heard a guy giving a presentation say that the best animal you can feed is a Continental X British cross, and that got me to thinking,” Mark elaborates. “I knew Judd Ranch just down the road had the best Continental cattle out there and I could raise my own cattle and benefit from sell-

JRI Extra Sassy 140S65 is a typical Judd Ranch female. Photographed at 10 years of age, this homozygous polled purebred Gelbvieh female featured a profit-driven 365-day annual calving interval and her five sons to date have averaged a whopping 946 pounds on actual weaning weight.

ing them on the grid. Plus, I could improve my cow herd at the same time. “So, I started buying Judd Ranch bulls — purebred Gelbvieh — and putting them on our 300 Angus mama cows. I knew that with Judd Ranch bulls I would get bulls that excel in maternal traits and growth traits and my calves would be that highly desired Continental X British cross.” This commercial cowman from Kansas says his first set of home-raised Judd Ranch-influenced Continental X British cross calves hung on the rail “really well.” “But the big benefit to using Judd Ranch bulls was once my Judd Ranch-influenced heifers were in production,” he explains. “For the past three years, I’ve been putting Judd Ranch Balancer bulls on my crossbred (Angus X Gelbvieh) females and ‘Wow!’. Our yield on those calves went up a full percent. “That’s a $20 to $30 a head premium.” Mark adds that, year in and year out, 10 to 11% of his calves are grading Prime and another 80% are grading Choice. That’s 90 to 91% consistently grading Choice or better. He points out that Judd Ranch genetics are giving him the yield he needs to sell on the grid, without sacrificing quality grade. “We’ve been using Judd genetics to make better mama cows, and we’re picking up some yield at the same time,” Mark states. “The myth out there that Gelbvieh or Balancers won’t sire calves that will work on the grid is not accurate. It’s just that — a myth. It’s a false belief. “Our calves and the premium we’ve been getting are proof that Gelbvieh-cross and Balancercross calves work on the grid. Heck, I sure enjoy that extra $20 to $30 per head.” 

Call today for your sale catalog:

1-800-743-0026

Judd Ranch

www.juddranch.com

Page 7

Worry Less, Sleep More

Manage calving stress by using Judd Ranch sires that deliver calving ease and much more.

Check out this beautiful 8-year-old Dam of Merit honored female, JRI Ms Mary Poppins 213A98 ET. Mary Poppins would be an ET full sister to herd sire JRI General Patton 213B97 ET who has 79 calving ease/meat machine sons selling on March 5. Mary Poppins’ black, homozygous polled purebred son, JRI Black Image 213H18 sells March 5. Black Image’s stats: 828 lb. 205-day weight, 975 lb. actual weaning weight. Mary Poppin’s also has four ET full brothers to Black Image selling and this foursome of beef machines feature a calving ease 76 lb. average birth weight with a whopping 949 lb. actual weaning weight average.

Calving ease and neonatal vigor are two significant traits in the cattle industry. A live calf that is born unassisted and gets up and nurses right away is important in any calving environment, but is critical in a heifer program. Judd Ranch genetics are known for their maternal traits and calving ease. Using Judd Ranch bulls allows you to sleep easy at night. “For cow-calf producers, calving ease is the economically relevant trait (ERT) associated with dystocia,” says Bob Weaber, K-State professor and extension cow-calf specialist. “Economically relevant traits are those that directly generate revenue or incur costs in beef production systems.” For a commercial cow-calf producer, dystocia (or lack of “calving ease”) is what generates costs in a cow herd through direct losses of calves and their dams, increased labor costs and certainly lower reproductive rates among cows that have experienced dystocia. Dystocia in heifers due to poor selection decisions can be a very

expensive mistake resulting in lost profits due to cow and calf death loss, extended postpartum intervals and poorer conception rates in rebreeding first-calf heifers. Weaber explains birthweight is an indicator trait and provides some information on calving ease, but birthweight alone doesn’t directly generate revenue or incur costs independent of calving ease. “Birthweight only accounts for 55 to 60% of the genetic variation in calving ease,” he adds. “So, selection for reduced birthweight alone won’t improve calving ease as much as selecting directly on calving ease. And since birthweight is strongly correlated with other growth traits, reduction in birthweight is usually associated with decreased growth performance at weaning and yearling.” When selecting a sire for use on virgin heifers, Weaber suggests focusing on selecting bulls with calving ease EPDs in the top 20% of the breed or better. “Combining the use of calving ease direct and calving ease mater-

nal EPDs in your selection system will help assure a successful calving season and decreased dystocia in your first-calf heifers,” Weaber summarizes. According to the American Gelbvieh Association, calving ease is an important factor many cattlemen consider when selecting a herd sire. Cattlemen and women like to have peace of mind knowing their calves will be born unassisted and alive. Getting more live calves on the ground is the first step to getting more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed and also equates to more potential for future profit. Gelbvieh and Balancers have lowered birth weights and increased calving ease to meet the demands of today’s beef industry. “Rest assured, Judd Ranch sale bulls are equipped with excellent calving ease,” says Roger Gatz, Judd Ranch consultant. This year’s sale will include 142 purebred Gelbvieh bulls in the top 15% calving ease direct EPD. The 143 Balancer bulls feature top 20% calving ease direct EPD strength average. 

We are Listening: Survey Shows How Judd Ranch Bulls are Performing Look at the scalebusting bull calf at the side of this Judd Ranch first-calf heifer. This super stud pounded the yearling weight scales at 1,309 pounds while posting a 17.5 square inch yearling ribeye.

The pastures at Judd Ranch are filled with first-calf heifers with big strapping bull calves. The bull calf at side of this first-calf heifer pounded the yearling weight scales at 1,343 lbs.

Judd Ranch cares about how its bulls are working and wants to know how it can improve its bulls and customer service. After the 2017 Bull Sale, a two-page survey was mailed to all bull buyers who had purchased Judd Ranch bulls in the past five years. Of the 507 bull buyers receiving a survey, 18 percent returned it. That’s a darn good return rate, considering the average paper-based survey results is only a 10 percent return rate. Survey responses were received from cattle producers from 18 states: Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Of those responding, the size of cow herds ranged from 720 to 12 head. Producers responding to the survey indicated that they had been purchasing Judd Ranch bulls for an average of seven years. Additional

survey responses related directly to their bull purchases showed that: • 91% rate their Judd Ranch bulls as “extremely docile” or “docile.” • 93% are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their Judd Ranch bulls and their offspring. • Judd Ranch bulls boosted their average weaning weight by 68 pounds per calf. The survey also asked the openended question, “what characteristics do you like best about your Judd Ranch-sired females?” The top five characteristics cited by the 57 respondents were docile disposition, milking ability, udder quality — with several noting “great teat/udder quality,” moderate size and maternal strength. Other qualities listed include feet and legs, easy fleshing, calving ease, “make good cows,” fertility/breed back, longevity, efficient, early puberty, good structure, genotype, phenotype and heterosis. Asked to rate their Judd Ranch-

sired replacement females, 87 percent circled the answer “Top 10% of herd” or “above average.” Not one person returning a survey responded with a negative comment about their Judd Ranch-sired replacement females. “This survey indicates that Judd Ranch bulls are working across the country and that commercial cowcalf producers with large herds and smaller herds are buying Judd Ranch bulls,” explains Roger Gatz, herd consultant for Judd Ranch. Roger adds that other information gleaned from the survey will be used to help direct Judd Ranch’s program. “We pay attention to the survey responses regarding target birth weights, color preference, preferred Balancer percentage, traits most important to you, etc. This survey told us not only how you are using Judd Ranch bulls but what you want in a Judd Ranch bull. When you speak, Judd Ranch listens.” 

Judd Ranch 44th Bull Sale Offering Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus 124 Spring-born 13- to 14-month-old Bulls Averages of Spring-Born Bulls JRI Triple Threat 285A209 sold in the 2015 bull sale with an 80 lb. birth weight coupled with a 1,015 lb. actual weaning weight off his first-calf dam. Triple Threat’s homozygous polled purebred Gelbvieh maternal brother, JRI Struttin My Stuff 285H809 sells March 5. His stats: 833 lb. 205-day weight, 975 lb. actual weaning weight with a mighty impressive 5.63 lb. ADG.

Birth Weight: 83# 205 Day Weight: 720# Actual Weaning Weight: 816# This group of bulls is on gain test. Remaining data will be available in mid-January

Additional Statistics

Breed & Number of Each Selling

100% JR DOM Cow Families (GV and Bal) 100% Polled 121 are Homozygous Polled 72 are Black & Polled 100% are Sired by breed leading AI Sires

30 Black Polled Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls 25 Red Polled Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls 47 Black Polled Balancer Bulls 12 Red Polled Balancer Bulls 9 Purebred 1A Red Angus Bulls

Sires of the Spring-born Bulls with Number of Sons Selling Gelbvieh & Balancer Sires

JRI In Pursuit 017B50 is a Judd Ranch homozygous polled Balancer herd sire and breed-leading AI sire. In Pursuit’s black, homozygous polled Balancer ET full brother, JRI Hyannis 017H58 ET sells March 5. Hyannis’ stats: 823 lb. 205-day weight, scalebusting 1,095 lb. actual weaning weight with a feed efficiency 5.31 lb. ADG.

JRI Marshall 214X2 sold in the 2011 bull sale and this breed trait leader for calving ease direct, (low) birth weight, calving ease maternal, docility and marbling annually ranks among the top selling AI sires in the breed. March 5th, Marshall’s ET homozygous polled purebred maternal brother, JRI Per Se 214H984 ET sells. Per Se’s stats: 837 lb. 205-day weight, 970 lb. actual weaning weight with a feed conversion-plus 5.94 lb. ADG.

JRI General Patton – 32 JRI Secret Instinct 2 – 19 JRI Optimizer – 4 JRI Secret Instinct – 5 JRI Secret Powers – 1

JRI Transformer – 1 JRI Remedy – 19 JRI Alan – 9 JRI Overachiever – 2 JRI Infiniti – 1

Basin Payweight – 9 Payweight Plus – 4 SAV Resource – 5 SAV Rainfall - 4

Red Angus Sires Domain A163 – 6 Merlin 018A – 3

Herd sire JRI Cowboy Cut 213S67 (deceased) left a tremendous impact at Judd Ranch. Cowboy Cut’s phenomenal Dam of Merit/Dam of Distinction honored dam, JRI Ms Pld Grand Prix 213G57 produced incredible sons, daughters and granddaughters. One such granddaughter, JRI Ms Extravagant 213T87 was honored numerous times as a Dam of Merit/Dam of Distinction female and her 2014 son, JRI General Patton 213B97 ET has 79 calving ease/powerhouse sons selling March 5th.

Saturday, March 5 at the ranch, Pomona, Kan.

