Family creates a business that rents chickens to backyard producers
Markwayne Mullin splits his time between his family’s ranch and D.C.
Sandra Wright and her family continue the tradition in White County, Ark.
Tasks to take on now to get fields ready for warmer weather
Assistant professor earns fellowship: Trey Malone was awarded the 2023 Agricultural Economics Fellow for the Farm Foundation. He will explore the role of farm programs in support of sustainable food system development in the U.S. from an economic and profitability standpoint. Malone serves as assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. His ag-adjacent background drives his research interests in agribusiness entrepreneurship and the development of sustainable food supply chains. This fellowship opportunity allows him to expand his expertise and collaborate with policy makers while advocating for stakeholders in the industry.
4-H director named: Leslie Lewis has been named 4-H district program specialist for the northeast region of Oklahoma. Lewis brings 11 years of experience to her new role, having most recently served as the agriculture/4-H educator and county Extension director in Okmulgee County.
Applications being accepted: Applications for the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program are due by May 1. OALP is comprised of up to 30 professionals from across the state who are engaged in production agriculture, agribusiness or some other agricultural sector. Applicants must be at least 25 years old and are chosen for the program based on their potential to be important agricultural leaders in Oklahoma. The 20-month program consists of 10 three-day seminars and study tours within Oklahoma, one three-day seminar in northern Oklahoma and Kansas, a seven-day seminar in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and a two-week international experience near the end of the program. For apply, visit go.ozarksfn.com/9ux. Interviews will take place in June, and the first seminar will occur in August. OALP Class XXI graduation is slated for April 2025.
Armitage to serve on board: Sarah Armitage of Claremore, Okla., has been selected as a member of the first board of directors and executive committee of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation. The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation works to support the Oklahoma cattle industry by preserving past traditions and educating current and future generations in coordination with OCA and OJCA.
Grant funds received: The University of Arkansas will receive grant funding increase use of artificial intelligence and robotics in chicken processing to reduce waste in deboning and detect pathogens. The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will establish the Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing. The center, led by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will join researchers from five institutions in three states in efforts to adapt robotic automation to chicken meat processing.
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
The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper MARCH 20, 2023 | VOL. 17, NO. 1
3 Jerry Crownover –Stories from an old plowboy
4 Jody Harris – Play ball!
7
5 Julie Turner-Crawford –Spring is in the air
7 A cowboy and lawmaker
8 Bringing the farm to others
10 A little-known story about the Barrow Gang and Alma, Ark.,
8
12 Eye on Agribusiness features Ranch Supply-Miami
13 Town & Country highlights Georgeann Roye
16 A long-standing tradition at the Byrd Ranch
18 Youth in Agriculture spotlights Josie Wilkins
16
19 Preparing for the inevitable
20 Thinking about replacing fescue?
21 A little spring cleaning
22 Eliminating pecking and cannibalism in poultry flocks
23 Getting fields and pastures ready for spring
24 Tips to start your flock
By Jerry Crownover
As I was surfing through the TV channels recently, the title of a program immediately grabbed my attention: The British Ploughing Championship. Besides the fact that the word plowing had been misspelled (when will the Brits learn how to spell?), I thought the show might have some entertainment value for an old plowboy.
Very few American farmers use a moldboard, turning plow anymore. Minimum tillage and no-till equipment have proven to be essential to the conservation of both soil and fuel, and have reduced turn-plowing into an antiquated practice. Sixty years ago though, turning over the top 6 to 8 inches of topsoil was the first step in producing a successful crop, and my absolute favorite activity as a young boy.
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. Jerry’s daily exploits on the farm are now viewable on YouTube at “lifeissimple678”.
To contact Jerry, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
We were mostly livestock farmers in the hilly and rocky terrain of the Ozarks, but our farm contained about 80 acres of rich, relatively flat, creek-bottom soil, and Dad always planted several acres of corn and oats each year. Both of those crops began with plowing up last year’s stalks and residue, with a two-bottom, moldboard plow, pulled behind an 8N Ford tractor. Early each spring, I couldn’t wait to get home from school, bundle up with warm clothes, cap and jersey gloves so I could run to the field and take over the plowing from my father so he could do the afternoon chores. I was probably around 10, and plowing was one of the few tractor-driving jobs that Dad permitted me to do without supervision. Even though he often pointed out he could train a monkey to plow, I felt like a grown man out on that open-station tractor, with nary a soul in sight. I plowed
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Business Manager : Cody Vaughn 479-790-3432
Office Manager:
Cammy Whorton 479-524-2371 ext. 1
Field Representatives:
Kevin Ruddick 479-790-9272
Mitch Bartholomew 479-263-9302
Doug Isaacs 918-696-1558
It is no secret I am an avid sports fan. In most instances, I have held a personal preference for collegiate and amateur sports over professional. I have a deep love for the game of baseball and am a devoted Chicago Cubs fan.
