The Parsons family raises cattle, sheep and goats, and opens their gates to visitors
From John Deere to pecans, the Maus family remains grounded in ag
Teen opts to start her own dairy goat operation
Ways to keep calves on the road to weight gain
Grant funding announced: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is partnering with Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas for the eighth annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program. The program provides funding assistance for the state’s farmers markets to serve their communities as consumer interest in locally grown and made products continues to increase. The Farmers Market Promotion Program may fund the following promotional items to build community and regional awareness for a specific farmers market: signage listing names, seasons, times of operation, and location details; local traditional advertising; and social media campaigns. Applications are due April 28. For more information, visit go.ozarksfn.com/ngw.
Arkansas Century Farm Program accepting applications: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2023 Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Online and printable applications are available at https://go.ozarksfn.com/x6x. There is no cost to apply. Contact Beth Moore at 501-539-4027 or beth.moore@ agriculture.arkansas.gov with questions. Applications must be received via email or postmarked on or before May 31, to be eligible for designation as a 2023 inductee.
Apply for Capitol Camp: Students in Oklahoma can now apply to attend Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Capitol Camp. The two-day event is open to high school juniors and seniors from FFA and 4-H. Students will learn about the Oklahoma legislative process and how a bill becomes a law, and have the opportunity to write and discuss a piece of legislation about an issue important to them. The cost is $50 per student. For more information or to apply, visit go.ozarksfn.com/gqb.
Nominations sought: Nominations are now open for the Oklahoma governor’s Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Award. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry defines nominees as leaders in the agricultural industry with high standards of ethics and moral as well as accomplishments in the agriculture field. Finally, they should be a role model for Oklahoma agriculture’s young people Once a winner will be selected, they will be inducted into the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame. All nominations must be received by March 3. The winner will be recognized on April 11 during Oklahoma Ag Day at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The nomination form can be found at www. ag.ok.gov/oklahoma-ag-hall-of-fame.
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 | VOL. 16, NO. 18
3 Jerry Crownover –Where did my phone go?
4 Jody Harris – Just holler
7
5 Julie Turner-Crawford –Beware of who you allow on your farm
7 Family has multiple species of livestock and hosts guest each fall
8 The Mauses change businesses, but remain in agriculture
10 Museum honors country doctors
8
12 Eye on Agribusiness spotlights Hitchcock-Campbell
13 Town & Country features Misty Eastep
16 Teen changes her agriculture path
18 Youth in Agriculture highlights Hannah Baker
19 Understanding ILIT
20 Improving conception rates
21 Don’t forget about maternal traits
22 Giving herds an energy boost
Do you have a rumor you would like to share with our readers? Mail them to: PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm
23 Keeping weaned calves gaining
Few technological advancements have changed my life, as much as the smart phone. I can still remember my first telephone number from 1965, but I can’t tell you my wife’s number right now, nor my sons’ numbers or anyone else’s for that matter. I simply hit a button or tell my phone to call any number I have saved in its memory.
Jerry Crownover is a farmer and former professor of Agriculture Education at Missouri State University. He is a native of Baxter County, Arkansas, and an author and professional speaker. To contact Jerry, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
I used to keep an old, spiral-bound notebook in the glove box of my farm truck that contained all the pertinent information about my cow herd, including breeding records, birth dates, vaccination records, etc. Sometimes that notebook would last four or five years, unless I dropped it in the mud, or manure or, one time, in the pond. Now, every bit of that data is in my phone. My entire life can be retrieved anywhere, anytime: all of my digital information is stored in my phone, such as passwords for anything that is computerized — medical records, bank records, combinations for locks and safes, pharmacy prescriptions, and almost everything else I used to have to write down is now in a tiny, black rectangle attached to the belt that holds up my pants. I can use my phone to search the internet for answers to the immense number of things that I don’t know. I can use the GPS component to give me directions to any place on planet earth, and the calculator will allow me to find the cubed root of y to the power of x. It was the calculator part of my phone that I was using this past Saturday. I had finally found a source of some extra hay, and the man who delivered the first load needed a check to pay for the hay before he brought the second load. My phone multiplied the cost per bale and I proceeded to write the check. The hay guy was in a hurry to get the next load before dark, so
— Continued on Page 6
Our youngest son is in the fifth grade and recently turned 11. He is a very sociable child who enjoys his friends. He loves playing sports and sincerely appreciates fishing, hunting and all the wildness living on a farm offers. He is an avid reader and hilarious storyteller and writer.
This year, he wanted to celebrate his birthday with some of his friends from school and from his baseball team. We asked him if they wanted to go out for pizza and made a few other suggestions to keep a rowdy bunch of boys entertained for a birthday party. He insisted they all come out to the house to play and that they wanted to go bowling in town.
One of his friends insisted to his dad that I make the world’s greatest spaghetti. I do not know how this little guy came up with that. It is simply boxed spaghetti noodles, hamburger meat and Ragu’s own Mama’s Special Garden Sauce with a little Parmesan cheese on top. Either way, they wanted me to make that for supper, too.
We turned them loose outside and fed them dinner before heading into Fayetteville for bowling. We had a large group, so we split up into two lanes for a couple of hours. I think it is fair to say they entertained us. They had all kinds of crazy moves. At one point a ball bounced off of the top of the bumper rack in their lane. My husband and our youngest daughter threw a few wild balls as well. Thankfully, the time ran out before anyone noticed this crazy bunch and it was time to head home.
We loaded everybody up in two vehicles and the boys in my car insisted on requesting songs from the designated DJ, our youngest daughter in the passenger seat. When she played the Ryan Upchurch song, “Holler Boys,” they were all belting it out in unison. If you are not familiar with this tune, the chorus says, “We them holler boys. Holler if you’re needin’ somethin’ done. Holler if you need a chip on a shoulder and a hand with a loaded gun. We’ll be out that screen door, no shirt on. Leavin’ two black marks down a one lane road. Yeah we, yeah we, yeah we them holler boys.” Give it a listen. As they were singing, I smiled thinking about the young men these boys would become. Their teenage years are sure to be eventful. We know their parents well and each of their dads (including my husband) can easily be described as a holler boy. I cannot recall how many times my husband has told a friend or neighbor, “Holler if you need some help cleaning out that pond. Holler at me if you need the tractor. Holler at me when you’re ready to load that hay.” The list could go on for miles.
So, what is a holler boy exactly? He is a country boy who is ready for anything at any time, all you have to do is ask him. Ask him what? Anything – help me get hay put up before it rains. Help me get these cattle rounded up off the White River. Help me put new brakes on my daughter’s car. Help me chase down the scoundrels who stole the four-wheeler out of our shop.
The greatest joy of my adult life is watching our children grow up. If our sons and daughters grow up with strong values and good friendships, I know the world will be a better place. It will not be long before I hear one of them say, hey mom if you need my help, just holler. That just warms my heart, neighbor.
Afriend seeking a career change contacted me the other day to give me a tip. She said to look at a specific employment website and search the word “farm.” I was disturbed by what I found.
There were ads for “investigators” posted by animal rights groups. The job descriptions state “investigators” are required to obtain employment at “factory farms,” hatcheries and livestock markets to document conditions.
“Investigators must be prepared to witness unimaginable cruelty and engage in intense manual labor while maintaining their composure and cover to gather information necessary to expose and stop farmed animal abuse,” one ad states. Using hidden cameras and thoroughly documenting conditions and practices in facilities while paying particular
— Continued on Next Page
Julie Turner-Crawford is a native of Dallas County, Mo., where she grew up on her family’s farm. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Julie, call 1-866532-1960 or by email at editor@ozarksfn.com.
• 1 loaf French bread, sliced
• 2 eggs
• 2 C half and half
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 C chopped pecans
• 3/4 C butter
SYRUP INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 C water
• 6 ounces bourbon pecan toffee
• 1/2 C maple syrup
Slice bread into 1-inch slices. Whisk together eggs and half and half, then add vanilla and cinnamon. In a separate, shallow bowl, place pecans. Dredge each slice of bread in egg mixture, then coat in pecans. In a nonstick pan, melt butter. Pan-fry bread in the butter until golden brown on both sides. Don’t melt all the butter all at once. Add more butter, as needed, while cooking the French toast. Keep French toast warm in a low oven while making the syrup. Heat water over medium heat in a small, heavy-bottom saucepan. Add entire toffee and heat to a rolling boil. Stir continuously until toffee is melted into the water, about 5 to 7 minutes. Keep heat at medium so the toffee doesn’t burn. Add maple syrup. Stir until mixed. Reduce heat to medium-low or low, and simmer until syrup is thickened. Let cool slightly before serving but use while warm. Syrup will thicken as it cools; pours easier when warm.
Continued from Previous Page
attention to animal welfare issues is another job requirement.
These ads offer flexible hours, health benefits, retirement plans, bonuses and impressive salaries for “non-profit” organizations. One job posting was for a position in Missouri; these folks could be in our backyard right now. On that same website, farmers and ranchers were looking for workers. After seeing some of these “investigators wanted” ads, it would scare me to hire anyone. These organizations do not physically or financially care for animals. Vegan outreach, “investigations,” legal advocacy, corporate engagement, and administration costs make up most of their budgets.
Most OFN readers know how I feel about these groups, so forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I’m going to dust off my favorite soapbox.