Sale starts promptly at 12 Noon at the Ranch, located 1 hour southwest of Kansas City

170 Fall-born 17- to 19-month-old Bulls Averages of Fall-Born Bulls

Birth Weight: 81# 205 Day Weight: 781# Actual Weaning Weight: 894# 365 Day Weight: 1,195# Yearling Frame: 5.6 Yearling Pelvic: 184 cm

Yearling Scrotal: 37.7 cm Average Daily Gain: 5.14# Yearling Ribeye: 14.3 Yearling Rib Fat: 0.18 Yearling IMF: 3.4

Additional Statistics

Breed & Number of Each Selling

100% JR DOM Cow Families (GV and Bal) 100% Polled 157 are Homozygous Polled 107 are Black & Polled 99% are Sired by breed leading AI Sires

43 Black Polled Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls 44 Red Polled Purebred Gelbvieh Bulls 64 Black Polled Balancer Bulls 19 Red Polled Balancer Bulls

JRI On The Money 270F252 (photographed as a yearling) sold in the 2019 bull sale with a 1,317 lb. 365-day weight, big ol’ 16 square inch yearling ribeye/carcass-plus 4.5 IMF score. March 5, On The Money’s black, homozygous polled purebred maternal brother, JRI Epic 270H852 sells. Epic’s stats: 78 lb. birth weight coupled with a scalebusting 1,035 lb. actual weaning weight off his 8-year-old dam.

Sires of the Fall-born Bulls with Number of Sons Selling Gelbvieh & Balancer Sires JRI General Patton – 47 JRI Secret Instinct – 6 JRI Secret Instinct 2 – 30 JRI Secret Powers – 5 JRI Remedy – 7 JRI Pop A Top – 2 Hannibal – 2

JRI Pop A Top 2 – 3 JRI Optimizer – 11 JRI Painted Black – 17 JRI Secret Link – 3 JRI Transformer – 1 JRI Marshall – 3 JRI Overachiever – 5

JRI Top Protocol – 6 Basin Payweight – 1 SAV Resource – 7 Domain A163 – 1 SAV Final Answer – 2 SAV Catalyst – 9 KG Justified – 2

JRI Bandito 253H32 (photographed as a yearling) was Judd Ranch’s pick of the spring 2020 calf crop and this young Judd Ranch herd sire posted the following phenomenal stats. Calving ease 86 lb. birth weight, 955 lb. actual weaning weight, 1,377 lb. 365-day weight, 17.8 square inch yearling ribeye/5.1 IMF score. March 5, two spring born ET full brothers to Bandito sell.

Complimentary Sale Day Lunch served at 11:00 a.m. Sale starts promptly at Noon.

Call Cattlemen’s Connection Today for a Sale Catalog Toll free: 1-800-743-0026 You can check out the sale catalog online at www.juddranch.com any time after Feb. 1.

This Judd Ranch herd sire, JRI Secret Powers 254C821 (photographed as a yearling) posted a 78 lb. birth weight, 819 lb. 205-day weight, 1,342 lb. 365-day weight. March 5th, four powerhouse spring born ET full brothers to Secret Powers sell. Their calf raising machine donor dam, JRI Ms Poppy Love 254Z72 has been honored as a Dam of Merit/Dam of Distinction female in every year of eligibility.

www.juddranch.com

Page 10

Judd Ranch

Judd Genetics Make an Impact: Improve Weaning Weights, Docility Judd Ranch bull customer Mike Jenkins says he purchased his first Judd Ranch bull in 2011. “My wife and I took a road trip to Judd Ranch in March of 2011 and purchased a red Pop A Top bull,” he says. “We called him Big Red and he stayed in the bull battery for nine years. Big Red made a major impact on my herd and we have purchased several bulls from Judd Ranch since that time.” Jenkins explains that his East Texas farm/ranch has been in his family since 1904 when his grandfather purchased 200 acres just south of Hughes Springs. “My father started working the farm/ ranch in the late 1930s and purchased adjoining property accumulating just over 1,500 acres,” he adds. “I came to the farm/ranch in 1967 and also purchased adjacent property accumulating just over 2,000 acres.” Mike’s cow herd includes

250 mostly Angus and Brangus females. He says his decision to buy a Gelbvieh bull was because of the value of heterosis and how the hybrid vigor of a Gelbvieh cross would benefit his operation. “The Gelbvieh bulls have added approximately 85 lb. to all my weaning weights; they have added muscle, depth of body and all the replacement females are usually the first to breed in my herd,” Jenkins says with pride. “My replacement Gelbvieh females are smooth, easy keepers with good udders, good feet and legs and raise good calves. What else could I ask for?” After fall weaning, Jenkins keeps his calves on feed until about February before he starts any marketing. “Most of my heifers are sold as replacement females and I market my steers through internet sales, off the farm, and sometimes I ship to the Oklahoma City sale for marketing,” he explains.

Jenkins admits attitude can be a problem with his Brangus cows and some of their offspring will carry that gene. “The Gelbvieh bulls and 50% females are all docile and easy to handle with a few exceptions,” he says. Jenkins has sold a few 50% Gelbvieh bulls to his neighbors. “They all say when they look at the hindquarters, they can always pick out the Gelbvieh crosses,” he adds. Jenkins is sold on Judd Ranch bulls. Increased weaning weights, improved docility and daughters that are easy keepers, good uddered, good legged and raise good calves keep him coming back. “I am very pleased with the Gelbvieh influence on my cow herd,” Jenkins summarizes. 

JRI Ms Bella 148Y44 was photographed here as a first-calf heifer and note her powerhouse son that weaned off with an actual 990 pound weaning weight.

View sale catalog online at juddranch.com after February 1.

Scrotal Circumference, Fertility Linked by Dr. Larry W. Olson, Extension Animal Scientist, Research & Education Center, Clemson University Reproductive efficiency certainly plays a major role in determining profit potential for beef herds. Since most heifers are now bred as yearlings, age at puberty is of critical importance to reproductive efficiency. Cattle with inherent ability to reach puberty at earlier ages will most likely reach puberty with less investment of feed dollars and management effort than cattle with a later inherent age at puberty.

Judd Ranch’s purebred 1A Red Angus genetics possess the same natural fleshing ability and teat and udder excellence as their breed-leading Dam of Merit Gelbvieh and Balancer program. This foundation purebred Red Angus female’s red, homozygous polled Balancer grandson, JRI Sir Loin 47H37 sells March 5. Sir Loin’s stats: 881 lb. 205-day weight, 1,080 lb. actual weaning weight off his first-calf dam and the meat machine hammered the yearling weight scales at 1,359 pounds.

Oh man, check out this beautiful 7-year-old Judd Ranch mama, JRI On Cue 254B93 and she’s mighty fertile with a 355-day annual calving interval.

Judd Ranch

170 fall yearling bulls averaged 37.7 cm at yearling Puberty in heifers is a heritable trait — probably 30 to 40 percent heritable — that can and should be selected for directly. For a long time now, we have preached about scrotal circumference in bulls and relationships between scrotal circumference and measures of male fertility. Overwhelmingly, data indicate bulls with larger testicles produce more semen, and all measures of semen quality improve as scrotal circumference increases.

I’ve been asked ‘How do puberty in heifers and scrotal circumference relate?’ In the early 1970s, studies reported in both sheep and mice indicated that as testicular size of a sire increased, his daughters ovulated more eggs and both twinning rates in sheep and litter size in mice were higher. This really should not be surprising, since the gonads (ovaries in female and testicles in male) are stimulated by the same hormones and appear to be under the same genetic control. These studies prompted researchers in Montana, Colorado and North Carolina to look at relationships between scrotal circumference in bulls and reproduction in sisters and/or daughters. While the North Carolina group did not look at puberty directly, they did look at which replacement heifers became pregnant when placed with bulls during the normal breeding season as heifers neared yearling ages. They found a correlation of -.39 between scrotal circumference and age at first breeding (correlations range between 1.0 and -1.0). In this case, a ‘negative correlation’ is favorable since it indicates that as scrotal circumference in bulls increases, age at first breeding in their sisters and/ or daughters decreases.

Researchers in Colorado and Montana actually measured age at puberty directly and reported correlations of -.71 to -1.0, respectively. Again, the negative correlation is favorable in this situation. What does all of this mean to you as a beef producer? I will not bore you with calculations of formulas involved with statistics, but here is what you can expect to occur: If you buy a bull with a scrotal circumference 4 cm larger than average, his sons will have a 1 cm larger scrotal circumference and his daughters will reach puberty 15 days earlier. Buying a bull with 4 cm larger scrotal circumference is a pretty easy way to select for heifers which reach puberty earlier. Editor’s Note: The 170 fall bulls selling in this year’s sale averaged 37.7 centimeters on yearling scrotal. Industry average for bulls measured at one year of age should be at least 32 centimeters, and preferably 34 to 36 cm. Because the spring-born bulls will not be measured until January, their scrotal circumference average was not available at the printing of this publication. Each yearling bull’s scrotal circumference measurement will be printed in the sale catalog. 

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Judd Ranch

Page 11

Increase Calf Crop Profit Using Homozygous Polled Bulls Judd Ranch is always striving to add more value to your next calf crop. Homozygous polled bulls can reduce management issues and increase the value of your calves in the marketplace. Are you confused about the genetics associated with horned, polled and scurred cattle? If so, you’re not alone. There are a lot of misconceptions and confusion about horned/polled/scurred cattle. Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky extension professor, explains, “Horned feeder calves are not desirable; they are potential hazards for other cattle and the humans working them. For this reason, calves with horns are discounted at the sale barn.”

278 of the 294 bulls selling on March 5 are Homozygous Polled Even though scurs pose no danger to other cattle or humans they are still discounted by many buyers. To avoid these discounts, beef producers either have to breed them to be smooth polled or dehorn/de‐scur their calves. “If you plan to breed for smooth polled cattle it is important to understand the genetic action of the poll/ horn gene and the scur gene; however, you will learn that avoiding horns is relatively easy, but eliminating scurs can be much more difficult,” Bullock says. The basics of genetics tell us that since the polled gene is dominant over the horned gene, animals with one copy of the polled gene and one copy of the horned gene will not

Wow, check out this beauty, JRI Ms Striking Image 254E325 photographed as a first-calf heifer with her awesome heifer calf at side. Striking Image’s, homozygous black, homozygous polled maternal brother, JRI Ante Up 254H326 sells March 5. Ante Up’s stats: 79 lb. birth weight coupled with a scalebusting 1,010 lb. actual weaning weight.

have horns, and a naturally hornless animal can be created in one generation; it also means it is easier to make more polled animals faster than if the polled gene was recessive. An animal can have one of three combinations for the polled/ horned gene: PP = homozygous polled — this animal has no horns, and all offspring from the animal will be born without horns Pp = heterozygous polled — this animal does not have horns, but offspring may or may not have horns depending on their mate pp = homozygous horned - will pass on the horned gene to offspring that may or may not exhibit the gene depending on the other parent Since polled is dominant over horned, if you mate a homozygous polled bull to a group of females all of the offspring will be polled, regardless of the genotype of the cows. However, when mating a heterozygous polled bull (Pp) to heterozygous polled cows (Pp) there is a 25% chance the calves will be homozygous polled, 50% chance they will be heterozygous polled and a 25% chance of being homozygous horned. This means about 75% of the calves will be polled and 25% horned, even though the bull and cows were polled. Cow-calf producers who have horned calves that require dehorning are familiar with the time and labor involved with dehorning and understand the stress calves undergo

in this process. University of Tennessee researchers found that calves dehorned when they are more than two months of age can require up to two weeks to return to their predehorning weight. Calves dehorned at six months of age or older incur a setback in performance of more than 100 days. Dehorning at three months also showed a negative performance response, although it was less than calves dehorned at six months. While working with a Wyoming seedstock producer who weighed his spring-born calves twice in the fall, Judd Ranch Consultant Roger Gatz put pencil to paper and found calves that were dehorned and castrated never gained in the three- to four-week period between the first and second weighing. “While I realize castrating is a big event in a calf’s life, so is dehorning,” Gatz explains. “Freshly dehorned calves tend to be depressed. They don’t eat or gain as they would during a non-stressful time. “That’s leaving money on the table when you consider you can dehorn genetically with homozygous polled bulls and not be bothered with manual dehorning. Plus, dehorning beef cattle via genetics is a welfare-friendly practice that everyone in the industry should embrace and support.” Judd Ranch DNA tests individual herd members for the homozygous polled factor. While each test comes with a price, Dave Judd calls

the amount spent “an investment in what our customers want.” To date, more than 95% of Judd Ranch animals that have been DNA tested have proven to

be homozygous polled. This year’s sale features 278 homozygous polled bulls — bulls that can help Judd Ranch customers add profit to their calf crop. 