There have been many great movies made featuring the game of baseball. One I hold dear, is the 1989 classic, Field of Dreams. Actor Kevin Costner stars as an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends. He does this to reconnect with his late father. He also fears dying without achieving anything. The movie’s most famous line is, “If you build it, they will come.”
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
Over the last year, I have watched parents in our local community become involved in building up the local parks and recreation program in Elkins, Ark., This started with concerned parents speaking up in a city council meeting last spring. At the time, there was some transition of staffing at the city sports complex and there were many challenges with the organization of youth baseball, softball and the upkeep of the fields. The youth sports program was struggling.
I watched as one of our friends bravely ran for city council to position herself to tackle problems in a way to create sports opportunities for all children in this small community. She was a woman of action. She became involved in committees to set up funding to pay for necessary repairs and future maintenance. She reached out to experts to research grant and fundraising opportunities. She won her election and has continued to be a person of action.
Many members of our community invested time, money and labor. As the spring baseball and softball season approaches, the fields are ready. There is a team of people working to organize the program. Team rosters have been prepared and there are many children participating this season. The engaged people who have persevered in making this program successful have worked tirelessly to make sure that there are staff, funding and equipment. The one thing that has been difficult has been making sure each team has a volunteer coach. At the time of this writing, the parks and recreation team were still looking for just one more volunteer.
I was not a star athlete. However, I believe I learned a lot from playing on teams. I knew that to get better at a skill, I had to practice. I learned from coaches that if I was early, I was on time and that if I was on time, I was late. This sticks with me still today. I learned the importance of good sportsmanship – win graciously, lose with dignity. I learned to be coachable and take criticism for my own good. I loved playing softball and had fun in my small-town recreational league. Today, I get to enjoy watching our youngest son play on his 11U baseball team.
Having youth sports available in our farm communities is not just about producing college and professional athletes – the odds of that are low. These youth programs provide children with organized fun to learn valuable life skills from volunteer adults. I hope and pray someone steps up and fills that last volunteer coaching spot here in Elkins. The experience of playing for an engaged and caring coach can build young men and women of great character for our community’s future.
I would like to publicly congratulate the families who got involved in re-building the youth sports program here in Elkins. They have achieved something that will last a long time in our community. They have proven that – if you build it, they will come, neighbors.
As I write this column, I’m suffering from sleep deprivation. Overnight, our weather radio went off seven times to warn of possible dangerous weather. We are in close vicinity to two other counties, and we get alerts for all three. We would barely get back to sleep after an alert when another would come. It’s a sure sign spring is on the way.
Growing up, we had a small patch of Hyacinth my mom had planted. Mom wasn’t much on flowers, but she planted a few bulbs, and they continued to come up every spring for decades. The fragrance of the flowers was heavenly. If the breeze blew in just the right direction, the aroma from the Hyacinth would fill the house. It’s a memory that floods over me every spring.
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.
Spring in the Ozarks is one of my favorite seasons. It’s not too hot or cold, and there is more daylight each day. Since I’m outside before dawn and after dark most days, I like to see the sun. I sit on the back porch steps to soak in as many rays as possible in the spring. Spring makes me feel better and helps to shake the winter blahs.
Many folks consider the “new year” to be Jan. 1, but for me, the new year kicks off when I see Mother Nature waking from a long winter slumber. The storms are her way
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• 1 prepared 9-inch pie crust
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 2 C half-and-half
• 3/4 C granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg, divided
Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, sugar, salt and 1/8 tsp of the nutmeg. Pour mixture into cooled piecrust. Bake pie at 325 degrees, until pie is golden, set around the edges and slightly jiggly in the middle, 50 to 55 minutes, covering edges of piecrust with aluminum foil if needed to prevent over browning. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining nutmeg. Chill until cold, about an hour.
FRYE FARMS
Continued from Previous Page of shaking off the cobwebs, and quick cold snaps are her hitting the snooze button. I’m a little grumpy when I wake up, so I can relate.
This time of year, livestock producers are crossing their fingers they have enough hay left to get to fresh grass. It’s also when all farmers and ranchers hope the rains continue falling in the summer and fall. It’s muddy now, but hopefully the rain will come when we really need it. We don’t need another dry year here in the Ozarks; I think last year was enough for a few years.
Canadian novelist L.M. Montgomery (Lucy Maud Montgomery) once wrote, “Nothing ever seems impossible in spring, you know.”
It’s like the whole world is a fresh, clean slate in spring. Spring is a time of opti-
mism. When spring comes, many people start thinking about what a great year lies ahead. Things have to go just right the rest of the year, but spring makes it all seem possible.
As we go into the spring, think of the things that can go right this year; don’t think about what can go wrong. Spring is the time to be optimistic, so sit on the porch steps and soak in the sun. Let the rays of the season remind you that you have the best and most important job in the world and that rain or shine, the world depends on you.