As farmers and ranchers, we must take a stand against groups like this, and the best way we can do that is to provide the best care possible for our animals. That means treating an animal if it is sick or injured, having proper nutrition, and providing a good quality of life from beginning to end. If you cannot afford or do not want to do those things, maybe you should rethink being involved in livestock production.
There is a big difference between animal welfare and animal rights. Animal welfare is the quality of life and the environment. Animal welfare groups have no cause to harass farmers and ranchers if animals are cared for
Continued from Page 3
I quickly handed him the check and he was off. Instead of driving my tractor back to the house, I thought I’d call my wife to come get me, but when I reached for my phone, I went into traumatic shock, realizing my phone was on the back of the hay hauler’s truck. By the time I got to the house and used my wife’s phone to call the trucker, he was already back on the interstate. While on the phone with him, he pulled to the shoulder and searched his truck bed before responding, “Sorry, Jerry. The phone is not here.”
in a humane manner. On the other hand, animal rights groups follow a philosophy that animals not be used by humans, even for food. Farmers and ranchers are animal welfare advocates; they want the best for their animals. Some animals will test you, like the steer that knocked me for a loop when we were working cows a while back, but it comes down to being an animal caretaker.
Animal rights groups like to paint all farmers and ranchers as horrible, greedy people. They claim livestock owners are bloodthirsty, heartless killers and they are there to “save” animals. Yet, if “investigators” witness something they feel is inhumane, they do nothing to stop the action or even question it.
If you’re looking for an employee, ask for verifiable, preferably local, references. Once you hire someone, tell and show them what you expect in animal care and handling. If there is an issue with an animal, be it ill or injured, or another employee isn’t following outlined care or handling, it should be reported immediately to you or another supervising employee. If the employee fails to do so, make it clear the lack of action is grounds for immediate termination. Good farmers and ranchers must lead by example.
Animal rights groups are looking for a reason; don’t be the reason. Be careful about who you trust with your livestock and your reputation.
The county road is about a quarter-mile from where I wrote the check. Hoping that my phone had slid off before he reached the highway, I walked the driveway, while my wife followed me in the truck, using her phone to call my phone, every few seconds. Nothing. Turning north on the county road, I continued to walk while my wife was now ahead of me, still calling. By the grace of God, Judy heard my phone ringing after going another quarter-mile on the county road. The cover of the phone wasn’t even scratched. My entire life had been retrieved from a road ditch.
Parsons family
Eddison Parsons is a cowman. He’s a fifth-generation farmer, and he is 13 years old.
“He is the chief cattle buyer,” Eddison’s father Dwain Parsons said. “I send him to the sale and he buys whatever he thinks will work for us.”
This is much the same for all Dwain’s children. Each has their niche role in the family dynamic and they all work together to get the jobs done.
The Parson family has been in Springdale, Ark., since the late 1800s. Dwain’s grandfather owned and ran a grocery store in downtown Springdale. He bought the family farm just east of town around 1910 and expanded each year. Initially, they grew fruit crops on the land but later expanded to include diverse types of livestock. A little more than a century later, the farm is now under the care of Dwain; he and his wife have eight children, ranging in age from 27 to 9, and they are all involved in the day-to-day operations of the farm.
The Parsons currently run about 130 head of mixed cows and heifers, along with 150 yearlings, on 430 acres. They also lease another 400 acres from family members. They recently bought a few Charolais and Red Angus bulls to run with their herd. The cows are bred by natural cover and bred heifers are sold or kept as replacements. Cattle are pastured with a little supplemental grain for the calves and rotational grazing with sheep and goats.
Herd health is very important.
“Blackleg vaccinations are always given, you never know when it will sneak up on you,” Dwain remarked. “We give a regimen of vaccinations as soon as we get calves in and that has reduced our death losses tremendously.
In addition to raising livestock, the Parsons are also involved in agritourism with Farmland Adventures. They operate a 9-acre corn maze and host farm tours in the fall. Around 30,0000 people visit their farm each year.
“We see a lot of people,” Dwain said. “We also do tours for school children and those average around
5,000 kids. I like to talk to the first graders and kindergartners. It always surprises me kids do not know much about agriculture anymore.”
Schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma regularly visit the farm and they have so many request that they have had to turn some schools down due to time constraints. “I like to do a better job with the school children and really explain what is going on,” Dwain said.
With school tours, the family talks about how corn and pumpkins are grown and they allow the children to feed the goats, sheep and cows. Dwain hopes by spending time with them it ensure the children walk away associating farming with individuals and not a nameless corporation.
The main attraction in the fall is the corn maze. They began having the maze in 2011 and each year it has grown and evolved. They begin planting the maze in late June to early July using a four-row planter. It takes approximately 30 hours to plant, and they usually complete it within two days. The direction the maze is planted keeps it from having delineated rows, planting north to south and then east to west. They hire a company out of Virginia to cut the pattern into the maze using GPS. They can cut the design into the entire field in three to four hours. They are currently trying to decide what theme they would like to have this coming fall. Some past designs were A Salute to the American Heroes, Old West, the Outback and Presidential candidates.
Springdale, Ark.
“We’ve had a lot of help. I sure didn’t do it, mostly it is everyone else making it what it is now,” Dwain said regarding the amount of time and effort it takes to run the farm and the corn maze. He credits his father, his brother, his wife’s parents, his wife and his kids for making it a su dccess. “I am very blessed, my grandfather put this all together and kept it together for me. I am very blessed with what I have, and I could not have done it by myself. It is nothing I did, and I just want to be able to pass it along to my children and grandchildren. There are a lot of tough days but I like what I am doing, I love what I do. I am fortunate to be able to do what I do.”
Standing between 70 and 100 feet, pecan trees tower over land like a friendly shade tree. Giving love and comfort, while serving the purpose of production for families and communities across the nation.
With a passion for agriculture and core family values, the Maus family hoped to stay true to themselves in all aspects of life, including the family business. After selling their family-owned John Deer dealership of more than 75 years, John Maus got the
opportunity from a lifelong friend, Robert “Crash” Carruthers, to take over an existing pecan orchard with over 25 years worth of successful harvests.
“Our family has always had our own businesses, but never one of this style, so we were excited to have a new adventure to all tackle together,” Anna Lee Maus, the youngest of the Maus family, said. “We’ve always done more large-scale agriculture, never growth and production agriculture, so it was a very new experience for us, and it was not easy, but we woke up ev-
ery day ready to learn and grow and do better today than we did yesterday.”
Each day, the Maus family learned from Crash the ins and outs of the orchard while gathering the materials and machinery necessary for successful harvests. During these daily lessons, the Maus’ sons were taught how to work each machine and were assigned roles on the orchard and within the business.
“My brother Stephen is the only one who knows how to operate the shaker, so he shakes the trees to get the pecans to fall. My other brother, Hamp, then comes behind him and rakes them up,” Anna Lee explained. “Then my mom, Lynlee, comes by on her little tractor with a blower and blows away the sticks and rocks that are left behind.”
Like any other family business, it took time getting adjusted to the orchard. There have
pecan meat in our fancy halves, and I think that is what sets us apart from other pecan businesses.”
Each bag of pecans is sold by the pound and packaged in Maus Pecan custom packaging.
“Opening the store has been such an eye-opening experience because it really shows how many people in the community stand in our corner,” Anna Lee said. “It is absolutely amazing getting to make these connections in and around our small town and just the support that is shown to us every day is so incredible.”
The Maus family plans to continue growing their family business and build relationships with their customers, as well as strengthen the bond between each other.
“Family businesses are hard,” Lynlee said. “It can be emotionally draining, but at the end of the day, the reward of being surrounded by my kids and husband and being a part
60 LANDSTAR, Forage, Inoc., Not Coated 8# 2.44
Equivalent to $1.59 coated seed
60 GAINER II MIX, Inoc., Not Coated 8# 2.68
85% Red Clover, 15% Rampart Ladino
50 KENLAND, Inoc., Not Coated 8# 2.68
Equivalent to $1.74 coated seed
50 Hay Thickener,Inoc., Not Coated 10# 2.72
75% Red Clover - 25% Hulled Orchardgrass
60 Hay ‘N Graze Mix, Inoc., Not Coated 10# 2.76
70% Red Clover - 30% Haygrazer Alfalfa
50 MEDIUM RED, Raw 8# 2.32
50 MEDIUM RED, Coated, 65% Pure 12# 1.98
50 LADINO, “JUMBO” Inoc., Not Coated 3# 4.86
Giant Leaf, Equivalent to $3.16 coated seed
50 LADINO - Rampart, 3# 4.34 Inoc., Not Coated
55 BALANSA - Viper, Raw, Annual 3# 2.58
50 WHITE CLOVER - Ivory 2, 3# 3.88
Intermediate, Inoc.
25 WHITE CLOVER - Durana, 5# ASK Coated, 65% Pure
50 WHITE CLOVER - Nitro, White Dutch 3# 4.78
50 ALSIKE, Raw, Perennial 5# 3.48
50 SWEET CLOVER, Yellow Blossom 12# 3.78
50 ARROWLEAF, Winter Annual 6# 2.62
50 CRIMSON, Winter Annual 15# 2.08
50 BERSEEM CLOVER, Annual 15# 2.18
Spring Plant
50 BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL, 6# 6.26
*Less than Full Bags, add 20¢ per lb.