Oh my, look at the bull calf on this honored Judd Ranch Dam of Merit female.

Join us for

Burg ers on March 4! Plan to join us Friday evening before the sale for our

Judd Ranch Customer Appreciation Hamburger Fry. Come early and view the bulls at the ranch and then enjoy a burger and fellowship. Hamburgers will start coming off the grill around 5 p.m. and will continue to be served until 7:30 p.m. We invite you to come to the ranch Friday afternoon, look over the bulls, narrow your choices, then join us for a grab-and-go meal. There will be tables set up to enjoy the meal. The Judd Ranch crew will be on hand to talk bulls all day and evening. “Guests can eat and then go back to look at bulls or visit with our crew about the bulls,” Cindy Judd explains. “This format actually gives people more of an opportunity to speak one-on-one with our family and crew.” Please RSVP and indicate the number of people planning to attend so sufficient food and beverages will be on hand. You can RSVP when you complete the sale catalog request form, returning it to ranch consultant Roger Gatz.

www.juddranch.com

Page 12

Judd Ranch

CROSSBREEDING:

Increase Performance, Profitability The goal of every cattleman is to increase profitability. To increase profit, producers can increase the volume of production (pounds marketed), or increase quality or value of the products produced, or both. The reduction of production costs, and thus breakeven prices, can also improve profitability. For commercial producers, the implementation of technologies and breeding systems that increase the quality and volume of production and reduce input costs is essential to maintain or improve the competitive position of the operation. More and more producers are finding that a structured crossbreeding system helps them achieve their goals of increasing productivity and reducing production costs. Bob Weaber, K-State professor and Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Centers head, says there are two primary benefits to crossbreeding: heterosis and breed complementarity. Understanding these advantages and how they can be applied to individual systems is key. “Heterosis is the advantage in performance that crossbred individuals have over the average of their purebred parents,” Weaber explains. “Whether the crossbred animal is composed of two, three or more breeds, that little boost is often noticed in economically relevant traits, which in turn contributes to the overall bottom line.” Crossbreeding also allows the producer to take advantage of the strengths of multiple breeds to have offspring with superior performance in a variety of traits through breed complementarity. Crossing breeds with different strengths is designed to optimize performance for a given environment and breeding objective. “The value of heterosis affects every cow on your outfit, and it is value you can capture every year no matter how you sell calves,” Weaber adds. “More importantly, it’s not a $20, $40 or $60 premium per head you might get for selling calves or carcasses ... the heterosis premium is much, much more.” Weaber says each producer’s marketing practices and whether replacement females are raised or

purchased will influence selection of a crossbreeding system. He encourages producers to implement a system that fits their unique operation and goals, and is as simple as possible to adopt. He says a well-constructed crossbreeding system can have positive effects on the ranch’s bottom line, not only by increasing the quality and pay weight of calves sold, but also by increasing the durability and productivity of the cow factory. “A variety of crossbreeding systems yield 20 to 30% improvements in weaning weight per cow exposed, not including the additional value generated through sire selection within the breed,” Weaber explains. “This represents a substantial change in output given relatively constant input. Simple examples of a 23% increase in weaning weight per cow exposed using a terminal sire/F1 (two-cross) cow can generate $150 to $200 additional revenue per cow per year. I’m not aware of any set of calves that have generated carcass premiums of $150 premium per cow exposed regardless of breed or grid. With today’s calf prices, the value of heterosis for a herd of 100 cows is $15,000 to $20,000 per year and represents a decrease in break-

even costs of more than $30/cwt. on 500-lb. calves.” Crossbreeding combines the strengths of two or more breeds producing offspring with optimum performance levels. As an example, one breed may excel in marbling potential whereas Gelbvieh are superior for red meat yield (cutability), as proven with data collected at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. Combining the breed types results in offspring that have desirable levels of both marbling (Quality Grade) and retail yield (Yield Grade). Similarly, milk production and growth rate may be most effectively optimized by crossing two or more breeds. Looking to offer customers the opportunity to benefit from crossbreeding, Judd Ranch added Red Angus genetics to its breeding program in 2000. The Judds also raise and offer Balancer bulls and females, which are at least 25%, but not more than 75% Gelbvieh, with the remaining percentage either Angus or Red Angus. “The objective,” Weaber summarizes “should be to optimize everything except profit. Profit is what we want to maximize.” 

Whoa, look at the bull calf nursing this Judd Ranch first-calf heifer.

Oh man, look at the awesome heifer calf nursing this Judd Ranch first-calf heifer.

Check Out JuddRanch.com

This many-time honored Judd Ranch Dam of Merit female JRI Ms Freedom 9M11, produced big ol’ strapping calves for 15 plus years.

All photos used in the newsletter are Judd Ranch bred and raised.

Did you know you can find Judd Ranch online at JuddRanch. com? We invite current and potential customers to visit the ranch virtually at JuddRanch. com. When you arrive at the site you will first see a “Watch Now” button that takes you to a video to see what customers are saying about Judd Ranch. On the site you’ll also find Judd Ranch herd bulls and upcoming sale information, as well as information about the Judd Ranch herd health and Balancer breeding program. The “Ranch Tour” page is a collection of photos from around the ranch. The “News” page has links to Judd Ranch newsletters and other news releases about the ranch. The “Contact” page has a map and directions to the ranch, contact information for the Judd family and a form for visitors to

request a catalog or other information. The “March Bull Sale” page includes information about the upcoming Judd Ranch 44th Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus Bull Sale. Watch this site for the sale catalog and updated offering information as sale time grows closer. The Judd Ranch website was named the 2019 Livestock Publications Council first-place breeder website. “Our goal with the Judd Ranch website is to provide you with an in-depth look at Judd Ranch’s No. 1 honored Dam of Merit program,” says Roger Gatz, Judd Ranch consultant. “The site allows current and potential customers 24-hoursa-day, 365-days-a-year access to Judd Ranch genetics and sale information.” 

www.juddranch.com

Judd Ranch

Page 13

Judd Genetics Improve Carcass Quality, Add Pounds Transitioning to Judd Ranch bulls improved the Olson family’s quality grade from 75% Choice or better to 86% while also improving performance. South Dakota cattleman Travis Olson was looking to improve both carcass quality and increase performance. He was a believer in using Gelbvieh bulls on his Angus-based females. “We are still paid by the pound, it is a guarantee to get more money if you produce more pounds of beef,” Travis says. Triple O Ranch is located near Langford, South Dakota. A multigenerational family operation, Triple O Ranch includes Travis and his wife, Lisa; Travis’ dad, Milo, and mother, Connie; his uncle Neil; and his brother and sister-in-law, Troy and Angie. Travis and Lisa’s son, Chance, will finish college in December and plans to return to the farm. Their daughter, Chesney, is a sophomore in college. Along with the 300-head cow herd, the Olsons farm corn and beans as well as puts up alfalfa. The Olson family feeds out all 300 calves each year in their onfarm feedlot. This has been their marketing strategy for 25 years. Typically, the calves are harvested at the Tyson plant in Dakota City. Prior to buying Judd Ranch bulls, Travis was concerned with how he was losing performance while improving carcass quality with his current bull battery. Six years ago, wanting it all – performance (pounds) and carcass quality – Travis started looking for a new bull supplier. He says he first learned about the Judd Ranch program reading the Gelbvieh World. Intrigued with what he read, he did more research reading the Judd Ranch newsletters. This led

him to making the 600-mile drive to Pomona to check out the Judd Ranch program. Impressed with what he saw, the Olsons have been a customer ever since. Travis says the Judd bulls increased average finished weights 50 to 75 lb. per head. That’s more than 15,000 total pounds — money in the bank. As farmer-feeders, the family’s goal is to finish calves at 13 months of age. Prior to buying Judd Ranch bulls, they were averaging 76% Choice or better and were losing performance at the same time. The family is excited about the carcass results of their 2020 calf crop that averaged 86% Choice or higher and 85% Yield Grade 2s and 3s. (See sidebar graphic for complete results.) The Triple O Ranch herd includes 300 Angus cows. To maintain a consistent, productive cow herd, they have bought 80 replacement heifers from the same ranch for the past 15 years. A 100% spring-calving herd starts calving April 10 with typically 90% calving during the first cycle and all are done by June 1. All Triple O females are bull bred. For the most part Travis says they maintain a 100% black bull battery. They are using Balancer bulls on the heifers and purebred Gelbvieh on the mature females. Today all 35 bulls used in the Triple O Ranch pastures were purchased from the Judd Ranch. Along with increased performance and carcass quality, another trait Travis says he appreciates from Judd Ranch bulls is their

docility. “It is pretty amazing how docile these bulls are, and you see that trait carried through to their offspring. We have definitely seen improvements in that trait as well.” Travis also appreciates the longevity of a Judd Ranch bull. They are bred to last. He says three of the original bulls he bought six years ago are still working and doing their job. Along with the genetics, Travis also appreciates the customer service at Judd Ranch. “Their customer service is second to none,” Travis explains. “I appreciate their willingness to work with you and learn about your program.” A few years ago, Roger Gatz, Judd Ranch consultant, visited the Triple O Ranch. “He understands now what I’m looking for and what will work in our program. After I make the first sort from the catalog, I can now visit with Roger and he can help me narrow down to 20 bulls to then visually appraise.” Travis adds that one year he could not attend the sale due to weather and he felt comfortable having Roger buy for them when he couldn’t be there in person. Sold on the Judd Ranch program, Travis summarizes, “If you are feeding and finishing straight Angus cattle, I highly recommend you try a Judd Ranch Gelbvieh bull and see how much you will gain.” 

This Judd Ranch beauty was photographed as a first-calf heifer and wowsa, note her natural fleshing ability and teat and udder excellence.

Judd Ranch genetics are bred to perform and note the meat machine bull calf at the side of this first-calf heifer.

