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A Better Way
By Julie Turner-Crawford
Circle K Angus Farm takes an all-natural, holistic and organic approach to beef production
What started as a way for the Keisler family to raise their own beef in were scarce,” Daniel said. “If we did find it, we didn’t find it the next time. That led us to 2005 has evolved into a thriving specialty beef market and a new way do lots of extensive research on soil and animal health.” That research led to Daniel changing how he raised cattle and beef as well. of life for the Ozark, Ark., cattle producers. “My philosophy and outreach to people is that we can do a lot better for our planet, our “We aren’t multi-generation farmers,” Daniel Keisler, owner of Circle K Angus Farm, said. “For us, it started because we had some land, and I wanted to raise a little better qual- environment, and our animals, our soil and our people; we can do better,” Daniel said. Within three months, Jessica was cancer-free. ity protein. We started getting into it, then family members and a few friends “It lit a fire under us, and we had faith in this approach and the faith in the wanted in, so one beef turned into four or five. I figured I could take care of Ozark, Ark. doctors when we saw the results,” Daniel said. “This is now our passion and 15 just as easy as I could four or five.” are 11 1/2 years cancer-free and, praise the Lord, healthy as a horse.” The Keisler family’s beef operation continued to grow over the years, but Today, the Circle K Angus Farm follows a holistic, organic approach to its everything changed in 2011. farming operation, including about 100 head of grass-fed and finished Angus “My wife Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Daniel explained. “It cattle on 100 owned and 80 leased acres. All of the calves harvested are from cattle was two years of chemo, radiation and surgery. We got the all-clear, and two raised on the farm from birth from their closed herd. months later, she notices some lymph nodes swell up, and sure enough, it’s “After a decade, we finally have a herd that is back.” matched to our environment, a very fertile herd Daniel said he and Jessica decided not to go that will calve on time and raise a calf that will be through the same process she endured with her 50 percent of their body weight at weaning, and initial diagnosis and opted to seek a holistic treatthey are going to do it all on grass,” Daniel said. ment. “There are lots of genetic lines that will do what “Through some friends, we found a natural we do, and a lot of people are doing it with South homeopathic doctor, and long story short, the Polls and Red Devons, but we chose Angus beplan was going to be to detox and rid every kind cause Angus really started it all. Angus has been of chemical, every pesticide, every herbicide, and foraged-developed with lower inputs from the bebuckle down,” he recalled. “We went full bore in a ginning, and the breed has been culled to produce natural, homeopathic treatment.” an animal that will marble and finish on forages. During the transition, it was proving difficult to In my opinion, there are only three or four types find foods that were “just a little above” organic of cattle where you can have a superior eating exthat were naturally raised, nutritious and affordperience, and I think Angus has done a better job able. The family built a small greenhouse and with that.” began growing their own vegetables and working Daniel said producers need to look below the with their garden soil. surface of their farm. ‘At first, we were just going to buy foods, but they
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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
OCTOBER 11, 2021