Cow/Horse
A non-bloating legume, Summer Annual, Spring Plant
50 KOREAN, Inoc., Not Coated 20# 2.78
50 KOBE/KOREAN, Inoc., Not Coated, Feb. 20# 2.64
been ups and downs, and long days, but with open communication, creative ideas and attention to detail, the Mauses were able to take their business and open new doors in the community.
After two years of shipping pecans to other cities and states on transport trucks, the Mauses opened a shop in a strip mall get their pecans on shelf and ready for local purchase.
“Opening the store was probably the scariest part of the whole situation because none of us knew what to expect,” Anna Lee said. “It was all so new and chaotic: there were just a lot of high emotions.”
Though, despite the intensity of the opening, the family craft spoke for itself, and each bag of pecans sold out.
“It was the most successful day,” Anna Lee said. “Everyone was so excited to find our pecans have zero shells. They are 100 percent
of each step of their lives is unmatched.”
Not even to mention the physical drain working on the orchard and cleaning up the store can cause. Picking up limbs, scrubbing floors, handling heavy machinery for hours and hours throughout the day is bound to cause substantial ache in the body.
“What so many people don’t realize is all that goes into farming. Whether it be on a pecan orchard or wheat crops, most don’t realize the brain power and bodily strength it takes to produce the products,” Anna Lee said.
The Maus family has planted their deepest roots in the family business, and they plan to continue growing, learning and laughing with each other for years to come.
“This is a lifelong process, and I am so thankful and grateful to get to be a part of something so special,” Anna Lee said.
50 SERICEA, Scarified 20# 3.96
No Sell to KS, CO, OK
60 COMMON SENSE, 3-Way Blend 20# 3.68
Haygrazer, Cimarron 400 & 500, Inoc., Not Coated
50 HAYGRAZER, Cert., Inoc./Not Coated 20# 3.78
50 CIMARRON VL400, 20# 3.78
Cert., Inoc., Not Coated
50 CIMARRON VL500, 20# 3.78
Cert., Inoc., Not Coated
50 GENUITY, Roundup Ready® 25# 8.62
L442RR Coated
*Less than Full Bags, add 20¢ per lb.
Lb./Acre Bag $
48 GOLIATH OAT, Hay Type/Tall/Later 96# 21.86
HAYDEN OAT, Grain 96# 21.84
SOYBEANS - LAREDO 50# 44.86 Very Tall Hay Type
SOYBEANS 50# 29.95
Ready® Willcross WXR7878, 3.5’ Tall
SOYBEANS, Liberty Link® Willcross 50# 38.90 50 SOYBEANS 50# 48.90 Enlist® E3 Willcross, 2, 4-D, Liberty, Roundup
50 SPRING PEA, Little Giant, 1.06 Mix 50# 0.96
50 TURNIPS, Purple Top 2# 1.68
50 TURNIPS, 7 Top Forage 2# 1.78
50 RADISH, Daikon 5# 1.78
50 COWPEAS, Iron & Clay, Inoc., Not Coated 50# 1.38
50 COLLARDS, Impact Forage 4# 2.48
*Less than Full Bags, add 20¢ per lb.
50 KY-31, Certified & Endophyte-Free 24# 1.84 ONLY $6 PER ACRE DIFFERENCE
50 KY-32, Certified & Endophyte-Free 24# 1.96
50 KY-31, 24# 1.58
50 KY-31 & 9% ORCHARD GRASS MIX, 24# 1.63
50 FAST PASTURE MIX, Cattle/Horse 30-35# 1.96
66% Endophyte-Free KY-31 Fescue, 14% Hulled Orchard Grass, 18% Best-For Plus Ryegrass & 2% Timothy
25 MAX Q II TEXOMA, Friendly Endophyte 24# ASK
25 BAR OPTIMA E34, Friendly Endophyte 24# ASK
25 ESTANCIA, Friendly Endophyte 24# ASK
Add a Legume Add a Legume
50 ARID “DR” 15# 2.68 Disease + Drought Resistant
50 POTOMAC/RED CLOVER MIX, 20# 2.68 75%/25%
50 POTOMAC, Disease Resistant 15# 2.48
50 FAST PASTURE MIX 30-35# 1.96 No Cover Needed, 66% Endophyte-Free KY-31 Fescue, 14% Hulled Orchard Grass, 18% Best-For Plus Ryegrass & 2% Timothy
50 ANDES, Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass 24# 0.78
50 MARSHALL, Annual Ryegrass 24# 0.78 Not a Tetraploid
50 BEST-FOR PLUS, 24# 1.48
Tetraploid Intermediate Ryegrass
50 BROME-SMOOTH, Southern 20# 4.28
“The High Protein Grass.” Sow with Alfalfa!
Old-time country doctors treated illnesses and injuries, performed surgeries and delivered babies. They made house calls or welcomed patients into their homes, and payment for services wasn’t always monetary, but their communities depended on them.
To honor those country doctors, Lincoln, Ark., is the home to one of only two museums in the U.S. dedicated to preserving their stories and history. The other, which was the first country doctor museum, is in North Carolina.
The Arkansas Country Doctor Museum was founded in 1994 by Dr. Harold Boyer, the son of Dr. Herbert Boyer. The museum is in the former Boyer family residence, the senior doctor’s clinic and the hospital.
“Dr. Harold Boyer wanted to preserve country doctors, and what they did for this area, so he decided to start the museum,”
Nichole Hager, Arkansas Country Doctor Museum office manager, explained. “He also wanted to honor his father and other Arkansas country doctors for their selfless service and unique contributions to the people of Arkansas.”
Nichole said Dr. Herbert Boyer was the third doctor to live and work on the property and was the longest-tenured physician in the area.
“He was here from 1936 to 1973,” she explained. “The other two doctors were only
here for a year, but he served this area for all those years. His wife [Ruby] lived here until 1986. It sat for a while, but then their son, a Las Vegas dermatologist, wanted to honor his father and decided in 1993, with some other local doctors, got a board together and made it a museum.”
The museum has three areas, the doctor’s living quarters, the clinic and the hospital portion, complete with a ward for ladies and a ward for men. The museum also includes the Dr. Harold L. Boyer Educational Building and a memorial room. Both were added in 2004.
“Dr. Boyer is the main storyline of the museum, but we have taken in many donations and artifacts from all different country doctors,” Nichole said.
The 11-room museum features exhibits from the 19th and 20th centuries, including medical equipment, surgical tools from Civil War battlefields and even an iron lung.
“Approximately 460 babies were born here with Dr. Boyer,” Nichole said. “We have birth records on file and they are no more than a sketch of paper; they are interesting to see. A lady needed a passport, and she didn’t have any documentation. She called us and we were able to find her birth record. I sent her a copy of her birth record and she was able to get her passport. There are so many unique items here, and you
can see what it looked like in the 1940s, the 1950s and the 60s. It’s unique to see how medicine has evolved over the years.”
The museum also has a horse-drawn carriage one of the doctors used for house calls and a 1924 Model T a later doctor used.
“A lot of the doctors depended on their horses even after automobiles were available,” Nichole said. “They might go to a car but would be back on their horses or in buggies because they would be too exhausted to operate the car, but the horse knew the way home; the horses were
more reliable. We have a lot of items that were packed up and put on a horse’s back and taken out into the field so the doctor could go to the patient.”
Among the medical-related items and artifacts are also pieces of Arkansas history, including a cane presented to Dr. James Monroe Boone by Gen. Andrew Jackson. “Boone served under Jackson in the War of 1812,” Nichole said. “It’s made of hickory and has some engraving. Dr. Boone was born in North Carolina and practiced in Washington County, Ark., for many, many years.”
Donations continue to come in, so much so that an additional building is nearing competition to house the items.
“We’re calling it are artifact and preservation building,” Nichole said. “The museum is just packed with so many artifacts that we needed a place to store things and work on new exhibits to switch things in and out. We want to get everything in one climate-controlled location. Plus, we need to be evolving.”
The museum was also the Boyer home, and Miss Ruby, as she was affectionately known, served her community as well. She cared for the patients, cooked meals and assisted in many ways.
“Her friends would travel, but she would always stay home to help with the patients,” Nichole said. “They would bring her a salt and pepper shaker. We have that collection of salt and pepper shakers from all over the world, and it’s said to be the largest collection ‘south of the Mississippi.’ It’s a huge collection.”
Dr. Boyer would often receive things like sweet potatoes, eggs, apples and other items instead of payment.
“[The Boyers] cared enough about their patients that you didn’t have to have money; you could bring whatever you had and see the doctor and be taken care of,” Nichole said.
In addition to exhibits, there is a Hall of Honor, which pays tribute to many of the country doctors of Arkansas.
“It currently has 153 country doctors from all 75 counties in Arkansas,” Nichole said. “They started the hall when we opened. The board’s goal was to get one doctor from every county, so they have surpassed that.”
Biographical information about each of the Hall of Honors members is available at the museum, as well as on the museum’s website (www.drmuseum.net).
Admission is free to the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum, but donations are welcome. The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and no reservations are required. The museum is closed from the third Saturday in November to the third week of February.
See More Photos Online at ozarksfn.com
LOCATION: Tahlequah, Okla.