184 Black Polled Bulls sell March 5

2021 Triple O Ranch Carcass Data Avg. Harvest Weight

Average ADG

Average Yield

Average Quality Grade

155 Heifers

1,300 lb.

3.33 lb./day

63%

87% Choice or better

145 Steers

1,425 lb.

3.65 lb./day

63.25%

86% Choice or better

*Calves were harvested at 13 months of age and 85% were Yield Grade 2s or 3s.

Oh my, look at the whopping heifer calf nursing this Judd Ranch honored Dam of Merit mama. Cow efficiency is all part of “The Complete Package” at Judd Ranch.

www.juddranch.com

Page 14

Judd Ranch

COW EFFICIENCY:

Converting Grass to Pounds The measure of output per level of input is perhaps the greatest single factor that affects a beef producer’s profitability. Whether marketing or feed prices are high or low, efficiency determines whether a producer makes a profit or takes a loss. Health status, culling rates, reproductive efficiency, management restrictions, genetics and feeding practices are all factors that affect beef cow efficiency. And, there’s the end product value to consider. Increasing biological efficiency can be antagonistic with economic efficiency if the end product doesn’t match customer needs. If your cows weaned calves that were close to 50% of their mature weight every 365 days, would you be happy? After all, numerous beef specialists and nutritionists think achieving that goal is pretty darn good. “That 50% figure wouldn’t work for us,” explains Dave Judd. “We’ve put too much work into our cow herd to be satisfied with cows just weaning 50% of their body weight. We’ve worked hard at reduc-

Curious about the sale offering? Roger Gatz, ranch consultant, has worked with Judd Ranch for more than 30 years and has visually inspected every bull in the sale. He will share his open and honest opinion about any bull in the sale.

Call him today at 800-743-0026.

ing cow size and increasing cow efficiency. “Our fall cows and fall firstcalf heifers typically wean more than 60% of their body weight. The spring cows typically average more than 55%, and the spring first-calf heifers typically average weaning 65% or more of their body weight.” Touring the Judd Ranch pastures, visitors find moderateframed, beef-producing machines that excel in teat and udder structure and know how to convert grass to pounds. A check of the 294 bulls selling in this year’s sale shows they averaged 82 pounds at birth, 756 pounds at 205-days and averaged 862 pounds when weaned off their dams. That 862 pounds is actual weaning weight average straight off their dams. Judd Ranch’s cows are not big cows. They are moderateframed with significant depth of body and capacity — cows that fit what researchers discovered at U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Neb. When USMARC researchers studied cow size, they found

that Gelbvieh females posted the lowest average mature weights of 4-year-old cows of the six breeds evaluated. Simmentals had the largest average cow size at 1,353 pounds, followed by Hereford at 1,348 pounds, Angus at 1,342 pounds, Charolais at 1,339 pounds and Limousin at 1,330 pounds. The average mature weight of 4-yearold Gelbvieh cows at MARC was just 1,282 pounds. “Our pastures are filled with moderate-framed females that convert grass to pounds,” Dave explains. “That’s what it’s all about — each Judd Ranch female is a factory and we want the most output possible from the least amount of input.” Herd consultant Roger Gatz of Cattlemen’s Connection adds, “No matter what breed we’re talking about, Judd Ranch has some of the best females in the country. If you want to produce moderateframed, highly efficient, highly fertile replacement heifers that excel in teat and udder structure, then be at this sale and take home a Judd

JRI Ms Hot Pursuit 207U33 is a many-time honored Judd Ranch Dam of Merit female known for producing tremendous daughters and beef machine sons. To date, 207U33’s six beef machine sons have averaged a scalebusting 989 pounds on actual weaning weight.

Man oh man, note the powerhouse bull calf on this Judd Ranch first-calf heifer.

Ranch bull.” 

Hybrid Vigor Simplified

Balancers offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor and the proper blend of British and Continental genetics in your cow herd without complicated crossbreeding systems. Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock and have documented pedigrees and expected progeny differences (EPDs). Balancers are 25 to 75% Gelbvieh, with the balance Angus or Red Angus. Producers can choose the percentage of each breed to best suit their marketing target for their calves. According to the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) website, “Balancer cattle combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness and fertility with the maternal and marbling of Angus.” The sire and dam must be recorded by an officially recognized organization — AGA, American Angus Association or Red Angus Association of America. At least 75% of the pedigree must be known and documented by the AGA and/or another officially rec-

ognized registration association. Why Balancers? Producers can use registered Balancer bulls to take advantage of management convenience and hybrid vigor in a single package while producing cattle that fit the pasture, the feedlot and the meat case.

48% of all bulls selling March 5 are Balancers Documented research proves that Balancer hybrids offer the same consistency as their purebred parents with improved uniformity of composition. Balancers are registered seedstock, complete with documented parentage and EPDs. Balancer bulls possess paternal heterosis, resulting in improved productive and reproductive traits.

The benefits of paternal heterosis include increased servicing capacity, higher pregnancy rate and weaning rate, greater sperm concentration, larger scrotal circumference and reduced age at puberty. Research proves the reproductive advantages of crossbred bulls. Purebred Gelbvieh bulls used on high percentage Angus or Red Angus commercial cows produce Balancer calves that meet all industry demands from the pasture to the feedyard to the rail. Registered Balancer hybrids combine Angus advantages with Gelbvieh growth, muscle leanness, fertility, moderate mature cow size and unequaled pounds of calf per cow exposed in a single animal. Research proves that Balancer hybrids offer consistency with improved uniformity of composition. “Take a look at the largest, most

successful commercial operations and you’ll find crossbreeding is the standard rather than the exception,” explains Matt Spangler, beef genetics extension specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Commercial cattle producers must realize that no single breed excels in all areas that affect profitability. Breed combinations can be engineered to accommodate environmental constraints and meet marketing objectives.” Use registered Judd Ranch Balancer bulls and take advantage of management convenience and hybrid vigor in a single package backed by the Judd Ranch name.  100% of the Gelbvieh and Balancer sale bulls feature JR honored Dam of Merit Cow Family genetics.

Judd Ranch

www.juddranch.com

Page 15

2021 Judd Ranch Bulls Sold Into 21 States

This Judd Ranch female was photographed at 12 years of age. Yes, longevity, fertility and teat and udder excellence are all part of “The Complete Package”.

Annually, commercial cattle producers purchase 98% of Judd Ranch bulls. In last year’s bull sale, 35 of the top-selling 40 bulls went to commercial producers. In 2019, 44 out of the top-selling 50 bulls were purchased by commercial cow-calf producers. And these commercial producers have herds larger than 50 head. Judd Ranch bulls in last year’s sale sold into 21 states: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Ten-

nessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. There were attendees from 26 states and Canada. Many of these buyers were repeat buyers. Last year’s sale offered 282 bulls and had 354 registered bidders, with 188 producers taking home one or more bulls. As might be expected, 28% of buyers were from Kansas and 21% were from Missouri. Oklahoma cattle producers accounted for 14% of the buyers. A check of the last 28 sales shows that bulls sold into an average of 20 states.

What does this mean to bull buyers? Two things: 1) Judd Ranch bulls selling into so many states, year after year, indicates that they work in all kinds of environments and climates, and 2) With bulls being hauled across the country and often into Canada, trucking costs can be kept very reasonable. While a purchase of $20,000 or more entitles a buyer to free trucking, buyers purchasing one, two or three head — or less than $20,000 worth of bulls — can save on trucking fees since bulls are typically hauled across the country. 

Watch and Bid Online

"Because every bid counts"

The fastest real-time online broadcasting bidding and viewing

• Go to www.liveauctions.tv • Find “Judd Ranch March Bull Sale” (sales listed by date) • Click “watch this event” (will take you to log-in page) • If you have an account, log in. If not, click “create new user” If you do not see the ranch logo, ranch address or Username/Password login box you most likely need to update flash in your web browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and there are examples of this on the Support tab at the top of the LiveAuctions.tv home page. Another solution may be to simply use another web browser.

Mercy, look at the powerhouse bull calf nursing this calf raising machine Judd Ranch honored Dam of Merit mama.

After logging in, you are able to view the sale. If planning to bid, register for a buyer number by clicking “register for a buyer number” in the top right-hand corner. Fill out the registration information, and click “register now”. You will then be “pending approval”. Once approved, a bidder status approval email will be received and the bidding number will appear in the top right of the sale page. We recommend registering for a buyer number at least 24 hours in advance of an auction. Sale day requests may still be accommodated. Buyers – You will be contacted by the ranch after the sale to settle payment and confirm your shipping plans. Proxy Bidding – for those not able to watch in real-time, bids can be placed using the blue video tabs on the right of the log in screen. Support – for support during the sale broadcast, chat live with one of our representatives. Otherwise, our support team is available @ 817-725-8595. For those users on a phone or tablet download the LiveAuctions.TV App

Sale Catalog Request Please send me a sale catalog for Judd Ranch’s 44th Bull Sale, Saturday, March 5. I would like to learn more about Judd Ranch’s Sight Unseen Program. Please call me. I/We plan to attend Judd Ranch’s Customer Appreciation Hamburger Fry on Friday evening, March 4. Number of people attending: Name Ranch Name Address Town

State

Telephone w/Area Code

ZIP Best time to call

Please return to Cattlemen’s Connection, PO Box 156, Hiawatha, KS 66434 or fax to (785) 742-3503

OZ-ARK

Judd Ranch 44th

Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale Saturday, March 5, starting at Noon at the ranch, Pomona, Kan. (1 hour southwest of Kansas City) 294 Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bulls Sell 142

Sale Offering: ● 184 BLACK and POLLED bulls ● 278 HOMOZYGOUS POLLED bulls ● All sale bulls are Judd Ranch born & raised. ● 100% of Gelbvieh & Balancer bulls feature Judd Ranch honored Dam of Merit/Dam of Distinction genetics

Purebred Gelbvieh

143

Balancers

● 99% are sired by breed-leading AI sires

Purebred Red Angus

● Sight Unseen purchases are backed with Quality Acceptance Guarantee ● Every animal photographed in this publication is Judd Ranch born and raised.

Bull Offering by Age

● Trucking is typically extremely affordable as Judd Ranch bulls annually sell into more than 20 states ● Free Delivery in the continental U.S. on purchases of $20,000+

170 Fall-born, 17- to 19-month-olds

124 Spring-born,

“The Complete Package”

13- to 14-month-olds

Calving Ease ▪ Growth ▪ Carcass ▪ Fertility Ranch Consultant Roger Gatz Cattlemen’s Connection Call today for a sale catalog:

1-800-743-0026

Judd Ranch Inc. Dave & Cindy Judd Nick & Ginger Judd & family Brent & Ashley Judd & family 423 Hwy. K-68, Pomona, KS 66076 Phone: 785/566-8371 www.juddranch.com

WOW!

Birth-to-growth spread average on the 294 sale bulls: 82-lb. birth weight & 862-lb. actual weaning weight off dams!