Continued from Page 3
until dark, every afternoon the weather permitted.
One evening, I guess I went a little beyond dark, and Dad came down to the field to make sure I was OK. As I quit for the day, my father proceeded to drive the tractor back to the barn, while I rode with my feet on the running board, with my butt against the rear-wheel fender so that I could be the one to get off and on to open and close the gates. As the little tractor bounced across the rougher corners of the plowing land, I, too, bounced off, and my left foot went under the tractor wheel in the freshly turned soil. Dad, in more of a panic than I had ever seen, stopped immediately and jumped off to inspect my foot
and leg. After he unlaced the boot and looked up and down my leg by the illumination of his pipe lighter, there wasn’t even the slightest scratch.
“Does it hurt?” he asked nervously. “Can you wiggle your toes?”
Because of the fluffiness of freshly-plowed silt loam and the relatively light weight of an 8N tractor, I answered, “No and Yes.”
As we got back to the house, and before we went in for supper, Dad quietly instructed, “There’s no need to tell your mother about the tractor.” I nodded, in complete understanding, because, again, I still wanted to be a plowboy the next day.
Jerry’s daily exploits on the farm are now viewable on YouTube at “lifeissimple678”
By Terry Ropp
How does a boy from an Oklahoma cattle ranch grow up to be a United States senator? He gains a strong work ethic, a deep sense of responsibility, and a dedication to solving problems from his childhood. He then combines that with his own natural abilities, lifetime experiences and continued formal education.
Markwayne Mullin is a newly elect-
cided to go to the root of the problem by running run for Congress and winning,” explained Markwayne’s wife Christie.
Markwayne worked beside his dad Jim daily.
A memory that best explains what Markwayne learned from those early years occurred when he was 14. His assigned task for the day was to clear rocks from a field. He decided to run the trac-
also figuring his workday was done and envisioning swimming with his friends. He paged his dad and explained what happened. To Markwayne’s surprise, Jim asked his teenage son what he thought he would do if he were in Markwayne’s place, solemnly adding he was sure Markwayne would figure it out. Even though repair was something new to him, he figured out how to remove the broken piece and took it to a neighbor to see what was needed. After he found and purchased the necessary, and they repaired the tractor together so Markwayne could finish the day’s work.
“My dad taught me not to look for a reason to quit but rather to look for a solution to finish,” Markwayne said. “That has been a motto for my life.”
Markwayne and Christie built a Tulsa plumbing business that expanded into eight separate companies, six of which were sold last year while they maintained a 10 percent ownership. They also built a house on family land in 2008 as a retreat from the city. In 2011, they moved back to Westville full-time because they wanted to have children, with Markwayne determined his children would have the same quality childhood that he had.
When they returned, Markwayne took over management of the family ranch in order to refine the business practices as well as initiating a change from black Angus to Red Angus. Currently, heifers are crossbred with Beefmaster bulls to better control birthweight for their first delivery in addition to having a more synchronized first-time birthing window because Beefmaster bulls are more aggressive breeders.
“I really like the looks of Red Angus better, especially the color; and if I’m going to lose money, then I want something that looks pretty,” Markwayne confided with a grin.
ed federal senator from Oklahoma after having served as a member of the House of Representatives for 10 years. His political career began in 2012 when federal regulations were damaging his business.
“My husband was never a complainer and always a doer, so he de-
tor in low gear while running alongside, picking up rocks and throwing them in the bucket.
Westville, Okla.
The tractor rolled off a soft hole-breaking the front axle hub.
The Mullins grow all their own hay harvested from 400 acres set aside for that purpose. The hay supply for a given year determines the size of the herd which ranges from 280-400 mommas with one bull for every 20 breeding females. Land is sprayed annually with a fertilizer-weed killer combination with Johnson grass being the biggest issue because cattle will
While concerned and unhappy about damaging the tractor, his youthful mind was — Continued on Page 9
According to USDA reports there were approximately 518 million chickens raised in the United States in 2022 and it is predicted that those numbers will to keep going up. The U.S. poultry market is estimated to bring in around $40.4 billion per year and egg consumption in the U.S. has risen 16 percent in the last 20 years.
It is believed approximately 5 percent of American households raise chickens in their backyards and these chickens are treated not only a food source, but as also as pets.
With a market that is growing at a considerable pace, it would stand to reason it would be a good business venture, this is the hope behind Hens at Home’s business model.
Hens at Home is a concept derived from an article Trey Parsons read in a magazine several years ago. He is a Northwest Arkansas native with a deeply ingrained love of farming due to his family’s long history of it in this part
of the state. His family has been instrumental in many areas of agriculture in Northwest Arkansas since the 1800s. Trey grew up on a large agritourism farm and this background has led him look outside the box for ideas. He is the oldest of eight kids and started his own corn maze when he was 15. Trey met his wife Eleni when she was working for his family at the corn maze. After they graduated from college, they moved out of state for jobs but eventually found their way back to Arkansas. Trey is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in mechanical engineering and is currently employed as a design engineer. When they moved back to Arkansas, they wanted to get into farming but on a smaller scale than his parents’ operation.