OWNERS: Ray and Sandy Campbell
HISTORY: Hitchcock-Campbell, Inc., began in the early 1970s when partners Jimmy Dale “Jim” Campbell and Raymond Hitchcock started a custom wheat harvesting business. “They eventually started dealing in used tractors; little 8Ns and 9Ns,” co-owner Sandy Campbell said. “It evolved into some farm equipment, but they would always close up the business from May to September/October because they would go to harvest.”
Sandy said when she and Ray were married in 1985, she and Ray would stay home and operate the business while Jim and Raymond when on the wheat harvest.
After Raymond passed in 1998, Jim became sole owner and sold the business to Ray and Sandy in 1999.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: Hitchcock-Campbell may have started as a seasonal wheat harvesting company, but today is it a wholesale distributor of three-point farm implements.
“We import drag chain harrows from Italy. We import rototillers, finishing mowers, fertilizer spreaders and cement mixers, and I import a few parts from India, but the rest of our equipment is made stateside.”
Ray and Sandy also work with Atlas MFG Co, Inc., in Mississippi, which offers a wide range of products.
“We also work with some other, smaller manufactures,” Sandy added. “We sell rock rakes, disks, cultivators, planters, a little 3-point hay equipment, box blades, straight blades and even gopher machines. We try to sell to people who don’t have tractor lines, but we do sell to Branson and TYM dealers. I also have a few Mahindra dealers. We just handle things from 4 foot up to 10 foot; we don’t handle anything really large.”
A recent product addition is grapples.
“We never really handled them until the last couple of months, and we have lots of people interested. We are always open to new products or ideas.”
Hitchcock-Campbell sells to about 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. Sandy added they do offer some retail sales as well as wholesale.
“We don’t turn anyone away,” Sandy said.
Sandy said she and Ray enjoy what they do and have many repeat customers.
“They seem like old friends,” Sandy said.
FAMILY: Husband Jim Eastep
IN TOWN: Misty Eastep has been with Farm Credit of Western Arkansas for about five and a half years. She is currently vice president/loan officer at the Tontitown, Ark., location.
IN THE COUNTRY: Misty and her husband of 15 years Jim have a commercial cow/calf operation with about 300 momma cows.
“They are mainly a Charolais-cross,” Misty said of their herd. “We did get into some Angus, so about a third of our herd is Angus.”
Between owned and rented land, the couple has about 1,000 acres.
The Easteps have spring and fall calving seasons, and the bulls remain with the herds year-round. Misty and Jim retrain their replacement heifers.
“The majority of what we have has been raised on the farm, with the exception of the Angus herd we bought,” Misty said. “We cull out some older cows every year to keep things fresh and young, and the genetics we like.”
Unretained heifers and steers are sold at weaning, typically weighing 500 to 600 pounds. “When we contact the sale barn to sell calves, they let some of the buyers know we are coming,” Misty said. “They like our products because when we wean them, they haven’t been introduced to feed. When our calves hit feed, there’s a big gain and that’s what the buyers are after. They make profit in the gain.”
Misty also breeds and shows reining horses.
Farming isn’t always easy, but Misty says she enjoys the way of life the industry offers.
“Hard winters aren’t fun, but I like the lifestyle; I like being outside,” she said. “I like the animal husbandry and am proud of that. We have some good genetics and we like the work. It’s a joy and a proud moment when you pull all of those calves in and see where you are, and how nice and framed up they are. When people see your product and say, ‘Boy, that’s a nice group of heifers or steers,’ it makes you proud of all the hard work you put in and the dedication. It’s not all roses and happy pay checks. Expenses are up everywhere, and if you have rough weather, you’re fighting Mother Nature too.”
Misty said her town career and her farm life are a good mix.
“I’m in an industry that works with farmers, and that’s the key,” she said. “I’m not sitting in some industrial facility or someplace where I don’t get to talk about cattle with my customers; I get to talk about them all day long and build a relationship.”
Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat 2/16/23
Receipts: 326
Compared to the sale 2 weeks ago feeder lambs traded steady. Slaughter lambs traded steady to 5.00 higher. Not enough slaughter ewes for a market comparison. Replacement sheep were in demand as families traded up to 515.00 per family. In the goat portion of the sale not enough receipts for a comparison. In spite of harsh weather at sale time, bidding was active. Supply was light with very good demand. Supply included:
16% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 48% Slaughter
Sheep/Lambs (2% Wooled & Shorn, 67% Hair Breeds, 10% Ewes, 13% Hair Ewes, 2% Bucks, 5% Hair Bucks); 6% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (13% Ewes, 38% Hair Ewes, 50% Families);
15% Feeder Goats (76% Kids, 24% Wether Kids); 13% Slaughter Goats (33% Kids, 47% Nannies/Does, 19% Bucks/Billies); 2% Replacement Goats (100% Families).
Feeder Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 257.50-290.00.
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:
Wooled & Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 155.00.
Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 200.00-275.00.
Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 247.50.
Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 130.00.
Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 85.00-96.00.
Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 120.00-130.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 115.00.
Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 115.00.
Hair Bucks 1-2 (per cwt): 130.00-200.00.
Replacement Sheep/Lambs:
Ewes - Medium and Large 1-2 (per cwt): 165.00.
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 145.00-167.50.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 240.00-515.00.
Feeder Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 305.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 230.00-265.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 230.00-265.00.
Slaughter Goats: Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 270.00-295.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 135.00-195.00.
Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 167.50-190.00.
Replacement Goats: Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 170.00330.00.
Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards Sheep/Goat 2/11/23
Receipts: 1,947
Another large crowd was on hand for this February 11th sale at Norwood Producers Auction Yards. Compared to the sale 2 weeks ago feeder lambs traded 8.00-11.00 higher with slaughter lambs trading 16.00-19.00 higher. Slaughter ewes traded 5.00-8.00 higher. Replacement ewes were in demand with young bred quality ewes trading up to 300.00 per head. In the goat portion of the sale feeder kid goats traded steady to 7.00 higher with slaughter kid goats trading 39.00-52.00 higher. Slaughter nannies traded 7.00-21.00 higher. High quality replacement young billies traded up to 475.00 per head. Supply was heavy with very good demand. Supply included: 5% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 44%
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (91% Hair Breeds, 1% Ewes, 8% Hair Ewes); 11% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (67% Hair Ewes, 33% Families); 5% Feeder Goats (48% Kids, 52% Wether Kids); 31%
Slaughter Goats (76% Kids, 7% Nannies/Does, 5% Bucks/Billies, 2% Wethers, 10% Wether Kids); 4% Replacement Goats (65% Nannies/Does, 35% Families).
Feeder Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 250.00-330.00.
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 250.00-310.00.
Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 180.00-260.00.
Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 80.00-100.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 100.00-120.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per unit): 100.00-120.00.
Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per unit): 80.00.
Replacement Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per unit): 125.00-300.00.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit):
150.00-570.00.
Feeder Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 310.00-335.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 250.00-310.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 315.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 300.00.
Slaughter Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 275.00-345.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 215.00-265.00.
Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 175.00-200.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 125.00-220.00.
Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 205.00-250.00.
Wethers - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 220.00-230.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 330.00.
Replacement Goats:
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 230.00-240.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per unit): 230.00-245.00.
Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 170.00270.00.
National Sheep Summary 2/17/23
Compared to last week slaughter lambs mostly 10.00-20.00 higher, instances 30.00 higher. Slaughter ewes mostly steady to 15.00 lower. Feeder lambs 12.00-16.00 lower. At San Angelo, TX 4,242 head sold. No sales in Equity Cooperative Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs not tested. 3,894 lamb carcasses traded with no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless specified.
Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3
San Angelo: wooled and shorn 110-145 lbs 124.00-158.00. New Holland, PA: wooled and shorn 100-145 lbs 155.00190.00, few 200.00-265.00; 163 lbs 155.00. Ft. Collins, CO: wooled and shorn 100-150 lbs 165.00-220.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 115-145 lbs 125.00-137.00, new crop 215.00; 159 lbs 122.00.
Kalona, IA: wooled and shorn 130-145 lbs 175.00. Billings, MT: wooled and shorn 100-145 lbs no test. Missouri: wooled and shorn 110 lbs 155.00. Equity Coop: no sales.
Slaughter
and
Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.5475 and 40# blocks at $1.8800. The weekly average for barrels is $1.5525 (-0.0275) and blocks, $1.8805 (+0.0220).
Fluid Milk/Cream: the Northeast has improved in each region. much as expected 2023. And The remainder this week. Central Valley Idaho, Utah, strong milk contacts speculate if milk prices However, of next week, their breaks Contacts suggest supplies for III demand steady elsewhere. spot load sales milk demand loads activity Regional availability according are 1.17 - 1.27 0.85 - 1.21
SPOT PRICES BUTTERFAT, - $2.8776 -
(per cwt): 175.00-200.00.
Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 125.00-220.00.
Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 205.00-250.00.
Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 220.00-230.00.
Selection 1 (per cwt): 330.00.
Goats:
Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 230.00-240.00.
Selection 1-2 (per unit): 230.00-245.00.
Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 170.00-
Summary 2/17/23
week slaughter lambs mostly 10.00-20.00
30.00 higher. Slaughter ewes mostly steady
Feeder lambs 12.00-16.00 lower. At San
head sold. No sales in Equity Cooperative trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs lamb carcasses traded with no trend due to
All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT)
Choice and Prime 2-3
wooled and shorn 110-145 lbs 124.00-158.00.