Call toll free 1-800-743-0026 for Your Judd Ranch “Complete Package” Bull Sale Catalog

$240 $200

12.75

13.25

7.53

7.18

7.53

6.28

6.20

5.98

6.23

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12 6 0 H

Lit

May 21 June 21

350.00-975.00 †

July 21

Aug. 21 Sept. 21

***

*** ***

***

170.87

*** *** ***

670.00-1190.00*

1600

None Reported †

None Reported * None Reported † Not Reported * Not Reported * Not Reported *

1750.00 * None Reported * None Reported †

Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

st We phis Mem

None Reported † None Reported * None Reported † 1200.00 †

860.00-1050.00 *

None Reported † 500.00-1625.00 †

***

500

1000

1500

None Reported † None Reported †

2000

140.00

***

*** *** *** ***

2500

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.✝ 1/11/22 11,319

Ouachita Livestock Ola✝ 1/11/22 886

Ozarks Regional West Plains✝ 1/11/22 4,530

Stilwell Livestock Auction* 1/12/22 852

Tulsa Livestock Auction✝ 1/10/22 4,694

Welch Stockyards*

*** ***

***

** 151.42

182.11 *** 169.00

144.39

-----

St-12 Higher

Uneven

-----

Uneven

Steady

-----

-213.00 -200.00 -196.00 -179.00 -164.00

170.00-200.00 166.00-204.00 150.00-196.00 131.00-173.00 142.00-158.00

205.00-220.00 190.00-225.00 180.00-201.00 164.00-178.00 158.00-169.00

150.00-230.00 110.00-185.00 115.00-175.00 100.00-160.00 100.00-145.00

193.00-209.00 179.00-209.00 165.00-199.00 148.00-178.00 143.00-159.75

220.00-232.50 177.50-220.00 167.00-203.00 161.00-180.00 145.50-168.00

181.00-209.00 165.00-191.00 152.00-195.00 150.00-169.00 143.00-160.00

197.00-205.00 190.00-200.00 175.00-207.00 162.00-180.00 158.00-160.00

206.00-222.00 186.00-214.00 160.00-188.00 140.00-160.00 133.00-144.00

203.00-225.00 171.00-217.00 174.00-205.00 158.50-166.50 145.00-158.00

180.00-230.00 180.00-214.00 150.00-204.00 145.00-179.00 140.00-163.50

-202.00 -189.00 -175.00 -154.00 -140.00

--------135.00-159.00 135.00-147.00 137.00-142.50

------------153.00-158.00 -----

---------------------

181.00-200.00 162.00-191.00 141.00-177.00 130.00-151.00 122.00-141.00

--------141.00-168.00 ---------

172.00-193.00 154.00-185.00 137.00-171.00 130.00-141.00 127.00

----160.00-170.00 150.00-167.00 148.00 -----

---------------------

180.00-196.00 179.00-188.00 157.00-168.00 160.50 -----

160.00-210.00 160.00-200.00 140.00-172.00 130.00-153.00 90.00-131.00

JANUARY 24, 2022

162.00-178.00 156.00-169.00 152.00-160.00 147.00-156.00 143.50-146.00

149.00-175.00 164.00-179.00 144.00-172.00 126.00-137.00 115.00-126.00

160.00-173.00 144.00-182.00 139.00-166.00 134.00-147.00 141.50-143.00

160.00-191.00 145.00-181.00 140.00-170.00 145.00-157.00 130.00-148.00

The&Ozarks Most• www.ozarksfn.com Read Farm Newspaper Ozarks Farm Neighbor

147.90

135.85 147.27

166.63 188.53

149.08 151.04

141.64

165.34 145.00

141.57

176.27

157.50

175.37 185.69 162.58 162.41 159.57

151.79 155.62 141.37 144.29 140.25

163.62

143.58

157.30

144.01

182.93

149.73

186.32

145.00-169.00 140.00-178.00 135.00-157.00 129.00-145.00 127.00-135.00

153.72 ***

133.18

155.87

1/11/22 1,477

St-12 Higher

180.00-186.00 145.00-185.00 151.00-169.00 145.00-156.00 142.50-151.00

***

183.95

Uneven

147.00-175.00 142.00-170.00 139.00-160.00 138.00-154.25 128.00-136.00

***

148.99

100.00-185.00 100.00-162.00 100.00-152.00 95.00-146.00 90.00-135.00

*** ***

179.58

Higher

162.00-181.00 155.00-170.00 148.00-163.00 148.00-159.50 146.00-155.00

***

175.83

prices

143.00-150.00 150.00-163.00 135.00-160.00 137.00-148.00 127.00-139.00

***

Week of 12/26/21

925.00-1400.00 †

Welch Stockyards

State I-40 Joplin Mid-State N. Ark. yards - Livestock Regional Stockyards* Livestock er, Mo* Ozark✝ Stockyards✝ Green Forest✝ 1/22 1/13/22 1/10/22 1/12/22 1/10/22 920 969 11,801 2,016 1,393

150.00 ***

2100

pairs

Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards - Exeter I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards

Nov. 21 Dec. 21

Ash Flat Cleburne El Reno Green Forest Joplin Ouachita Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs West Plains Tulsa

***

Oct. 21

heifers 550-600 LBS.

Week of 1/2/22

Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 30.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 140.00-195.00;

18 13.21

730.00-1075.00 *

Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock 585.00 † Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Auction - Heber Springs 560.00 † County Line Sale Decatur Livestock Auction Vinita Stockyards Farmers Regional Sale Barn

Sorghum

13.27

None Reported † 800.00-1350.00 †

1100

Apr. 21

Ash Flat Cleburne El Reno Green Forest Joplin Ouachita Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs West Plains Tulsa

900.00-1310.00 * None Reported † 900.00-1510.00 † 650.00-1350.00 *

600

Mar. 21

steers 550-600 LBS.

Not Reported* Not Reported * Not Reported * None Reported *

(Week of 1/9/22 to 1/15/22)

13.27

Feb. 21

Week of 1/9/22

od 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 80.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium 2.50; Utility 1-2 (thin) 150.00-170.00; y 1-2 (very thin) 122.50-135.00; Cull 1

Corn

Jan. 21

600.00-1025.00 † 275.00-1400.00 †

cow/calf

Daily Report 1/13/22

Soft Wheat

$80

170.00

avg. grain prices Soybeans

None Reported † 900.00 * 60.00-65.00 † Prices reported per cwt 25.00-75.00 † Prices reported per cwt

OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction Welch Stockyards

100

$120

600.00-935.00 †

Week of 12/19/21

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.9600 and 40# blocks at $1.9200. The weekly average for barrels is $1.8905 (+0.0660) and blocks, $2.0025 (-0.0185). Fluid Milk/Cream: Farm level milk production is generally steady to increasing across the country. With the holidays in the rearview mirror, Class I demand is rallying. Bottlers are working to refill school pipelines, and steady to stronger retail orders are also helping to boost bottling sales. Staffing shortages, transportation issues, and delivery delays continue to burden dairy manufacturer operations. Condensed skim availability is steadying, however, increased contract pricing for Q1 and the rest of the year is reportedly driving spot prices higher. Cream availability is somewhat mixed, and some Central end users are seeking supplies from the West, where cream supplies are most plentiful currently. Cream demand is present but varies within regions and from one manufacturer to the next. F.O.B. cream multiples for all classes are 1.15-1.35 in the East, 1.27-1.35 in the Midwest, and 1.00-1.27 in the West. SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM: $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT, F.O.B., producing plants, Midwestern U.S. - $3.4671 - $3.6005.

0-50 lbs 395.00-400.00; 50-60 lbs 400.00s 372.50-390.00, few 415.00; 70-80 lbs 0-90 lbs 350.00-367.50. wooled and s 365.00-367.50; 90-100 lbs 327.50-340.00. orn 88 lbs 297.50.

600.00-1100.00 †

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Auction County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction Vinita Stockyards Farmers Regional Sale Barn Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards - Exeter I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest

1/14/22

$160

Prices reported per per cwtcwt Prices reported

Week of 12/26/21

led and shorn 80-90 lbs 305.00-310.00; air 90-100 lbs 310.00-320.00. and shorn 47 lbs 470.00; 50-60 lbs 0-70 lbs 445.00-465.00; 70-80 lbs 0-90 lbs 370.00-385.00; 90-100 lbs hair 40-50 lbs 375.00-412.50; 50-60 lbs 1 lbs 440.00; 70-80 lbs 380.00-400.00; -377.50; 90-100 lbs 330.00-355.00. wooled and shorn 59 lbs 425.00; 70-80 0; 80-90 lbs 345.00-360.00; 90-100 lbs hair 64 lbs 385.00; 72 lbs 280.00; 88 lbs bs 280.00-290.00.

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

(Week of 1/9/22 to 1/15/22)

Week of 1/2/22

wooled and shorn 46 lbs 470.00; 50-60 0, few 485.00; 60-70 lbs 390.00-410.00, 00; 70-80 lbs 375.00-410.00, few 440.00s 355.00-390.00, few 405.00-430.00; 0-380.00. hair 50-60 lbs 400.00-425.00; -410.00; 70-80 lbs 365.00-385.00, few s 345.00-377.00; 90-100 lbs 335.00-

replacement

Ft. Collins: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 160.00-164.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 171.00-200.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 170.00190.00; Cull 1 160.00.

Week of 1/9/22

00-300.00; 150-165 lbs 226.00-231.00. oled and shorn 100-145 lbs 232.50lbs 238.00-247.00. ooled and shorn 110-115 lbs no test. d and shorn 100-110 lbs no test. orn 15830 lbs 238.20.75. s: Choice and Prime 1-2: r 40-60 lbs 425.00-460.00; 60-70 lbs ew 437.50; 70-80 lbs 380.00-405.00, few s 330.00-392.50, few 402.50; 90-110 lbs ew 375.00. wooled and shorn 74 lbs s 345.00-370.00; 90-100 lbs 320.00-

Week of 12/19/21

les reports

-168.00 -168.00 -163.00 -156.00 -145.00

550-600 lb. steers

12 Month Avg. -

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

110 132 154 176 198 220 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale - Weather Prices Based on Weighted Average for Steers and Heifers 550-600 lbs.

