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By Jordan Gloor
K&L Kysar Farm has no plans to be anything other than a farm in Branson, Mo. K&L Kysar Farm is located on the north side of Branson, Mo., where Highway 248 meets the Ozark Mountain Highroad. The farmland consists of about 560 acres, with about half of that being pasture, and the rest being Kurt Kysar moved from cattle to glades and timber protecting the watershed. Spanish goats, egg and broiler “You don’t find any other farm tracts this production, and swine. big, at least on this side of the county,” Kurt Kysar, caretaker of K & L Kysar Farm, said. Kurt’s goats are Spanish goats, which “We’re not interested in developing it. If I did, I’d already have done it,” he he chose for their lower maintenance compared to other breeds. added with a chuckle. “Although you do have to do some Kurt’s dad, Al Kysar, originally bought the farm in the 1960s. At the time it was things, they’re a little more hardy, a lit200 acres, but Al added on to it utill it tle more worm-resistant, and don’t have the same hoof problems that a lot of the was at about 700 acres. Al ran a cow/calf operation until the other goat breeds do,” he noted. He bought the goats mainly for brush Highroad’s construction in 1994. It cut through the center of the farm and took control on the farm, bringing down about 140 acres. At that point Al decided Kurt’s use of herbicides. “I’ve been real happy with them,” Kurt said. to move north to Eldorado Springs, Mo., Besides the goats, Kurt also raises chickwhere he still runs a farm. He rented out the Branson farm until 2003, when Kurt ens and feeder pigs. He takes advantage of Highway 248’s busy traffic with a chicken came back and took over operations. Kurt ran cow/calf pairs on the farm up house next to the road, where he keeps excess eggs refrigerated and available for sale. until last year. “I don’t have any trouble selling all the “A lot of people ask me why I got rid of the cows, because there have been cows on eggs I can produce,” Kurt explained. “I this farm forever. It’s mostly just because I’m put five or six dozen eggs in there and getting too old,” he admitted with a laugh. they’re gone in 30 minutes.” Kurt also raises boiler chickens in pasture “I’m not terribly old, but I’m 66, pushing hoops during the summer, starting in 67. A guy’s got to slow down April. He butchers them on location somewhere.” at about eight weeks, selling most. He Kurt didn’t sell all his anialso raises butcher hogs throughmals, of course. out the year. He buys the hogs at “About two years ago I got about 45 pounds and sells them some goats and started playing at 300 or 320 pounds. around with them and got to Branson, Mo. Most animals sell right off where I enjoyed the goats. So the farm. I still have the goats.” MARCH 16, 2020
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Photo by Jordan Gloor
“I don’t have to take them anywhere,” Kurt said. He doesn’t make an effort to market his animals either. “If I did any marketing, I’d have to increase production to meet the demand. And I’m just getting to the age where I don’t really want to do that.” Aside from the goats, chickens, hogs, and a few steers, the only other animals on the farm are the guard dogs. “Buddy is a little less friendly,” Kurt said. “He doesn’t like strangers at all, but he does a good job of keeping the varments away from the chickens.” Then there’s Oscar, who guards the goats. Visiting him at his guard post, Oscar licked Kurt’s hand. “He’s a bit more friendly,” Kurt said of his canine companion. Kurt is not a full-time farmer. “If someone thinks they can do what I’m doing and make a living doing it, that’s probably not a fair representation,” he said. He is retired from his 37-year career at the Missouri Department of Conservation, and he now follows up his morning farm chores with afternoon and evening shifts at Tractor Supply Co. Kurt said there are no big plans for the farm, but that there are definitely no plans for the farm to leave the family. “You never know what the future will bring,” he said.
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