PA: wooled and shorn 100-145 lbs 155.00200.00-265.00; 163 lbs 155.00.
wooled and shorn 100-150 lbs 165.00-220.00.
wooled and shorn 115-145 lbs 125.00-137.00, 159 lbs 122.00.
wooled and shorn 130-145 lbs 175.00.
wooled and shorn 100-145 lbs no test. and shorn 110 lbs 155.00. sales.
Choice and Prime 1-2: 40-60 lbs 282.00-329.00; 60-70 lbs 271.00309.00-316.00; 70-80 lbs 246.00-287.00, few 80-90 lbs 220.00-269.00, few 275.00; 90-100 lbs few 228.00-237.00. wooled and shorn 60-70 70-80 lbs 271.00-281.00; 80-90 lbs 230.00272.00; 90-105 lbs 180.00-228.00.
$1.5525 (-0.0275) and (+0.0220).
Fluid Milk/Cream: Milk production is steady to higher for the Northeast and areas of California, where cow comfort has improved following a stretch of unfavorable weather in each region. Parts of California were not affected as much as expected by the heavy rains received to start 2023. And in the Northeast, subzero temperatures ended. The remainder of the U.S. kept steady milk production this week. Industry contacts suggest that although the Central Valley of California and the mountain states of Idaho, Utah, and Colorado are seeing some tightness, strong milk volumes continued to be available. A few contacts speculate that farmers may lower milk output if milk prices fall. Bottling demand is generally steady. However, some eastern schools are closed for the entirety of next week, with some school districts even extending their breaks from President’s Day through March 1st. Contacts suggest that these closures may free up some milk supplies for Class II and Class III manufacturing. Class III demand lightened in Arizona, but demand is generally steady elsewhere. Midwest stakeholders continue to report spot load sales at below Class III price. Condensed skim milk demand and contract sales are steady. However, spot loads activity has lightened in some parts of the country. Regional availability ranges from strong to balanced according to stakeholders. Cream multiplies for all Classes are 1.17 - 1.27 in the East, 1.14 - 1.25 in the Midwest, and 0.85 - 1.21 in the West.
SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM: $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT, F.O.B., producing plants, Midwestern U.S. - $2.8776 - $2.9975.
By Leah Greene
The possibilities are endless when it comes to starting something new. In the agriculture world, starting a new project could be intimidating or seem impossible, but with new technologies, hundreds of guides and resources, learning how to begin is easier than you’d think. When it comes to making a dream come true, sometimes you must do your research
and experience trial and error in order to make it work. Most big things start out small, so accomplishing goals can take time. However, that’s where the biggest lessons come from.
Hope Oliver, junior at Lincoln High School, recently started her own supervised agricultural experience with dairy goats. Though she had never had experience with them, she still made it happen.
“I live on a farm, and we’ve got lots of animals, but we mostly focus on the dairy cattle and dairy goats,” Hope said. It helps to have already established a basic knowledge of farming before starting a new project, which is why FFA and 4-H members are encouraged to start their own supervised agricultural experience.
“Even though I’ve raised animals my whole life, [raising goats] is still new and exciting every day,” Hope said. Even for people who might not have the land and resources already, there are opportunities to still get those experiences. FFA and 4-H members learn new skills and develop useful knowledge of several agricultural related topics.
“For a majority of members it serves as an introduction to many soft-skills that employers are currently looking for such as work ethic and time management,” said Arkansas State FFA Advisor Gordon Eichelberger. There are so many options for students wanting to start their own projects to gain these valuable skills. Showing animals isn’t the only agricultural experience out there. Some students work on animal breeding or some other aspects of the industry.
outside of the classroom.”
There can be many challenges when starting a project. That doesn’t mean giving up is the better option. In order to see those successes of accomplishing a new hobby or project, students must come up with methods to help improve whatever they are doing.
“You never know when an animal is going to get sick or suddenly pass away and learning how to figure out ways to help them can be different each time,” said Hope. When things don’t go right, sometimes that can be the biggest learning lesson. Finding systems that work the best can be hard at first, but with patience and perseverance there will be successes. There are several unexpected resources that may work better than others.
Dairy goats are a new addition to Hope Oliver’s SAE. She said goat production presents a new set of challenges, but she enjoys the experience.
“The greatest benefit of starting a new project or hobby is experience one will get in setting goals and working to accomplish them,” Gordon said. “This creates so many learning opportunities for students whether they accomplish their goal or come up short.”
“SAEs go beyond just animal projects,” Gordan said. “We have students across the state that complete research projects, grow backyard gardens, establish beehives, work for agricultural businesses, paid and unpaid, and utilize facilities on campus to gain experiences in agriculture
Starting new things is challenging for everyone, but the opportunities for growth and learning are endless. Agricultural experiences will help students develop a perspective of the industry that they wouldn’t get from the classroom. So, if you’re thinking about picking up a new project and learning new skills, just know that the values of doing so have some of the greatest benefits.
AGE: 15
HOMETOWN:
Mountain Home, Ark.
PARENTS: Josh and Laura Beth Baker
SIBLINGS: Hadleigh and Harrison Baker
FFA CHAPTER: Mountain Home FFA
ADVISOR: Josh Baker
“Growing up on a cattle and turkey farm, I have learned from an early age about the importance of the agricultural industry. My personal agricultural involvement includes raising market sheep and showing at livestock shows, developing agricultural science research projects that I present at a national level, and operating a produce business under the agricultural sales aspect of this industry.”
“My favorite part of being involved in agriculture is the agricultural science aspect of farming. I have a passion for research and experimentation. Living on a farm comes with countless resources for developing projects that solve major questions that arise in the agriculture industry.”
What are your future plans? Do they involve agriculture in some way?
“Although I am not set on a career for the future, I am interested in entering the field of pathology, pharmacology, or something related to the two. Although my career will not involve agriculture directly, I plan to use my knowledge on the sciences of agriculture to operate a farm of my own in the future.”
Awards: “In 2022 my twin sister (Hadleigh) and I were named Arkansas Soybean Scholars, with our project on comparing early soybean growth with the effects of turkey litter vs. commercial fertilizer. As a result, we were the winners of the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge. As well as, division winners of the Arkansas Agriscience fair. In addition, I was on the state-winning agronomy team for career development events through FFA.”
By Brad Pistole
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) are tools that are sometimes recommended by estate and planners. ILITs also manages and distributes proceeds from a policy when an insured dies.
ILITs have three components: a grantor (creator of the trust), a trustee (manager of the trust), and a beneficiary or beneficiaries.
In an ILIT, the trustee purchases the policy or policies, and the trust becomes the owner. When insurance benefits are paid out upon the grantor’s death, the trustee collects those funds, pays any estate taxes due, along with outstanding debts, then distributes the rest to the beneficiaries.
The primary reason most people consider an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is to help mitigate estate taxes. Over the past few years, the government has increased the estate and gift tax exemption to $11.58 million per individual. Since the majority of people don’t come anywhere close to that amount, the tax benefits of an ILIT are not as attractive as they once were.
Still, there are other reasons people choose an ILIT. These include:
n Beneficiary incapacity: If a life insurance beneficiary is incapacitated, having an ILIT can prevent the court system from controlling the proceeds.
n Provides cash to pay expenses: If there are estate taxes or other debts, an ILIT will provide immediate money to pay those expenses.
n More control: A properly- designed ILIT gives you more control over the policy or policies and the use of proceeds.
n Income for a spouse: An ILIT can provide income to your spouse without that money being included in the spouse’s estate.
n Potential protection for heirs: Proceeds from life insurance payouts may have protection from creditors.
n Ability to include a “Spend-Thrift” Provision: If you have an heir or heirs who have issues managing money, your ILIT trust can contain a spend-thrift provision. A spend-thrift provision pays your beneficiaries monthly instead of giving them a lump sum upfront. ILITS are not for everyone. They have some definite cons worth considering:
n ILITS generally cannot be modified. The “irrevocable” part of an ILIT means it is nearly impossible to make changes other than changing your trustee. Once you place a policy in an ILIT, you give up all rights to that policy. You cannot reassign it to a different trust or entity. ILITS are complex and nuanced legal vehicles requiring the expertise of an attorney who specializes in trusts.
n ILITs can be very expensive to create and maintain. An ILIT is not something you can do yourself. It requires the often pricey services of an experienced estate planning attorney. While an ILIT offers certain advantages for high-net-worth individuals, it is far from the only option. There are many different kinds of trusts. Each of these trusts are designed to solve specific estate issues.
If you are considering forming a trust, use an attorney who understands your goals and unique financial situation.
Making farming a little easier
Though no one singular step will unequivocally guarantee better conception rates in cow herds, there are strategies producers can put in place to increase the chances their females get pregnant. Improved conception rates lead to more profitability.
Though it may seem obvious, livestock extension specialists say there is no denying the connection between nutrition and reproduction. “A thin cow is going to take longer to breed or not breed at all, than a cow that is in average to better body condition,” Eric Bailey, Ph.D., state beef extension specialist with the University of Missouri, said. “And a cow that loses weight during that early post-calving period while she is trying to nurse a calf and get pregnant is also an animal that is likely to take longer to get pregnant and or not rebreed.”