154.93 100

120 140 160 180 200 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

Prices Based on Weighted Average for Steers and Heifers 550-600 lbs.

meet your neighbors

The Three Es at 3E Cattle Company By Julie Turner-Crawford

Jason Goad works to protect the environment, be efficient and economical

When Jason Goad began raising cattle eight years ago, he would keep a calf or two back to provide his family with beef. Then a neighbor or two asked about farm-raised beef; then a few other people did too. Last year, Jason processed 12 steers and has plans for about 18 or 20 this year. “It caught on, I guess,” Jason said. “We weren’t making anything on our calves by taking them to the sale, so we just started finishing them all out and selling them for the beef.” Calves used in the beef program are born at 3E Cattle Company. Jason said he strives to keep his herd healthy and productive, which produces higher-quality calves. Jason and his family – wife Mary, and children Emma, Elianna and Evan – operate 3E Cattle Company in Bradford, Ark. Jason said the 3E name originally signified the names of his children, but since beginning farm-toplate sales, the Goads added another meaning to their operation’s name. “We are trying to protect the environment, be efficient and economical,” Jason explained. “We want to do the best job we can raising cows and try to keep the price down so people can afford the beef.” The 3E herd is made up of 22 commercial cows, mostly females of Hereford and Angus influence. Jason is currently utilizing a Balancer bull, which he said will improve the carcass quality of the calves in the beef program. “We have been playing around and picked out this bull for better beef characteristics, like a bigger ribeye,” Jason said. “We are trying to get the

cows and the bulls so we can raise the best beef we can and do most of it on grass.” Jason said he purchased a few Braunvieh cross females but is phasing those females out to reduce the frame size on

gram do receive some grain, a mix of whole corn from a local producer and rice bran from a local mill, but cattle have access to hay and pasture as well. “We plant summer and winter annuals,” Jason explained. “We have sor-

3E Cattle Company owner Jason Goad said they are working to improve the carcass quality of their calves.

his calves. ghum Sudan in the summer, and we “It’s kind of what we got started have done wheat in the winter in the with,” Jason said. “We are weeding past, but this year we’re switching to those out and going to a medium some Max Q fescue that I don’t have frame because they finish out quicker. to replant each year. It’s supposed to We want to move the herd have the positive side of festo cattle that gain well on cue, but not the endophyte. grass and make a quality We want to keep our cattle Bradford, Ark. steak in the end. We have on pasture as long as possikept a lot of heifers from ble; cattle are never put in a the Gelbvieh bull we ran lot. They can come in and eat, before.” then go back out to graze, eat Cattle for the 3E beef prohay or whatever.” Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

In addition to dry-aged and grain-finished beef, Jason and his family can also offer a grass-finished option to their customers. “We keep those calves out on pasture with the cows,” he explained. “They really aren’t much different than our grain-finished because our calves don’t get grain that long, and calves aren’t on full feed. Keeping them on grass helps keep them healthier than on full feed because you don’t have to be so picky on the feed because they are still getting what they need from hay or pasture. I have a few people who are interested in grass-finished, but most of my customers just want farm-raised beef.” The average hanging weight for the 3E beef program is about 620 pounds. Ideally, Jason would rather run all steers through the beef program because he said the heifers he fed out in the past were a little problematic. “I did all steers last year,” he said. “I like to retain heifers, when I can and when I have a different bull, but all the heifers I have now are out of the bull we currently have. I haven’t decided if I will feed them out or sell them. It will depend on what I need and if I have enough to do without them. I can do what I did last year, which was sell the heifers and get steers from my dad (Harvey Goad, Jr.) and brother (Justin Goad) to take their place. I know where the cattle come from, and I know how they are raised; they are raised like I raise my cattle.” If he does have to add steers, calves are bought at weaning and quickly make the transition to the 3E operation. Animals are vaccinated annually, and calves are dewormed at weaning JANUARY 24, 2022

meet your neighbors

JANUARY 24, 2022

Yellville • 801 Hwy. 62 West 870-449-4966

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3-1TC

and put on pasture. “It’s worked out pretty well,” Jason said. “I have never had one get sick. I am advertising beef, and I want to offer healthy beef. We are antibiotic-free, and if I have to treat something, we pull it out of the beef program. We have been really been blessed because we haven’t had to treat anything yet.” The herd is both spring and fall calving. Initially, Jason wanted his herd to calve in February and March, but things didn’t work out the way he wanted. “I still have those fall calves,” Jason said with a laugh. “It’s not intentional, but it’s the way it’s ended up.” When they began their beef sales, the Goads offered quarters, halves and wholes. In 2021, they began to offer USDA-inspected cuts. “I don’t have enough interest in that side yet,” Jason said. “We are going to try it again and see how it goes. I like the halves, quarters and wholes if we can sell them all. That is really the easiest way to do it, and you have less overhead and time involved in it. “When COVID hit, the shortages in the supply chains really got more people interested in finding local beef because they couldn’t depend on the system to supply it. When you depend on four companies for something, and one of them goes down, that makes a big hole in the supply chain. We started offering beef before COVID, but that really woke people up.” Eventually, Jason would like to leave his job as a pipeline worker and become a full-time cattleman, but there are a few limiting factors, especially pasture availability. The family currently owns and rents about 170 acres and tries to make the most of what they have. “I don’t want to get really big, but I would like to get to where we can support our family just with the farm,” Jason said. “We are about at our maximum with what we have. We are concentrating on improving our soil and building the organic matter with our rotational grazing, and planting annuals to keep something growing all the time if we are grazing it or not.”

Berryville • 344 Hwy. 21 North 870-423-4245

Imboden • 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-264

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.POWELLFEEDSTORES.COM

Proud Supporter of Future Generations of Ag Business through the Future Farmers of America

NORTH ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AUCTION, INC. Call 870-438-6915 For Sale Information & For Special Sales For on Farm Appraisal or Hauling Contact One of the Following:

“We Know Cattle, and we Know the Markets”

Kirk Powell (870) 654-2205 • Kooper Logan (870) 654-3911

Community Owned and Operated with Consistency, Uniformity, and Convenience • Online Auctions with bidding • Hay and Water pens • On Farm Appraisals

• Free Parking • Hauling and Delivery • Professional staff and services

• Cattle sorted by size, weight, type • Receiving day before and day of

Auctions on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Special auctions to be announced.

Restaurant on Premises

304 West Main Street • Green Forest, AR 72638 Office (870) 438-6915 • Fax (870) 438-5223 www.northarkansaslivestock.com

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

LIVESTOCK, FLATBED AND DUMP TRAILERS Over 30 More NEW Flatbed, Dump & Cargo 8’-40’ Trailers In Stock

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Covered Pens Easy Unloading Cattle Received Wednesday & Thursday Comfortable Seating with Good Views of Sales Arena Hauling Available Business Manager : Cody Vaughn 479-790-3432 Office Manager: Cammy Whorton 479-524-2371 ext. 1 Field Representatives: Joe Simpson 918-207-7123 Travis Snyder 918-575-1133 Kevin Ruddick 479-790-9272 Cary Bartholomew 479-409-0133 Mitch Bartholomew 479-263-9302 Doug Isaacs 918-696-1558

3870 Highway 412 East, Siloam Springs, AR • 479-524-2371 www.bentoncountysalebarn.com

tomorrow’s ag leaders

Taylor Moffett By Julie Turner-Crawford

Submitted Photo

What is your involvement in agriculture?

What is your favorite part of being involved IN FFA?

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agriculture

“I was first a member of the 4-H and began my agricultural experience by raising market hogs and show chickens. My grandparents and great-grandparents grew up farming and we still live on the land they farmed on years ago. I now am an FFA officer and spend time in ag and serving my chapter. I have been an FFA member and an FFA officer for three years.”

Celebrating 30 years of Serving the Tri-State Area.

youth in

“I love learning new tools I will use all throughout my life. I am currently taking plant science with Mr. Anderson and I’ve loved learning to care for the plants, and even learn simple electrical wiring throughout the greenhouse. I love the people, I enjoy ag, FFA and making friends at camp from all over the state. I also love that FFA opens so many doors for me and has helped me grow as a person. I enjoy the summer camps, such as Arkansas Leadership Conference and Chapter Presidents’ Conference at Camp Couchdale as well.”

What are your future plans?

“I hope to continue my future in ag by obtaining an agribusiness degree. I would love to raise a family in my hometown that loves FFA as I do and want to invest their time and effort in FFA. I plan to be a business owner myself, and I hope to incorporate agriculture in some way.”

n Hometown: Judsonia, Ark. n Age: 17 n Parents: Blake and Sara Moffett n Siblings: Lily, Charley and Lathan Moffett n FFA Chapter: White County Central FFA Chapter n Advisor: Lucas Anderson

What is the best advice you have received about agriculture? “If it forces you to get out of your comfort zone, do it. I’ve grown so much since I began my experience in FFA. I have become more confident and pushed myself to do things that I never dreamed I would do. These exact words may not have ever been said aloud, but I have been pushed by my ag teacher and FFA officer team.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JANUARY 24, 2022

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

Incorporating Technology

By Jessica Allan

@FFBank1

ith the new year comes new beginnings and, of course, new resolutions. For the past several weeks my social media has been flooded with friends claiming 2022 as “their year.” This is the year the baby weight will be gone, they’ll pay off debt, put themselves first, take charge of their destiny. Most people I know have goals of some sort, announced over social media or not, and that’s generally a good thing – goals give us something to work towards in life. But goal setting is only going to get you so far unless you have a plan behind it. How are you going to reach that goal? Is there a timeline to complete it or an incentive to get it Jessica Allan is an accomplished? Is it measurable? agricultural lender Maybe 2022 is the year you are going to update and mainand commercial tain records in your operation and pay closer attention to a relationship manager budget. If you’ve never done that before, it can be a bit overat Guaranty Bank in whelming Few people enjoy doing financial statements like Carthage and Neosho, Mo. A balance sheets and profit and loss statements when asked resident of Jasper to update them by their financial advisor, let alone keep at County, she is also it on a regular basis. Thankfully, we live in a day and age involved in raising when all sorts of technology literally sits at our fingertips. cattle on her family’s The days of a notebook on the dash and receipts stuffed in farm in Newton the glove box are going by the wayside. County and is an December was full of meetings with clients and customers active alum of the in which most of the conversations were some version of Crowder College discovering ways to better their financial position in the upAggie Club. She may coming year. Some will have a better chance of success than be reached at others. Why? They have a plan to get there, and most of jallan@gbankmo.com. those plans involved incorporating some sort of new technology to support it. For some, that technology was as simple as using a computer spreadsheet to track what expenses were going out and what revenue was coming in. Some had budgets written in-to those spreadsheets to monitor how closely they were staying on track. Others had the information flow over to a balance sheet to show changes to assets and liabilities on a regular basis. Some had purchased software or were utilizing CPA firms to do the tracking for them. With the vast array of apps out there for financial monitoring, strategizing and projections, I was not surprised to see several customers include them in their 2022 plans. Several apps are very technical and can monitor any type of financial need you can think of, while others are simpler and require little input from the user but can certainly still help them keep an eye on their financial situation. Regardless of the user’s savviness with technology, there is an app out there that they can grow comfortable using. From my standpoint as a financial advisor, the use of technology for a client’s financial records is a boon. As anyone involved in the lending process knows, updated financials are a consistent request of lenders any time a client presents them with a new request. Utilizing technology to keep those records current can make that part of the lending process much better for all involved.

JANUARY 24, 2022

www.ffb1.com

We Make House Calls You don’t get to be one of the nation’s largest poultry lenders by sitting in your offices. Busy schedule? We’ll be happy to sit down with you at your convenience and “talk turkey”. Or “chat chicken”. Call or email us today to learn how we can help.