Eleni grew up on a small hobby farm in Minnesota, where they “raised all kinds of animals.” She showed poultry in 4-H and was also involved with FFA. She received her bachelor’s degree in poultry science from
the University of Arkansas and also completed her master’s degree in agricultural and Extension education. She has worked in the poultry industry and as a 4-H coordinator. She said Hens at Home is a combination of her two loves of ag education and poultry science, and it also allows her to stay home with their son Henry.
Hens at Home is a chicken rental business that is targeted toward anyone who would like to have the experience of raising chickens but may not know how to get started. Many people are looking to find a way to be connected to their food, often times these people have never even seen a real, live chicken or had any hands-on experience with agriculture. The average customers with Hens at Home are families with small children or people who may be retired and looking for a hobby. With Hens at Home, the customer is able to get everything needed to raise chickens, including get experienced mentors and the ability to change their minds if they decided raising chickens is just not for them. Rentals are by the month, with either twohen or four-hen options allowing the renter to have the experience without a long term investment.
Once a rental agreement has been accepted, Eleni will deliver the hens to their new homes.
“We bring everything they need, the coop, the feed, the equipment; feeders and waters, nesting straw and laying hens,” she said. Eleni has also written an educational booklet that accompanies the delivery and covers everything the renter will need to know; what to look for when the hens get sick, what to do if they are not laying, when to call if they suspect there is a problem.
“Its about breaking down barriers and making it as easy as possible,” she said. “About 50 percent of the renters become attached to the hens and they decide to do the rent to own option. They just fall in love with birds.”
Eleni chooses hens that are the “brown egg laying varieties.
“They are family friendly, don’t like to fly, don’t jump fences and they are docile with kids,” Eleni said.
It is important renters check their city ordinances to see if chickens are allowed in their neighborhoods. Most cities in Arkansas will allow up to four chickens without many requirements however, roosters are banned in most cities.
“People don’t always know that you don’t have to have a rooster in order to have eggs. You must have a rooster to have chicks but not eggs,” Eleni said.
Hens at Home is going into its third year of business and they are excited about the direction they are heading.
They have written a grant proposal to help build and grow their operation. They will be doing some farm tours and workshops this spring, and are also contemplating a garden box rental in the future for people with limited space that would like to be able grow a small garden.
Continued from Page 7
not eat it once it stems out. Rotational grazing prevents the land from being overgrazed with the frequency determined by the time of year, grass production, and weather conditions such as last summer’s drought which resulted in a temporary herd size reduction.
The full herd is divided into five smaller herds on what is now 1,600 acres. Because birthweight is not considered a factor with cows, they are bred by Red Angus bulls raised on the ranch as are replacement heifers. The cow missing a cycle is culled as, are any who reached the short and solid stage around 7 years old. Bulls are culled according to size and productivity. All culls are sold at the sale barn with the females still retaining value since they have more breeding years ahead.
The herd is vaccinated and worked as winter closes. Herd health tends to be excellent because it is mostly closed with the amount of acreage providing additional isolation. The largest health concern is pinkeye which seems to be an area-wide problem. To combat the issue, medicated feed and, whenever possible, freshwater are provided. Additionally, calves are castrated because Markwayne wants to handle the issue only once. Calves are typically weaned at six months though heifers may be weaned a bit sooner with time of sale determined by customer preferences. During winter, the herd receives a 14 percent protein grain ration while in the summer only heifers, steers and bulls are grained. A mineral blend lick is always
Rentals are designed to give the easiest backyard experience possible.
“The thing is, they are very addicting so you must be careful if you get a couple of chickens because you are going to want more, but Eleni warned.
Hens at Home will be visiting multiple farmers markets in Northwest Arkansas this spring. They can be contacted on Facebook, Instagram, by email, text, phone call or on their webpage. They recommend going to the website (hensathomenwa.com) first because it has all the information along with the frequently asked questions.
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
Lb./Acre Bag $
48 GOLIATH OAT, Hay Type/Tall/Later 96# 21.86
48 HAYDEN OAT, Grain 96# 21.84
50 SOYBEANS - LAREDO 50# 44.86
Very Tall Hay Type
50 SOYBEANS 50# 32.90
Roundup Ready® Willcross WXR7878, 3.5’ Tall
50 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.
available are sulfur blocks for tics. Water comes from storage tanks and a fresh creek that runs the length of the ranch.
Mullin calves are sold mostly online supplemented by videos although word of mouth is another venue. Consequently, calves are retained until meeting each customer’s predetermined needs whether that is at weaning or 600 pounds.