Livestock extension specialists encourage producers to think about an animal’s body condition score (BCS) on a scale of one to nine. The number one on the scale represents a cow that is emaciated and nine on the scale represents a grossly overweight animal. The ideal BCS for a female to calve is a five or six. “It is important to keep the main thing the main thing and the main thing is to keep cows in adequate body condition and be able to manage body condition,” Bailey stated. Making sure a cow is in good flesh sets her up for reproductive success. “I may sound like a broken record, but I truly believe we can solve a lot more problems by sticking to that fundamental, rather than looking for the silver bullet mineral or feed supplement or additive or whatever else,” Bailey added.
If the herd is falling behind in body condition, there are some actions producers can take to bring the animals to an adequate level. The first step is determining the limiting nutrient, particularly during hay feeding season. “I see a lot of fescue samples every year and sometimes the protein content is below the requirements, but if
it is — it is usually fairly close to the requirements. But where I often see a large gap is in the energy concentration in the forages,” Bailey explained.
The limiting nutrient in operations is most commonly calories, especially in situations in which producers are feeding low-quality hay. A cow may get full and quit voluntarily consuming the low-quality hay before she eats enough of it to get sufficient calories to meet her energy requirements for the day.
One way to manage for the deficiency is to balance the rations the cattle are receiving. This may include supplementing with a commodity mix or grain to boost the amount of energy cattle are consuming. The increase in energy feedstuffs will help to offset the deficiencies in the forages. However, the prices for commodity mixes and grains can be daunting.
A possible solution to ease the sticker shock of feedstuffs may be thinking outside of the traditional go-to forages. “The thing I have seen as the most undervalued feed on the market right now is higher quality forage,” Bailey stated. “By that I mean, if you look at poor-quality fescue hay selling for $85 a bale, you might be able to find higher-quality hay for $95 or $105 a bale. Or you might be able to find some not quite dairy or equine quality alfalfa that would sell for less than $200 a ton that would actually balance a ration better than something that is going to cost you 17, 18, 19 cents a pound like your commodity mix.”
Another option to improve conception rates involves setting up heifers to breed a month earlier. This allows the first-calf heifer additional time to recover after calving before going back out with a bull. When the first-calf heifers calve they are typically still growing themselves. They are using nutrients to grow their own bodies and simultaneously raise their calves. If they have plenty of nutrition, then it is more likely they will be able to accomplish those task, as well as rebreed.
what do you say?
How long do you retain a herd bull?
“Typically, in our herd, three to five years. In some cases, it can be up to eight years; depending on condition and injuries.”
Ben
TateCraig County, Okla.
“When I keep heifers, I only keep bulls for four seasons.”
“I keep mine about four years. If you are going to keep your heifers, then about two.”
“I have kept bulls for up to eight years.
When I started out, I kept all of my heifers, so I had to change bulls more often.”
Ark.
Burl Cooper White County, Richard Collins Van Burren County, Ark.
Earlene Boone Crawford County, Ark.
By Cheryl Kepes
At times it may be difficult to determine which indicators to place the most importance on when it comes to selecting traits for improving a cattle herd. Though they may not be every producer’s first pick, maternal traits are a critical component of a successful cattle operation. “Maternal traits are a long-term investment and really drive the sustainability of a cow/calf operation,” Parker Henley, Ph.D., professor and extension specialist for beef seedstock management at Oklahoma State University, said. However, the management decision to focus on maternal traits requires patience. “When you select for maternal traits, your return on investment is more drawn out,” Henley explained. “It takes a lot of commitment just because of the time lag that occurs in beef cattle production. You cannot turn a blind eye to maternal traits either because it will really impact your bottom line over a decade.”
If producers choose to focus on maternal traits, then livestock specialists recommend looking at the cow’s fertility and longevity. “One of biggest factors that impact how profitable a cow is fertility and longevity,” Henley stated. Those two traits shape how productive a cow is in the long term. The longer she remains in the herd producing a calf each year, the more profitable she will be for the operation.
Some breed associations are implementing a longevity or stayability EPD for producers to utilize. The longevity or stayability EPD gives producers an idea of the likelihood of a cow staying in the herd past six years. Most cows typically become profitable in their lifetime between six and eight years of age.
Other EPDs to consider include Milk (Milk or MM), Maternal Calving Ease (MCE), Mature Cow Size or Mature Cow Weight (MCW). Livestock specialists say EPDs are a reliable indicator of progeny performance. “It is stated that EPDs are seven to nine times more accurate at predicting an offspring’s performance than that of a phenotypic trait,” Henley stated. “And EPDs take in parentage information and how an animal relates to an entire data base. So, the EPDs are substantially more accurate at predicting performance than that of just phenotype.”
When utilizing maternal EPDs in management decisions, producers will want to access their own herds and determine where they want to make improvements.
“I think seedstock producers need to be concerned with the specific EPDs and the average commercial cow/calf producer may be better off utilizing combined selection indices,” Henley added.
Seedstock producers may choose to focus on specific individual maternal EPDs such as Milk or Maternal Calving Ease, whereas commercial producers may want to concentrate on EPDs that combine several traits in one number. For example, the American Angus Association collects data for Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M). This economic selection index combines data from multiple traits to predict the profitability differences from conception to weaning.
Though EPDs are an excellent tool, livestock extension specialists remind producers to also make visual appraisals of animals. Regarding maternal traits, evaluating the female for udder quality and feet quality are important indicators as well.
If you sell meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, eggs or any other farm to table products, be sure your farm is listed on
FromTheFarmToYou.com
The listing is completely free. Just visit FromTheFarmToYou.com and click on “Submit
top
page.
By Cheryl Kepes
To say it’s slim picking in pastures currently may be a bit of an understatement. As winter wanes but spring remains elusive, producers may be hardpressed to ensure their cattle are receiving all the nutrients required to thrive and raise calves. If cattle are falling behind in their body condition, then it’s time to assess their nutritional program and make some changes.
Evaluate Forage and Feedstuffs:
The only way for producers to figure out where their nutritional program is falling short is to know what they are feeding.
“It’s not an exact science, but the first place to start is to have your hay tested,”
Ken Coffey, Ph.D., professor of animal science at the University of Arkansas, said. Extension offices have hay sampling probes on hand to loan to producers. Many of the probes can be placed on a cordless drill and inserted in round bales to get adequate core samples. There are numerous labs to send the hay sample for testing. Hay sample results will allow producers to understand what is lacking in their forage. Coffey recommends producers utilize the information from the hay tests by entering it into a computer program that takes the results from the hay tests and then compiles what additional nutrients the herd will need.
Extension offices and university agriculture departments offer the ration balancing programs. The programs typically use spreadsheets to detail what feedstuffs need to be included in a herd’s daily ration. Many of the programs are designed to ensure cattle are getting proper nutrients for their particular stage of production.
“That’s the place to start - is getting your hay analysis and you can plug that directly into the program and use that and balance it with other feedstuffs,” Coffey said.
There are many alternatives available to producers looking for feedstuffs to make up the nutritional deficits in their hay. “Today we have lots of options for feed besides grain,” Coffey explained. “Corn is a great energy source, but it is low in protein. We have some byproduct feeds like distillers grains, corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, and wheat middlings that are good energy sources.”
Livestock specialists recommend producers consider the cost and viability of supplementing their herds with feed byproducts. While some byproduct feeds that are high in protein can be pricey, there are other byproduct feeds that are more economical. Byproducts like wheat middlings, distillers grains, and corn gluten contain adequate protein but not as high of a price tag. “Another advantage is in those feedstuffs the energy is coming from digestible fiber and so it complements a high forage diet much better than corn does,” Coffey explained. Many co-ops will offer a ration that is a blend of feed byproducts. For example, a five-way blend of distillers grains, cracked corn, soybean hulls, corn gluten, and wheat middlings create a balanced ration. Livestock specialists recommend a blend in most cases to offset the extremes in the individual byproducts.
When to Take Action: Livestock specialists recommend producers regularly conduct a visual appraisal of their animals. If the animal’s body condition score (BCS) falls below a five or six, it’s time to take action and feed additional feedstuffs.
“If you look at your animals and you are seeing their ribs and seeing their body condition go down, then it is likely they are just not eating enough of your hay, and you need to come in with a supplement of some of these byproduct feeds,” Coffey stated.
Pounds equal profit in the cattle industry. Therefore, making sure weaned calves are consistently gaining pounds plays a role in a producer’s bottom line. Operations that work to reduce stress at weaning, give calves spacious quarters, and feed high-quality forage and fiber-filled feedstuffs equip freshly weaned calves for success.
One way to keep weaned calves on the right track is to feed them an appropriate and balanced ration. “High-quality forage is the first step because weaned calves are not ready to handle a low-quality forage like our cows can; or even like yearling cattle can,” Ken Coffey, Ph.D., professor of animal science at the University of Arkansas, said.
Livestock specialists recommend producers allow the newly weaned calves to graze their highest-quality forage or eat their best hay. “Their rumens are designed to digest forage. So, better-quality forage for our weaned calves is what we really need to focus on,” Coffey added.
Additionally, livestock specialists recommend supplementing weaned calves with a mixed ration containing feed byproducts and significant fiber content. Livestock specialists also suggest feeding a blend of feed byproducts to give calves a balance of nutrients. “Having a mix, for example, of distillers grains with soybean hulls helps take off some of the extremes on both of those two,” Coffey explained.