Matt Garrett & Heath Allen Fayetteville, AR (479) 442-7773

Scott McKennon & Mandy Godfrey Morrilton & Mena, AR (501) 354-0220 | (479)777-6239

In the Business of YOU.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

farm

products What’s new in 2022

Case IH RB565 Premium HD round baler

2022 New Holland Powerstar Tractors 75 The PowerStar™ family of tractors provides unprecedented power, comfort and performance in a utility tractor. With a choice of models up to 117 engine horsepower with 2WD or 4WD, they have power to easily tackle haying applications like raking, tedding, mowing or baling in the field, to rotary cutting the back acreage, or stacking bales or handling other material with the front end loader. PowerStar™ tractors now have a 207 cubic-inch, 3.4 liter engine producing 50 to 100 PTO horsepower. Coupled with four-cylinders and turbo charged, these Tier4 diesel engines rise to the challenging conditions with smooth lugging power. Since these engines meet emissions regulations without requiring regeneration, you get the non-stop power you need for field PTO (power take off) work, tough roadside mowing or heavy loader work all day long.

Featherlite 8117 Livestock Trailer The Featherlite Model 8117 stock trailer offers convenience through simplicity and a great price. Simplicity doesn’t mean a lack of quality or durability, however. Model 8117 gooseneck livestock trailers are available in 16-foot, 20-foot and 24-foot lengths with a width of 6 feet, 7 inches. With its premium, corrosion-resistant aluminum construction that features thicker sidewall extrusions. Standard equipment includes an aluminum floor, running boards, center gate with slam latch and a full-swing rear gate with lockable slide.

From wet silage to dry hay and stalks, the new Case IH RB565 Premium HD round baler gives you the flexibility to bale more crops. It builds on the robust design, larger platform and improved bale-rejection system of the RB565 family with the addition of a higher torque load on the clutch cutout, a larger main gearbox with heavier output shaft and larger chains and sprockets. In short production windows, you’ll have the power to bale more — even at higher moisture levels. The heavy-duty pickup features stronger, more durable components to increase the wear life of the pick up. The “premium laced” and “endless” belt are designed with higher tensile strength for improved durability and better belt tracking. Redesigned net wrap system has an independent up-cut knife system to create less stress on components which results in a more reliable wrapping system.

John Deere 5M Series John Deere has redefined its lineup of 5M Series by adding new technology and transmission options, and more top-end horsepower by welcoming a new 125-horsepower tractor to the lineup. These added capabilities and features will appeal to hay, livestock, and commercial customers, along with anyone doing work on a large property. Integrated AutoTrac™ guidance, lowers ownership costs and helps reduce inputs such as fuel, seed, and fertilizer by minimizing overlap in straight line applications such as mowing, tillage, and spraying. Clutchless shifting with new PowrQuad™ transmission options found on larger John Deere tractors. New 125-horsepower model increases available top-end power for 5M Series Tractors.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JANUARY 24, 2022

farm products LS Tractor MT225s with Cab

Kubota RTV520

The LS Tractor MT225s is a durable and comfortable premium compact tractor. With a unique design allowing both a backhoe and mid-mount mower to be attached simultaneously, the MT225s can easily accomplish almost any task. The premium design featuring unprecedented comfort with a multitude of standard features, makes this tractor a true leader. The unique ability to enable the operator to open the rear-window, easily remove the lower glass, and rotate the operator’s seat enables the backhoe to be utilized while the operator remains protected from the elements.

Nimble and mighty, the RTV520 is built for home and job site. With 17.4 HP and a 1,168-pound towing capacity, it can get more done, in more areas, with ease and comfort. With easy operation and ownership, it is the vehicle for even the most novice driver and still meets the demands of a work site, with the perfect blend of performance and comfort. It’s also 4-wheel drive and can haul up to 440 pounds.

Nutrient Technologies’ Crop Nutrient Advisor Nutrient Technologies’ Crop Nutrient Advisor mobile app allows agricultural producers to instantly identify crop nutrient deficiencies; get product recommendations; check spray tank compatibility; download label and SDS; and more. Growers, PCAs or plant nutritionists can search for deficiency symptoms by crop to access images of visual symptoms. Crop nutrient sufficiency guide allows you to look up data by crop and tissue sample timing to know if you need to apply fertilizer and what kind.

JANUARY 24, 2022

Massey Ferguson TD Series Tedders The professional-grade Massey Ferguson® TD Series tedder offers 10 models with widths up to 41 feet, 8 inches, with induction-hardened, break-resistant roto heads for increased durability. The heavy-duty, sealed transmission uses grease rather than oil to ensure longer service. A 1:2 transmission ratio gives maximum performance at minimum PTO speeds, and all tedders are equipped with a headlift position to allow for quick and easy navigation.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

The Right Vitamins By Alana Coleman

Having the right vitamins is essential in preventing health issues in your herd

As the seasons change, the vitamin needs of cattle fluctuate. It is important to know what these needs are and how they can be supplemented in herds. “Cattle have the unique ability to synthesize many vitamins in the rumen, including most of the B vitamins and vitamin K,” said Denise Trotter, retired agriculture educator. “So, A, D and E are the vitamins producers usually need to consider in winter feeding.” Vitamin A can be affected by many stressors, including hot and cold temperatures. This can interfere with the animal’s ability to convert carotene to vitamin A. Carotene is found in green and yellow feedstuffs, so the loss of green pasture during colder seasons can influence vitamin A storage in the liver and vitamin A synthesis. Feeding green hay or yellow corn makes deficiency less likely.

“Deficiencies in vitamin A can cause reduced rate of gain, susceptibility to disease and reduced reproductive efficiency,” said Trotter. “Extreme deficiencies of A could greatly lower reproduction and affect the eyes.” Supplying adequate calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio is important to ensure vitamin D is metabolized efficiently. Vitamin D works with calcium and phosphorus in the diet to allow for skeletal growth and regulate absorption of those minerals. “Vitamin D is formed by the animal in the presence of sunlight, so long winters with little sunlight could theoretically affect vitamin D production in the body,” said Trotter. “This is not usually a problem if animals are outside.” A vitamin D deficiency can include poor appetite and decreased growth. Severe deficiency can cause porous bones, swollen joints and Ricketts. Vitamin E works in conjunction with the mineral selenium, so a selenium deficiency can decrease the function of vitamin E and increase the likelihood of symptoms. Alfalfa, green forages and oil meals are all supplements for vitamin E. “Most rations fed to cattle contain adequate Vitamin E,” Trotter said. “Low levels

what do you say? How has technology changed agriculture?

“Technology has changed many things in agriculture. Because we have access to so much information, everything is more precise, such as a GPS in the tractors so planting, spraying and fertilizing are more efficient.” JoBeth Evans Madison County, Ark.

could result in white muscle disease in calves. Cows might give birth to weak or deformed calves with eye problems.” During the winter months, some green forages can be found in Ozarks pastures. Providing hay rations that are green, leafy and sun-cured, however, can greatly reduce the likelihood of a deficiency in vitamins A, D or E, Trotter said. Abundant forages and access to free choice minerals remains important year round. Mineral supplements including selenium, calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals can be used to increase the cattle’s metabolization of vitamins.

“Vitamins A, D and E are fat soluble and are stored in the body, usually the liver,” Trotter said. “This helps animals get through the winter.” In order to prevent depletion of these stored vitamins, producers sometimes give cattle injections of vitamin A, D or E. This is especially important in younger cattle, including weaned calves and first calf heifers. Since extreme temperatures are stressors for livestock, it is also critical to provide fresh, clean water at all times. During colder months, a water tank heater is recommended. “If temperature control of the water tank is possible, cattle may drink more and feed efficiency is increased,” said Trotter. Protein levels in the cattle’s hay and pastures should also be tested to determine if supplemental protein is needed. “Specific nutritional needs to balance rations for weaned calves, yearlings, heifers and cows should be considered,” said Trotter. “Testing nutrient levels in pastures and hay will allow producers to create a ration that meets the needs of their cattle without over or underfeeding.” Ensuring cattle have the vitamins they need, especially during winter, is essential in preventing health issues and reducing deficiencies.

“Technological development has tremendously increased animal health through highly developed analytical equipment, and the application of what was learned from that equipment with more effective and better targeted vaccines being a good example.”

“The web has changed accessibility From cattle of every breed with genetic information specific enough to make a perfect AI pairing, hay bales to equipment. It improved the power and option choices for tractors making finding something that meets.”

Jim Craven Washington County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Joe Dean Davenport Benton County, Ark.

“In every direction, technology has essentially made us more efficient. There are ear tags that can detect how much a feeder calf eats in a feedlot, and we have technology in combines that can harvest more and do it faster than we have ever been able to do before.” Leslie Smith Rogers County, Okla. JANUARY 24, 2022

farm help

Marketing for Small Producers By Astrid Gonzalez

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Marketing plans are a like a road map to help producers reach their goals Marketing is not always an easy task for small producers, but it is an essential tool to get the word out about the business. The first step before starting a marketing campaign is creating a well-designed and detailed marketing plan, which will be the guide. “Any business, large or small, must have a set of goals,” said Nathan Kemper, professor of agri economics and agribusiness at the University of Arkansas. “A marketing plan is a road map to help producers work toward accomplishing their goals. It helps producers identify where they are, where they are going and how to get there.” Kemper said the process involved in putting together a formal written marketing plan is valuable for any business. Having a written plan helps build discipline and is a great way to check the reasoning or accuracy of the thought process leading to strategic decisions for the business. With a marketing plan, small businesses have the chance to compete with big companies and corporations in the agriculture sector. “A good marketing plan helps the producer to identify and quantify costs, set pricing strategies, examine production and price risk and develop a strategy for marketing the products of the business,” said Kemper.

Red Angus Bulls & Heifers

An important factor to consider when putting together a marketing plan is the target audience or consumers that the business is trying to have as potential clients. According to Kemper agriculture, in general, has become much more consumer-oriented over the years, so smaller operations serving niche markets must have a strong focus on delivering value to their customers. “The basic components of a marketing plan for a large operation are the same as for the small operation,” said Kemper. “However, the smaller operation is likely to have much fewer resources to collect, analyze and assemble data into a complex marketing plan.” Kemper said the marketing plan must include the strategic goals and vision for the operation and details about how the business will accomplish these goals and return a profit to the business. A marketing plan will not always be perfect or work as intended, but it can be adjusted or change depending on the needs of the business and the public. “A marketing plan is a living document that adjusts due to business and market forces,” said Kemper. “A plan is a guiding document that should be used for guidance, but just as road closures required us to take alternate routes, unanticipated changes can require us to alter our plans.”