Once Markwayne was challenged by the IRS who wanted to call the ranch a hobby farm. Their CPA advised them to have a payroll which in turn supports write offs. Therefore, the Mullin ranch employees help, including one son. The CPA also recommended forming a corporation or an LLC to compensate for economic fluctuations.
“Newcomers into the business need to consider those options. Raising cattle is a challenging business, so it is important to begin and remain with another source of income and to do so because you love it, not because you expect to get rich,” Markwayne advised. “Christy and I are now considering offering hunting leases as well as opening a country barn venue for weddings, reunions and similar functions to further ensure the ranch’s success.”
Because of his upbringing, life experiences and formal education, Markwayne understands some of life’s most important lessons and values cannot be taught in the classroom. The Mullin ranch is a family affair with Markwayne and Christie attentively meeting the needs of each child.
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 KOBE/KOREAN, Inoc., Not Coated, Feb. 20# 2.64
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.
Add
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
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!
50 TIMOTHY, Horse Approved 12# 2.26
Just outside Alma, Ark., City Hall stands a memorial to honor law enforcement officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve their community. The monument, erected in 1986, has only one name memorialized — Henry D. Humphrey.
Humphrey, a farmer and handyman by trade, died on June 26, 1933, only two months after he had been elected town marshal. He died after a gunfight with an infamous gang of outlaws: The Barrow gang.
Accounts of what happened that faithful day may vary, but the outcome was the same — the 51-year-old father of three was dead.
Humphrey was on a walking patrol in the early morning hours of June 22, 1933, and was jumped by two men outside a bank in downtown Alma, which was once known as the “Spinach Capital of the World.” The men tied Humphrey’s hands with baling wire and took his pistol and flashlight. The outlaws then broke into the bank and stole the safe.
At that time, no one knew Clyde Barrow, Bonnie Parker and their gang were holed up at a tourist camp only minutes away in Fort Smith, Ark. They were known to frequent Arkansas, and he gang was recovering from a June 10 car crash in Wellington, Texas, that left Bonnie with extensive burns.
On June 23, 1933, published reports say Clyde Barrow told his brother Buck Barrow and gang member W.D. Jones to get some cash to hold them over while Bonnie recovered. The duo robbed a grocery store in Fayetteville, Ark., taking away $20 and change. They fled for Fort Smith, and police spread the word to be on the lookout for a Ford sedan. After hearing the getaway car was coming toward Alma, Humphrey, armed with a borrowed gun, and A.M. Salyers, a Crawford County deputy sheriff, headed out on U.S. Highway 71 in Salyers’ patrol car. On their way out of town, a Ford sedan passed them in the opposite direction and rear-ended a slower-moving car. Humphrey and Salyers heard the crash and turned back.
According to an account reported in The Arkansas Gazette, Buck Barrow and Jones were still in the wrecked car when the lawmen arrived. Humphrey didn’t have an opportunity to draw his pistol as the robbers started
firing as he stepped from the car. He was hit in the stomach, chest and shoulder. Slayers ran toward a nearby house for cover and was hit in the posterior by a bullet. Bullets passed through the house and barn, just missing a man working in a nearby field. After the gunfight, the shooters grabbed Humphrey’s gun and fled in Salyers’ car. It was later ditched, and the bandits stole a car in Fort Smith. They then headed back to the camp, avoiding roadblocks and walking across a rail bridge to hook up with the rest of the gang.
“The Crawford County version is that Clyde and the rest of the gang went to Fayetteville, leaving Bonnie at the camp,” Alma Area of Chamber of Commerce Director Beth Corey said. “The local story is that they [the slain Alma officer and the Crawford County deputy] posted a roadblock and got into a shootout with Clyde and the Barrow gang. The Barrow gang stood behind that Clyde was never with them in Washington and Crawford counties. That could be true, but also, they stood up for each other and they were going to stick up for their leader. All we know is what the Barrow gang said and what unraveled through the years.”
Reports from the day say the gang “terrorized the area” as police searched for them. They resurfaced on June 25 near Winslow, Ark., and a woman was beaten with a chain when she refused to hand over her car keys. She also accused them of rape, a charge she later recanted.
As he lay in the hospital, Humphrey identified photos of the Barrow brothers as the men who shot him. Other witnesses identified the shooters as members of the Barrow gang. Humphrey died on June 26.
Crawford County Sheriff Albert Maxey personally offered a reward, but the Barrow gang escaped into Oklahoma. Ironically, during her research of
Henry D. Humphrey, left, was gunned down in a shootout with members of the Barrow gang in 1933. He had been the city marshal for Alma, Ark., for about two months. His name is inscribed on a memorial to fallen officers at City Hall in Alma. A month after the shooting, the suspected gunman, Buck Barrowm was injured in a Texas shootout and made a deathbed confession that he was the one who shot Humphrey.
the local story, Beth discovered Maxey was her great-great-grandfather.