“Distillers grains are really high in phosphorus and soybean hulls are low in phosphorus, so when we blend those, we get an adequate phosphorus level.” A balanced phosphorus level reduces the potential for a calcium-phosphorus imbalance, which can lead to the urinary calculi (kidney stones) in steers.
If an animal is stressed, a producer is likely losing money. A stressed calf eats less or not at all and is more likely to get sick. “Stress really hurts cattle; it affects their immune function and growth performance,” Coffey stated.
Fence line weaning as well as giving calves room to roam helps to keep them healthy. “We have done work like this for a number of years, and just getting those cattle spread out more reduces the stress and reduces the sickness,” Coffey said. Providing weaned calves enough space where they are not “nose-to-nose” aids in preventing the spread of illness.
A stressed calf may also not respond as well to vaccinations. Producers are spending money for the vaccinations, yet a stressed calf may not be getting the full benefit of the vaccination. Managing the weaned calves’ stress has lasting effects. “Taking measures to reduce stress is good for the animal in the long term,” Coffey stated. “A lot of times we don’t catch that they are sick as soon as we should and permanent damage sets in. That is why we lose some in June when it turns hot and humid, they have had too much lung damage and just can’t breathe, and they die because of the heat and humidity.”
Implementing management practices to give weaned calves excellent care sets them up for greater success and positively impacts producers’ pocketbooks. “Anything we can do to reduce stress is going to help us be better managers, it helps the public perception, which is huge now, and the bottom line is it helps us make more money because we don’t have as many sick animals. There are statistics out there on how much a sick animal costs you in addition to the medicine; there’s a cost of lost performance,” Coffey concluded.
February 2023
27-3/4 Muskogee Regional Junior Livestock Show – Hatbox Event Center, Muskogee, Okla. – www.muskogeeregional.org
28 Multi-County Forage Production Meeting – 9 a.m. – First National Bank Community Center, Paris, Ark. – call 479-667-3720
28 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – First National Bank Community Center, Paris, Ark. – 479-963-2360
March 2023
2 Growers School Farm Tax Workshop – 6-8:30 p.m. – Cost: Free – Online via Zoom – register at NWAFarming.org
2-4/6 Northwest Arkansas Quilt Workshop – 8:30 a.m., Thursdays (no workshop on March 9) – Free event – L.E. “Gene” Durand Center, Harrison, Ark. – for more information call 870-741-6168 or 870-715-5627
2 Tri County Production Meeting – Fulton County Fairground, Salem, Ark. – 870-895-3301
2 Twin Lakes Beef and Forage Conference – 5:30 p.m. – Cost: $10 for meal –Cotter High School, Cotter, Ark. – call 870-425-2335 or stop by Baxter County or Marion County Extension to sign up
3 Growing Fruit Workshop – 1:30 p.m. – Plants Etc., 3983 AR-7, Harrison, Ark. – to register call 870-741-6168 or 870-741-5875
6 How To Get Started Raising Poultry – 6-8 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, 2536 N. McConnell Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Free to attend – must RSVP – contact Ronnie at 479-444-1755 or rhorn@uada.edu
6-17 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo – Oklahoma City, Okla. – 405-235-0404 or okyouthexpo.com
9 Homesteader Series: Curing and Processing Meat – 6 p.m. – Cost: $5 – Boone County Farm Bureau, 110 Industrial Park Road, Harrison, Ark. – to register call 870-741-6168 – seating is limited
9 Multi-County Beef Meeting – Franklin County Fair Building, Ozark, Ark. – call 479-667-3720
10 Calving Simulator – Poteau, Okla. – must RSVP – call the Le Flore County Extension at 918-647-8231
12 Growers School Farm Maintenance – 1:30-4:30 p.m. – Cost: $10 – CAFF Farm, 1005 Meade, Fayetteville, Ark. – register at NWAFarming.org
14 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 1 – 1-4 p.m. – University of Arkansas Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings
16 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Madison County Extension Office, Huntsville, Ark. – 479-738-6826
16 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – White County Extension Office, 2400 Landing Road, Searcy, Ark. – for more information or to register call 501-268-5394
March 2023
2 J6 Farms Bull and Female Sale – at the farm, Gibbon, Neb. – 405-880-0108
3 Express Ranches Spring Bull Sale – at the Ranch, Yukon, Okla. – 405-350-0044
4 Hilltop Farms Annual Bull and Female Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 417-842-3225 or 417-529-0081
4 Judd Ranch 45th Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale – at the ranch, Pomona, Kan. – 1-800-743-0026
18 Baxter County Master Gardener Spring Seminar – United Methodist Church, Mountain Home, Ark. – for more information call 870-425-2335
18-19 Dairy Heifer Extravaganza Show & Sale – 4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater, Okla. – 918-520-1822
18 Wagoner County Rabbit Show – open to all youth – for accommodations for special needs children, please call 918-486-4589 by March 3 – Wagoner County Fairgrounds, Coweta, Okla. – call 918-486-4589 for more information and to register
23 Cattle Market Update – 6 p.m. – Marion County Fairgrounds, 513 E. Seawell Avenue, Summit, Ark. – 870-449-6349 or bsee@uada.edu
24 Sprayer Calibration Clinic – must RSVP – Le Flore County Fairgrounds, Poteau, Okla. – call Le Flore County Extension at 918-647-8231
28 Madison County Cattlemen’s Meeting – Madison County Extension Office, Huntsville, Ark. – for more information call 479-738-6826
April 2023
15 Ag Trade Show – Poteau, Okla. – for more information contact the Le Flore County Extension Office at 918-647-8231
20 Backyard Poultry – 6 p.m. – Cost: $5 – Boone County Farm Bureau, 110 Industrial Park Road, Harrison, Ark. – call 870-741-6168 to register – seating limited
22 4-H Miss Clover Pageant – Berryville Performing Arts Center, Berryville, Ark. – for more information contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 870-423-2958
May 2023
2 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 2 – 3-6 p.m. – University of Arkansas
Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings
5 Pecan Management Workshop – Le Flore County Extension Office, Poteau, Okla. – must RSVP – call 918-647-8231
18 Mudisible Gardening and Herbs – 6 p.m. – Boone County Farm Bureau, Harrison, Ark. – for more information call 870-741-6168
June 2023
27 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 3 – 3-6 p.m. – University of Arkansas
Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings
October 2023
17 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 4 – 1-4 p.m. – University of Arkansas
Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings
4 Linhart Limousin Business Done Right Bull Sale – at the farm, Leon, Iowa – 641-340-1306 or 641-414-5060
4 Seedstock Plus Arkansas Bull Sale – Hope Livestock Auction, Hope, Ark. – 877-486-1160
4 Mead Farms Bull Sale – at the farm, Versailles, Mo. – 573-216-0210 or 573-302-7011
— Continued on Page 26
3/4 Estate of William Frank Faris Auction –Cookson, Okla. • Crozier Auctions
3/11 Estate of Archie Collins Auction –Proctor, Okla. • Crozier Auctions
— ZONE B AUCTIONS —
3/4 Consignment Auction – Van Buren, Ark.
• Faucher Auction & Realty
3/18 Clint & Kaitlin Killgore Farm Auction –Sallisaw, Okla. • K & D Davis Auctions LLC
3/18 Real Estate & Personal Property Auction
– Branch, Ark. • Reading Auction Services
— ZONE C AUCTIONS —
3/17 Mixed Estates and New Items Auction –
Rogers, Ark. • S&S Auction Service
3/18 Gordon Fraleigh Estate Auction –
Harrison, Ark. • Sims Family Auctions
3/25 Retired Air Force O cer’s Antique
Estate Auction – Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions
4/15 Cabin & 80 +/- Acres Public Auction –Pettigrew, Ark. • Reading Auction Service
4/29 Estate Firearm, Gold & Silver Coin Auction – Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions
— ZONE D AUCTIONS —
3/4 Estate Auction – Rose Bud, Ark. • Morgan Auction Service
3/4 Open Farm Equipment Consignment
Auction – Fair eld Bay, Ark. • Roberson
Real Estate and Auctioneers, Inc.
3/4 Public Auction – Mountain View, Ark. • Swa ord Realty & Auction
3/11 Estate of Wesley Harris Auction – Heber Springs, Ark. • Frank Orr Auctions
4/1 Live Equipment Auction – Ash Flat, Ark.
• Witcher Auctions
4/15 Blackwell Estate Auction – Marshall, Ark. • Lock Auction Service
— AUCTIONS —
3/1 Equipment Online Auction – bidding closes 3/1 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
3/2 Live Equipment Auction – Jonesboro, Ark. • Witcher Auctions
3/3 Farm Equipment and Guns Auction – Cyril, Okla. • Bridges Auction & Sales Company
3/4 Estate Auction, Vehicles, Guns, Home Furnishings – Maumelle, Ark. • Puckett Auctioneers
3/4 Kilmer Farm Equipment Consignment Auction – Versailles, Mo. • Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate
3/4 Large Multi-Seller Auction – Glenwood, Ark. • McGrew Auction Service
3/8 Equipment Online Auction – bidding closes 3/8 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
3/10 Knop Farms Online Equipment Auction –bidding closes 3/10 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/11 Auction – Cabot, Ark. • 107 Auction Block
3/11 Lifelong Cast Iron Collection Auction –Harviell, Mo. • JP’s Estate Liquidation
3/14 Mark Hauschildt Online Estate Auction –bidding closes 3/14 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/15 Equipment Online Auction – bidding closes 3/15 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron
Auctions
3/16 Cory Conelley Online Retirement Auction –bidding closes 3/16 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/16 Kenneth Engemann Sr Online Estate Auction – bidding closes 3/16 at 12 p.m. –bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/18 Real Estate & Personal Property Auction –Ozark, Mo. • Essick Auction & Realty
3/22 Equipment Online Auction – bidding starts 3/1 at 6 p.m., bidding closes 3/22 at 10 a.m.
– bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/29 Equipment Online Auction – bidding starts 3/8 at 6 p.m., bidding closes 3/29 at 10 a.m.
– bigiron.com
• Big Iron Auctions
4/1 Wise Bros. Consignment Auction –Kingdom City, Mo. – Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate
4/15 Spring Farm Equipment Auction –Nashville, Ark. • Todd Morris Auction Company
4/28-29 Two Day Farm & Ranch Equipment Auction – Fletcher, Okla. • Bridges Auction & Sales Company
Continued from Page 24
March 2023
4 Peterson Farms Charolais Top Pick 30th Annual Bull Sale – Peterson Farms Sale Facility, Mountain Grove, Mo. – 417-926-5336 or 417-259-1493
4 Satterfield Charolais & Angus Annual Bull Sale – at the farm, Evening Shade, Ark. – 501-944-9274 or 870-499-7151
4 WMC Cattle Company Annual Bull & Commercial Female Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 405-464-2455 or 417-989-0486
6 Buck Ridge Cattle Company Inaugural Production Sale – at the farm, Seymour, Mo. – 417-838-6109 or 417-689-4233
10 Wall Street Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale – Lebanon, Mo. – 417-288-4444
11 Coyote Hills Ranch Bull Sale – at the ranch, Chattanooga, Okla. – 402-350-3447 or 580-597-3006
11 Flickerwood Angus 9th Annual Production Sale – Jackson, Mo. – 573-382-1064 or 573-225-8583
11 May-Way Farms Annual Production Sale – Baldwin City, Kan. – 785-594-3125
11 Nipp Charolais Annual Spring Bull Sale – Wilson, Okla. – 580-513-3555
11 Parmley Simmental & Angus Private Treaty Bull & Heifer Sale – Miami, Okla. – 918-964-0689 or 918-964-1582
11 Sampson Cattle Company 7th Annual Bull Sale – on the farm, Kirksville, Mo. –660-216-2207 or 660-216-1522
11 Seedstock Plus Red Reward Bull & Female Sale – Wheeler Livestock Auction, Osceola, Mo. – 877-486-1160
11 Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks Bull Sale – SEO Sale Facility, Springfield, Mo. –805-234-7191 or 417-839-1200
11 Wright Charolais 16th Annual Charolais Bull Sale – Wright Sale Facility, Kearney, Mo. – 816-776-3512
15 Valley Oak Angus Production Sale – Oak Grove, Mo. – 816-229-8115 or 816-365-5930
16 Benoit Angus 34th Annual Bull Sale – at the Ranch, Esbon, Kan. –785-725-3231 or 785-545-6806
16 Henke Farms Bull Sale – at the Farm, Salisbury, Mo. – 660-676-6233 or 816-244-4462
17 Marshall & Fenner Farms 14th Annual Performance-Tested Bull & Female Production Sale – Boonville, Mo. – 660-641-4522 or 406-833-0117
18 Bradley Cattle Bull and Female Sale – Springfield, Mo. – 417-848-3457 or 765-376-8784
18 Brinkley Angus Ranch 21st Annual Production Sale – Green City Livestock Market, Green City, Mo. – 660-265-5565
18 Ertel Cattle Company Annual Production Sale – Kirksville Livestock Market, Kirksville, Mo. – 660-234-5265
18 Falling Timber Farm 14th Annual Bull & Female Sale – at the farm, Marthasville, Mo. – 636-358-4161
18
Full Circle Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull Sale – Dodge City, Kan. –620-260-6815
18 Musgrave Angus Production Sale – at the farm, Griggsville, Ill – 217-242-3135 or 217-242-1160
18 Reynolds Land and Cattle 41st Annual Production Sale – at the ranch, Sanford, Colo. – 402-350-3447
18
T and S Strnad Charolais Production Sale – at the ranch, Formoso, Kan. –785-794-2471 or 785-243-8600
18 Valley Oaks Spring Bull Sale – Warsaw, Mo. – 573-280-2351 or 816-365-5930
18 Wild Indian Acres 2023 Spring Bull Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 785-672-7449 or 636-236-0306
19
Briarwood Angus Annual Quality Bull & Female Sale – at the farm, Butler, Mo. – 660-679-3459 or 660-679-3395
20 Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus Spring Sale – at the farm, Nevada, Mo. –417-944-2219 or 417-448-4127
21 Schrader Ranch 21st Annual Bull Sale – at the ranch, Wells, Kan. – 785-488-2135 or 785-488-7204
24 Barrett Cattle Company & Mill Brae Ranch Bull Sale – at Mill Brae Ranch, Maple Hill, Kan. – 785-256-3072
25 8 Story Farms Charolais Cattle Production Sale – Gallatin, Mo. – 660-749-5834 or 660-663-5048
25 Arkansas Bull Sale 8th Annual Bull & Female Sale – Heber Springs, Ark. –205-270-0999
25 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull & Female Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 877-486-1160
25 Wakefield Farms Performance Tested Bull Sale – Dunlap Livestock Auction, Dunlap, Iowa – 281-761-5952 or 507-402-4640
25 Worthington Angus 8th Annual Spring Production Sale – at the farm, Dadeville, Mo. – 417-844-2601
27 Southwest Missouri All Breed Performance Tested Bull Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 417-293-8002
28 GenePlus Brangus Production Sale – Chimney Rock Cattle Company, Concord, Ark. – 620-583-3706 or 417-425-0368
30 Minor Limousin Inaugural Online Sale – L365Auctions.com – 417-576-6364 or 443-605-6127
April 2023
1 “The Andras Kind” Red Angus Bull Sale – at the farm, Manchester, Ill. –217-473-2355 or 217-473-2320
1 Double A Land & Cattle Bull and Commercial Female Sale – Three Cedars Event Center, Nevada, Mo. – 913-558-7966 or 417-684-0881
1 Filippo Family Farms Bull Sale – Rush Springs, Okla. – 405-820-9862
1 Four State Angus Association Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 734-260-8635
3 Brockmere Farms Inc. Production Sale – New Cambria, Mo. – 660-258-2901 or 660-258-3011
4 Hubert Charolais Ranch 44th Annual Bull & Female Sale – Oakley, Kan. –785-672-2540
6 Pharo Cattle Company Missouri Spring Sale –Springfield, Mo. – 800-311-0995
7 Meyer Cattle Performance in the Pasture Sale – Meyer Cattle Sale Facility, Bowling Green, Mo. – 573-808-0624 or 573-694-1622
8 FHCC Spring 2023 Open House Bull Sale – New Bloomfield, Mo. – 608-279-3172 or 703-587-9959
8 Fink Beef Genetics Bull Sale – Randolph, Kan. – 785-293-5106
8 Hebbert Charolais Ranch 41st Annual Bull Sale – Hebbert Sale Facility, Hyannis, Neb. – 308-458-2540
11 Sydenstricker Genetics 18th Annual SydGen Influence Sale – Mexico, Mo. –573-473-9202 or 573-581-5900
15 Heart of America Gelbvieh Showcase and Elite Online Female Sale – 660-234-5265 – www.heartofamericagelbvieh.com
15 McBee Cattle Company Spring Selection Day Sale – Fayette, Mo. – 573-228-2517
15 The Power Performance Pedigree Registered Angus Sale – Mountain Grove, Mo. – 417-293-8002
22 East Central Missouri Angus Association Spring Sale – Cuba, Mo. – 417-224-6296
22 Heart of the Ozarks Angus Association 118th Consignment Sale – Ozarks Regional Stockyards, West Plains, Mo. – 205-270-0999
22 Show-Me Reds Sale – Springfield, Mo. – info@missouriredangus.com
22 Thomas Farms Spring Production Sale – Damascus, Ark. – 501-745-8728
29 Aschermann Charolais and Akaushi 36th Edition Sale – at the ranch, Carthage, Mo. – 417-793-2855
BALANCER
Rumfelt Farms
Phillipsburg, Mo.
417-664-6936
brumfelt7556@gmail.com
BRANGUS
Horsehead Ranch
Talala, Okla.
918-695-2357
www.HorseheadRanch.net
GELBVIEH
Rumfelt Farms
Phillipsburg, Mo.
417-664-6936
brumfelt7556@gmail.com
LIMOUSIN
Glendenning J Bar J
Lebanon, Mo.
417-588-6121
417-664-0913
417-664-1186
jack@jbarjlimousin.com
www.jbarjlimousin.com
RED ANGUS
Watkins Cattle Company Harrison, Ark.
870-741-9795
870-688-1232
watkinscattleco@ windstream.net
ULTRABLACK
Horsehead Ranch
Talala, Okla.
918-695-2357
www.HorseheadRanch.net
1-866-532-1960
