just a
thought
Start the New Year with a Chisholm Trail Haybed!
Start the New Year with a Chisholm Trail Haybed! What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks? Be Prepared for Winter The Only Early!
Life Is Simple By Jerry Crownover
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Bale BedThe Only Bale Bed That Dumps! That Dumps!
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s a result of the current pandemic, there have been some interesting side effects happening in my world of farming and ranching. Firstly, the desire of many consumers to revonworC yrreJ yB purchase fresh and/or locally-grown food has led to many producers being able to either begin or expand their niche market of bypassing grocery stores and restauJerry Crownover farms rants and offer food products directly to the people who will in Lawrence County. He consume that food. Whether that demand is fueled by some is a former professor of shortages (real or perceived) of food, or a wish to eat healthAgriculture Education at ier and more nutritious meals, I don’t know, but no one can Missouri State University, argue that it hasn’t brought about massive change. and is an author and For years, I’ve wanted to be able to buy the locally proprofessional speaker. duced raw milk that I’ve missed for the 50 years that have To contact Jerry, go to passed since we sold the last, old Jersey milk cow that had ozarksfn.com and click provided us fresh milk since my birth. Now, there’s a liton ‘Contact Us.’ tle, on-farm outlet that sells the best-tasting milk you can imagine only 8 miles from my house. I’m there every week, and they have recently added fresh, farm-grown beef, pork, chicken and eggs. According to the owners, people drive from a 60-mile radius to be able to take advantage of their offerings. I also have a neighbor farmer who purchased a small meat processing plant several years ago. He has been able to expand its capacity over the past few months, and he still can’t keep up with demand. I suspect his customers will still be there, long after the pandemic is over. I really feel we have reached a new normal of people wanting to see where their food comes from. Of course, all the side-effects aren’t positive. As millions of people have had to learn to work from home, millions of them have also learned they don’t have to live in the same, over-crowded, crime-ridden cities and pay exhorbitant prices for housing in order to be able to do the same work. Hundreds of thousands of those people are now flocking to places like where I live to continue working at home, while enjoying the safety and serenity of small, rural communities.
The Only Bale Bed Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960 That Dumps! PO Box 1319, Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-1960 • Fax: 417-532-4721 E-mail: editor@ozarksfn.com
Eric Tietze
President/Publisher
Pete Boaz
Vice President
Administrative Amanda Newell, Marketing Manager Eric Tietze, Accounting Advertising Amanda Newell, Display & Production Sales Amanda Newell, Classified Sales Circulation Eric Tietze, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Frank Farmer, Editorial Page Editor Emeritus Production Amanda Newell, Production
Contributors Erin Harvey, Jordan Gloor, Neoma Foreman, Klaire Howerton, Neoma Foreman, Rachel Harper and Laura L. Valenti
About the Cover
Drew and Charlotte Montague have grown their herd to about 150 pairs. See more on page 14. Photo by Rachel Harper 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., 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.
GATES, PANELS, & WORKING SYSTEMS IN STOCK
— Continued on Page 5
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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
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