A month after the Alma incident, Buck Barrow was on his deathbed after a shootout in Iowa. Buck Borrow agreed with Deputy Salyers that he shot Humphrey.
There was no proof the Barrow gang had restrained Humphrey at the Alma bank, but it is widely believed they were responsible.
Because Bonnie and Clyde stuck to rural areas while on the run, they traveled many of the back roads they knew, so the infamous gang likely spent many days in the Alma area, undetected by locals.
“They went to places where they had connections, and the people they gathered along the way would help them,” Beth said. “They would go through Oklahoma, parts of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. They made that loop over and over again. Once the U.S. Marshals and the Texas Rangers figured that out, that was the end for them.”
Beth said Bonnie was perhaps the most ruthless and vicious of the band of outlaws, officers were reliant to fire on a woman.
“They would stop shooting because of her, but that’s when they were able to get away,” Beth asserted. “They didn’t want their legacy to be the one who shot a woman.”
A year after the Alma gunfight, officers killed Bonnie and Clyde during an ambush in Louisiana, ending their rampage. Beth would like to explore the history of Bonnie and Clyde in the Alma area more, all while paying homage to Humphrey.
“We don’t talk about what happened as much as we should,” Beth said. “Because we don’t have the spinach festival anymore, this is our biggest historical thing. I grew up in this area but never heard anything about it. I went to a luncheon and the speaker started talking about it. I told my dad about it and he pulled the poster up and said the sheriff was his great-grandpa. I have heard it talked about from a Fort Smith connection, but there is actually a bigger connection with Alma.
“I don’t want to memorialize them because they were pretty awful people, but we can honor and pay tribute to our marshal who lost his life.”
l Location: Miami, Okla.
l Owners: Lacy and Mike Truesdale
l Manager: Samantha Brannam
History: Lacy and Mike Truesdale took over NEO Feeds in Miami, Okla., in December 2022, change the store’s name and brought their knowledge of the agriculture industry with them to the new endeavor. Manager Samantha Brannam has been with the company for a month but was a manager for 12 years at another farm and ranch supply company.
Products and Services: Samantha said farmers and ranchers can find a wide selection of products at Ranch Supply-Miami.
“We have feed, tack, plants, livestock supplies, show supplies, vaccines for livestock and more,” she said.
All feed sold at Ranch Supply-Miami is bagged, and feed for all species of livestock is available.
“We do have our own special mix goat feed, and a cattle creep feed,” Samantha said. Cubes and creep feed are among the biggest sellers at the store, as well as show feeds.
“We also have show supplies from Weaver and Sullivan,” she said. “On the feeds, we have a lot of ADM, Vita Charge and Ralco.”
Fro
The listing is completely free. Just visit FromTheFarmToYou.com and click on “Submit Your Farm” at the top of the page.
For the equine owner, tack supplies include lead ropes, boots, roping bags, saddle pads and other items. “We are starting to get more horseshoeing supplies,” Samantha said. With spring right around the corner, gardeners can find onion sets and lettuce, and tomato plants will arrive in the next couple of weeks.
Spring also means the addition of chicks to the store’s inventory.
“We have a good inventory of poultry products,” Samantha explained. “We have incubators, feed, feeders, waterer and egg cartons, too.”
Other products are frequency added, and Ranch Supply-Miami can order specialty products and items for customers, such as livestock handling equipment.
“If someone doesn’t see what they need, we will order it and get it on the way. We are very knowledgeable, and it never hurts to ask,” Samantha said.
Future plans: Samantha said they hope to expand current product lines and offer additional items in the coming weeks at Ranch Supply-Miami, focusing on the needs of area customers.
At their customer appreciation day event, set for April 22 at the store, Samantha said they hope to get people “in the door” to become acquainted with herself and the new owners.
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
By Kaylea Hutson-Miller
l Hometown: Miami, Okla.
l Family: Husband, Brad; three children: Emma (10)
Madeline (7) and Koen (6)
In Town: With an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma, Georgeann Roye began her career first as a teacher in Vinita and Miami, Okla., and then as a lawyer at a large law firm in Oklahoma City.
Georgeann now works as an attorney in Miami, Okla. specializing in estate planning – primarily wills and trusts; low conflict or no conflict probate cases; contract review; and real estate issues. She also works with the city attorney, focusing on business issues for the City of Miami.
Her husband works as a supervising nurse for a plasma clinic in Joplin, Mo.
In Country: A desire to return to northeast Oklahoma to pursue a different lifestyle, beyond the confines of the Oklahoma City metro area, led the Royes to purchase 11 acres adjacent to Miami in 2015, when their oldest was 3 and she was 8-months pregnant with their second daughter. “I couldn’t dare to dream that I could design a life like this,” Georgeann said. “I farm in the morning and work in the office in the afternoon.”
Georgeann said she grew up with a finger on agriculture, riding horses and working on ranches during her summers while in college. The agriculture lifestyle — including diversified regenerative farming practices — as well as a different pace in life, led the couple to lay the foundation for their operation in 2015.
She jokes they planned to build the farm slowly, “unfolding over decades,” but the pandemic compressed plans into the past three years. They now have a Jersey cow/ calf pair, 13 Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, a Beefmaster cow/calf pair, approximately 70 chickens and two turkeys.
The farm has grown enough to provide the family with 100 percent of their own beef, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Georgeann makes her own soft cheeses, butter and yogurt, with hard cheeses on the horizon.
She hopes her children grow up on the farm, developing not only a love of the outdoors but also a solid relationship with where their food comes from, as it goes from farm to table.
The Future: Georgeann hopes to scale the farm up enough to provide two to three farm shares for families wanting access to milk, eggs and other farm-fresh products. Her ultimate goal is to increase the percentage of what the farm produces without outside input. Currently aspects of the dairy products —including whey and kefir — supplement the chicken’s feed, while eggs provide food for the dogs.
“The point of regenerative agriculture is to make the ground better as we go,” Georgeann said.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 245.00-315.00.
Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 207.50-210.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 370.00.
Slaughter Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 322.50-405.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 285.00-305.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 130.00-227.00.
Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 130.00-240.00.
Wethers - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 185.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 405.00.
Replacement Goats:
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 165.00-260.00.
Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat 3/2/23
Receipts: 496
A good crowd was on hand for this early March Sheep and Goat sale at Diamond, MO. Many new buyers were present. Compared to the sale 2 weeks ago feeder lambs traded 36.0051.00 higher. Slaughter lambs traded 17.00-36.00 higher. Not enough slaughter ewes and rams for a comparison. High quality replacement sheep were in demand. A replacement ram traded at 550.00 per head. In the goat portion of the sale feeder kid goats traded 36.00-71.00 higher. Slaughter kid goats traded up to 405.00 with a 60 lb. replacement kid trading at 445.00. Not enough slaughter nannies last sale for a comparison. Supply was moderate with very good demand. Supply included: 10% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 26% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (79% Hair Breeds, 15% Hair Ewes, 6% Hair Bucks); 11% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (7% Ewes, 64% Hair Ewes, 29% Families); 16% Feeder Goats (93% Kids, 7% Wether Kids); 29% Slaughter Goats (51% Kids, 27% Nannies/Does, 16% Bucks/Billies, 4% Wethers, 2% Wether Kids); 8% Replacement Goats (87% Nannies/Does, 13% Families).
Feeder Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 285.00-330.00.
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 245.00-322.50.
Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 140.00-230.00.
Hair Breeds - Good 1-2 (per cwt): 155.00.
Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 140.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility an Good 1-3 (per cwt): 105.00-120.00.
Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 110.00.
Hair Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 137.50-165.00.
Replacement Sheep/Lambs:
Ewes - Medium and Large 1-2 (per cwt): 135.00.
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 147.50-240.00.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 190.00-345.00.
Feeder Goats: Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 340.00-435.00.
Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 190.00270.00.
Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market Sheep/Goat 2/28/23
Receipts: 611
Compared to last month slaughter lambs traded 21.00-48.00 higher. Slaughter ewes traded steady. In the goat portion of the sale slaughter kid goats traded 26.00-57.00 higher. Not enough slaughter nannies for a comparison. Supply was moderate with very good demand. Supply included: 9%
Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 50% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (80% Hair Breeds, 18% Hair Ewes, 2% Hair Bucks); 1% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (50% Hair Ewes, 50% Families); 8% Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 33% Slaughter Goats (48% Kids, 17% Nannies/Does, 15% Bucks/Billies, 3% Wethers, 17% Wether Kids).
Feeder Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 295.00-312.00.
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 222.00-315.00.
Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 232.50.
Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 120.00-134.98.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 90.00-119.00.
Hair Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 100.00-141.00.
Replacement Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 218.00.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 235.00.
Feeder Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 322.00-397.50.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 242.50-325.00.
Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 150.00.
Slaughter Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 310.00-495.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 210.00-282.50.
Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 140.00-180.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 112.00-137.50.
Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 140.00-222.50.
Wethers - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 150.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 332.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 225.00-272.50.
Receipts: 1,526
Another huge crowd was on hand for this Norwood Produc ers Auction Yards late February sale. Compared to the sale weeks ago feeder lambs traded 8.00-13.00 higher. Slaughter lambs traded 5.00-9.00 higher. Slaughter ewes traded steady to 9.00 higher. Sheep families traded up to 405.00. In the feeder kid goat portion of the sale not enough volume 2 weeks ago for a price comparison, however this week fancy feeder kid goats traded up to 400.00. Slaughter kids traded 19.0025.00 higher with four head of 54 lb. nannie kids trading 440.00.
Not enough slaughter nannies for a market test. Supply heavy with very good demand. Supply included: 19% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 35% Slaughter Sheep/ Lambs (83% Hair Breeds, 1% Ewes, 15% Hair Ewes, 1% Hair Bucks); 8% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (23% Hair Ewes, Families); 15% Feeder Goats (98% Kids, 2% Wether Kids); Slaughter Goats (89% Kids, 6% Nannies/Does, 2% Bucks/Bil lies, 3% Wether Kids); 2% Replacement Goats (76% Nannies/ Does, 24% Families).
Feeder Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt):
Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt):
Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 267.50. Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 100.00.
Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per unit): 145.00.
277.50-340.00.
237.50-330.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 100.00-120.00.
Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per unit): 95.00-145.00.
Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 80.00.
Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per unit): 65.00-100.00.
Hair Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 100.00-125.00.
Replacement Sheep/Lambs:
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 135.00.
Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per unit): 155.00-210.00.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 130.00-360.00.
Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/20-40 lbs lamb (per 160.00-405.00.
Feeder Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 317.50-400.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 270.00-310.00.
Yards Sheep/Goat 2/25/23
for this Norwood Producsale. Compared to the sale 2 8.00-13.00 higher. Slaughter Slaughter ewes traded steady up to 405.00. In the not enough volume 2 weeks this week fancy feeder
Slaughter kids traded 19.00nannie kids trading at market test. Supply was Supply included: 19% Feeder
35% Slaughter Sheep/ 15% Hair Ewes, 1% Hair Sheep/Lambs (23% Hair Ewes, 77% Kids, 2% Wether Kids); 21% Nannies/Does, 2% Bucks/BilReplacement Goats (76% Nannies/
1-2 (per cwt): 277.50-340.00. (per cwt): 237.50-330.00.
267.50. cwt): 100.00.
145.00. (per cwt): 100.00-120.00. (per unit): 95.00-145.00. cwt): 80.00. unit): 65.00-100.00.
100.00-125.00. (per cwt): 135.00. (per unit): 155.00-210.00.
w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): w/20-40 lbs lamb (per unit):
317.50-400.00.
270.00-310.00.
Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 132.50.
Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 300.00.
Slaughter Goats:
Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 330.00-440.00.
Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 257.50-320.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 225.00-295.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per unit): 180.00.
Nannies/Does - Selection 2-3 (per cwt): 100.00.
Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 210.00.
Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 282.50.
Replacement Goats:
Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per unit): 220.00-260.00.
Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 260.00-300.00.
Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.7700 and 40# blocks at $1.7800. The weekly average for barrels is $1.7015 (+0.1340) and blocks, $1.8325 (-0.0835).
Fluid Milk/Cream: National milk production is mixed. In the Mid-Atlantic and southernmost states of the Northeast, winter weather has been mild, and farm level milk output is nearing spring flush volumes. In the Southeast, farm level milk output is steady. Milk output is increasing week over week in the Central states. Some bottling orders have paused due to upcoming spring break weeks for schools. Spot milk loads are moving as low as $12 under Class III. Farm level milk output is steady to lighter in Arizona and steady in New Mexico. In the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Colorado, farm level milk output is steady. In California and Utah, farm level milk output is steady to strong. For the most part, cream multiples are steady, settling at 1.20-1.27 in the East, 1.141.25 in the Midwest, and 0.9-1.21 in the West.
SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM: $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT, F.O.B., producing plants, Midwestern U.S. - $2.8728 - $2.9925.
For more than a century, the Byrd family has had a picture-perfect view of the their farming operation. The lasting impression motivates Sandra Wright to continue her family legacy.
By her own strength and determination, Sandra finds the ability to balance raising a family and raising her cattle.
The Byrd Ranch started in 1879 with 84 acres, It now operates on 1,363 acres, including 833 acres that are owned by the Wright family and 530 acres that are rented.
Sandra grew up on the farm, and from an early age, she helped where her father needed.
“When I was a young child, I started going with my father every day and helping him. I
grew up on the farm and ran cattle with him. That is how I got started,” Sandra said.
In 2022, the Wright family was named the White County Farm of the Year. It was the third time, and the third generation of the Byrd family to earn the honor. Sandra’s grandfather, Isom Byrd, was honored in 1963. Her father, Charles, was honored in 1969.
Calving season is a big time of year for the ranch. With 160 cows, including Red Angus, there is plenty to always be done around the ranch.
“Every morning I start by riding and checking all five pastures I keep my cattle in,” said Sandra. “Then I do that again in the afternoons starting at two o’clock.”
In addition to these daily tasks,
comes other miscellaneous tasks around the farm.
“Then I got a little calf that is on the bottle, and I must feed it twice. Then I feed our heifers we are keeping to breed, and our first-class heifers,” said Sandra. “Fix the fence because there is always something torn up,” Sandra said.
The ranch itself is one of 532 Century Farms in the state of Arkansas. According to the USDA, