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Ryleigh Morris has longed for a big win in the ring Life is good for Ryleigh Morris. The culmination of years of hard work recently paid off when she won Grand Champion Junior Breeding Heifer in the Red Angus Division with Lazy J Miss Hillary at the 2021 North American International Livestock Exposition Red Angus Junior Show and at the 2022 Cattlemen’s Ryleigh Morris, 17, picCongress Red Angus Junior Show. tured with her dad The Morris family purchased the winDustin and sister Kelsey, ning calf in the fall of 2020, at the Lazy Bar began showing at the J Ranch in Mina, S.D. Ryleigh, 17, worked age of 4. diligently with the calf, also known as Ginger. Ryleigh, 17, is a junior at Ash Grove High School, Ash Grove, Mo. “Every since I was little, I’ve dreamed of Ryleigh showed the overall open female in winning in my breed at one of the largest 2019. shows in the country,” Ryleigh said. “It Morris Land and Cattle Company is was a humbling moment to say the least. I owned and operated by Dustin Morris. knew then all my hard work had paid off.” Dustin, Ryleigh’s dad, who is the fifth genRyleigh is accustomed to being in the eration of the Morris family to run the show ring, and she loves it. She made her farm, located in rural Ash Grove, Mo. It debut at just 4 years old showing various is a cow/calf operation where they run breeds and later settling on Red Angus and 200 cows. Ryleigh grew up on the family Limousin. She showed her first Red Angus farm with her dad, sister Kelsey (15), grandat 12, and didn’t show them again until she mother Sue and grandfather Dennis (dewas 15. Ryleigh has amassed a very impres- ceased). Ryleigh also owns her own regissive amount of accolades. Some of her big- tered side of the operation where she raises gest wins to date include the Ozark Empire and sells calves as show prospects. Fair Supreme Champion Female in 2017, A typical day on the farm starts early for 2020 and 2021, and many additional top Ryleigh. five finishes throughout the years. She has “I’m usually outside by 6 a.m., feeding also earned the National Junior Limouand doing chores. I help my dad and sin Show and Congress, SuGrandma Sue with haying or movpreme Champion Showmen ing cows. After chores are done, I go in 2017 and 2020 and Grand back to my barn and start washChampion LimFlex cow/calf ing and working with my show pair 2021. At the National Jucalves.” nior Red Angus Show, she stood Kelsey is also very active in third overall in showmanship in Ash Grove, Mo. agriculture. In the summer, 2021 and at the Tulsa State Fair, she shows Boar goats at the FEBRUARY 7, 2022
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Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield, Mo., and at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. At home on the farm, Kelsey does chores with the family and helps Ryleigh with the show calves. Ryleigh admires Red Angus cattle for their many exceptional traits including the breed’s excellent milk production and strong maternal instincts. She also appreciates the wonderful people she works with at the Red Angus Association. “That’s why I love being in the Red Angus business,” she said. The Morris’ utilize rotational grazing moving the herd every five to six days. They AI all the show heifers to expedite the breeding process. They utilize both fall and spring calving seasons. Ryleigh plans to attend junior college focusing on livestock judging, and continue on to Oklahoma State University to study ag communications or ag business. “I’m not sure what I want to do after college however, I want to continue being a part of this amazing industry and hopefully give back all it has given to me.”
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
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