For those thinking of creating a marketing plan, it should at least include: 4 Industry overview and market outlook 4 Financial situation and goals 4 Product/service offerings and pricing strategy 4 Value proposition plan and targeting strategy 4 Marketing calendar 4 Financial reports

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JANUARY 24, 2022

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Good Hoof Care is Critical By Bailey McAlister

Mobility is important for production and good health Foot health is critical for your horse and cow’s performance. Yet, what are the signs of bad foot health? “Mobility. A cow won’t raise a calf right or raise the biggest calf,” Ben Sorrell, a hoof trimmer in Southwest Missouri said. “A dairy cow won’t get up and eat and produce milk.” Signs can range in severity, and it is crucial to catch them in time. Sorrell said some things to watch for in cattle are: n Arched back n Standing with both feet behind them n How they walk n Last one up (to feed or barn) n Not standing straight n Body condition When problems do arise, Sorrell suggested taking an animal to the vet is the best choice. Equine hoof health is a different story. When a horse’s hoof is in pain it can lead to further issues that last for a long time. Jesse Hayworth, a farrier in Southwest Missouri gave some insight into horse hoof health. “Proper nutrition is the best way to prevent bad hoof health,” Hayworth said. “Also, a great farrier and the type of terrain you keep your horses on.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Signs of bad foot heath in horses that Hayworth said are the most noticeable are: n Limping n Deformities in the hoof capsule (outside of hoof) n Underweight n Overweight n Injuries Founder is a big issue being in an area with good seasonal rains and green grass for most of the year. When a horse founders it is most of the time due to the sugars in grass and being overweight. This sugar creates a reaction that breaks down the hoof capsule, putting a horse in major pain. Also, it causes a shift in their navicular bone and coffin bone causing even more pain. However, some founder cases can also be caused by stress but you will see the same rotation happen with the navicular bone. “Founder is the main issue I see, people not knowing how to properly care for a horse; letting it get overweight, can begin to break down the hoof slowly,” Hayworth said. When founder or other problems become noticeable most people would call a vet. However, Hayworth went on to say that a farrier is a better choice for hoof problems. “Your vet is great for stitching cats,” Hayworth said. “But for hoof issues a great farrier can do more on finding abscesses and such.” JANUARY 24, 2022

— ZONE A AUCTIONS —

1/26 1634 East 37th Street Real Estate Auction – Tulsa, Okla. • Williams & Williams 1/27 2529 & 2531 East 74th Court Real Estate Auction – Tulsa, Okla. • Williams & Williams

— ZONE C AUCTIONS —

1/27 Premier Beuchner, Junko, Gorishek, Gentry Estates Auction – Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions

— ZONE D AUCTIONS —

1/29 Farm and Heavy Equipment Auction – Mountain View, Ark. • Swafford Auctions 3/10 Farm & Heavy Equipment Auction – Ash Flat, Ark. • Witcher Auctions 3/24 Farm & Heavy Equipment Auction – Mt. Vernon, Ark. • Witcher Auctions

— OUTSIDE AREA — AUCTIONS

1/29 Dale Conrad Estate Auction – Lockesburg, Ark. • Todd Morris Auction Company 1/29 Estate Auction – Neosho, Mo. • Circle L Auction Service 1/29 Gunsmith Accessories Auction – Nixa, Mo. • Easterly Auction Company

JANUARY 24, 2022

1/29 Ina Summitt Living Estate Auction – Mt. Ida, Ark. • McGrew Auction Service 1/29 OSU Surplus Auction – Stillwater, Okla. • Nicholson Auction & Real Estate 1/29 Real Estate & Personal Property Auction – Forsyth, Mo. • Coon Ridge Auction Company 1/29 White Estate Auction of Property and Content – El Dorado, Ark. • Davis and Associates Auctioneers 1/30 Loveless Auction – Jacksonville, Ark. • Stuart Auctions 1/30 Outstanding Antique Auction – Stuttgart, Ark. • Ponders Auction 2/4 Wiggins Mineral Auction, Online Only – Enid, Okla. • Wiggins Auctioneers 2/5 Dr. Hiram Ward Estate of Murfreesboro Ark. – Glenwood, Ark. • McGrew Auction Service 2/5 Estate Auction – Joplin, Mo. • Circle L Auction Service

Nowata

Rogers Tulsa

A Craig

Mayes

Wagoner Okmulgee

Ottawa

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Stone

McDonald

Delaware D

Cherokee

Muskogee

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Newton

Adair

Washington

Sebastian Seba

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B Boone

New Newton

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Independence

Cleburne Clebu

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on Madison

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2/5 Monthly Consignment Auction – Ava, Mo. • Cheyney Auction Company, LLC 2/6 Estate Real Estate Auction – Neosho, Mo. • Circle L Auction Service 2/7 Estate Auction – Cassville, Mo. • Stumpff ’s Realty & Auction Service, Inc. 2/12 Antique and Collectible’s Auction – Peace Valley, Mo. • Reid Auction 2/12 Public Auction – Neosho, Mo. • Circle L Auction Service 2/19 Brenda Godwin Living Estate Auction – Glenwood, Ark. • McGrew Auction Service 2/19 Oil Capital Collectibles Winter Auction – Kellyville, Okla. • Oil Capital Collectibles 2/24 Farm & Heavy Equipment Auction – Dumas, Ark. • Witcher Auctions

White

Want Your Auction to Stand Out? Call Today for More Information! List your auction for FREE. Call or email Amanda today at 417-532-1960 or amanda@ozarksfn.com

ozarks’

calendar

JANUARY 2022 25 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Jeral Hampton Meeting Place, Booneville, Ark. – for more information call 479-963-2360 25 Three Rivers Crop Conference – 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Connors State College, Warner, Okla. – for more information contact Todd at 918-686-7200 26 Forage Fertility Meeting – Franklin County Extension Office, Ozark, Ark. – 479-667-3720 27 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9:30-11:30 a.m. – Cost: $20 – Crawford County Extension Office, 105 Pointer Trail West, Van Buren, Ark. – for questions contact Clyde at cfenton@uada.edu – call 479-474-5286 to register 28 Arkansas Food Freedom Act Informational Webinar – 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – Online via Zoom – Free and Open to the Public – to register visit https://uada.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yBDH1GTbQ0eYWCZBcmphFg FEBRUARY 2022 1 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Benton County Extension Office, Bentonville, Ark. – call 479-271-1060 to register 1-3 Gone to Texas Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show – Houston, Tx. – www.convention.ncba.org 3 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Danville Extension Office, Danville, Ark. - 479-495-2216

ozarks’

auction block

February 2022 1 Hoover Angus Sale – Creston, Iowa – 734-260-8635 12 Bradley 3 Ranch Home of the Wide Body Sale – at the ranch, Estelline, Tx – 940-585-6471 or 940-585-6171 12 Crooked Creek Angus Sale – Clarinda, IA – 734-260-8635 18 Galaxy Beef Production Sale – Macon, Mo. – 734-260-8635 19 Byergo Angus Sale – Savannah, Mo. – 734-260-8635 19 63rd Annual Magnolia Hereford Association Sale – SAU Story Arena, Magnolia, Ark. – 870-818-7067 26 Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale – Kingsville Livestock, Kingsville, Mo. – 877-486-1160 27 65th Missouri Angus Breeders’ Futurity Sale – Online – 734-260-8635 March 2022 4 Express Annual Spring Bull Sale – Yukon, Okla. – 734-260-8635 5 Hilltop Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale – Asbury, Mo. – 417-529-0081 5 Judd Ranch 44th Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale – Pomona, Kan. – 785-566-8371 5 Mead Farms Performance-Tested Bull Sale – Mead Sale Headquarters, Versailles, Mo. – 573-302-7011 or 573-216-0210 5 Peterson Farms Charolais Bull Sale – Mtn. Grove, Mo. – 417-926-5336 5 Satterfield Charolais & Angus 11th Annual Bull Sale – Evening Shade, Ark. – 870-499-5379 5 Seedstock Plus Arkansas Bull Sale – Hope Livestock Auction, Hope, Ark. – 877-486-1160 11 Schlager Angus Production Sale – Palmyra, Mo. – 734-260-8635 12 Flickerwood Angus Sale – Jackson, Mo. – 734-260-8635 12 Heart of the Ozarks Angus Association Sale – West Plains, Mo. – 734-260-8635

3 Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Marion County Fairgrounds Community Building, Summit, Ark. – Cost: $20 per person – 870-449-6349 8 Livestock Show Nutrition Series – Sheep & Goat Nutrition – free for all 4-H and FFA members and their chaperones – RSVP one week prior to meeting – 5:30 p.m., supper will be provided – Booneville Fairgrounds, 1105 Carolan Road, Booneville, Ark. – RSVP to Sarah Enoch at senoch@uada.edu or 479-675-2787 8 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – White County Extension Office, Searcy, Ark. – call 501-268-5394 for more information 15 River Valley Beef Conference – Conway County Fairgrounds, Morrilton, Ark. – 501-354-9618 or 479-968-7098 17-21 Livestock Show – Cherokee County Fairgrounds, Tahlequah, Okla. – for more information call 918-456-6163 17 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Cost: $20 – Crawford County Extension Office, 105 Pointer Trail West, Van Buren, Ark. – for questions contact Clyde at cfenton@uada.edu – call 479-474-5286 to register 23-3/23 Master Gardener Training – every Wednesday – contact White County Extension Office for more information and to register by Feb. 11th – 501-268-5394 23-25 Sequoyah County Junior Livestock Show – Fairgrounds, Sallisaw, Okla. – 918-775-4838

12 Sampson Cattle Company Bull Sale – Kirksville, Mo. – 734-260-8635 12 Seedstock Plus RED Reward Bull & Female Sale – Wheeler Livestock, Osceola, Mo. – 877-486-1160 12 Wright Charolais Bull Sale – Kearney, Mo. – 816-776-3512 16 Valley Oaks Prime Choice Sale – Chilhowee, Mo. – 734-260-8635 17 Henke Farms Sale – Salisbury, Mo. – 734-260-8635 18 Marshall & Fenner Farms Sale – Boonville, Mo. – 734-260-8635 19 Aschermann Charolais Production Sale – at the Ranch, Carthage, Mo. – 417-358-7879 19 Brinkley Angus Ranch Bull Sale – Green City, Mo. – 734-260-8635 19 Full Circle Cattle Company 2nd Annual Bull Sale – Dodge City, Kan. – 620-260-6815 or 620-272-2819 19 Mississippi Valley Angus Sale – Palmyra, Mo. – 734-260-8635 19 Pinegar Limousin Herdbuilder XXVIII – at the farm, Springfield, Mo. – 417-839-5849 21 Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus Sale – Nevada, Mo. – 734-260-8635 22 GenePlus Production Sale – Suhn Cattle Company, Eureka, Kan. – 620-583-3706 22 Superior Beef Genetics Sale – Lamar, Mo. – 734-260-8635 26 3C Cattle Company Sale – Carrollton, Mo. – 734-260-8635 26 8 Story Farms Production Sale – Gallatin, Mo. – 660-749-5834 26 Arkansas Bull Sale All Breeds Registered Bulls & Commercial Female Sale – Heber Springs, Ark. – 205-270-0999 26 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull & Female Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 877-486-1160 26 Soaring Eagle Farms Spring Bull Sale – Springfield, Mo. – 734-260-8635 26 Wild Indian Acres Bull Sale – Cuba, Mo. – 937-418-2275 26 Worthington Angus Sale – Dadeville, Mo. – 734-260-8635 28 Southwest Missouri Performance Tested Bull Sale – Springfield, Mo. – 734-260-8635

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JANUARY 24, 2022

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OFN January 24, 2022

Articles inside

Youth in Agriculture highlights Taylor Moffett

Going high tech with your farm finances

Eye on Agribusiness spotlights Stull Feeders

Miss Laura’s has been welcoming generations of visitors

3E Cattle Company has found its market for beef sales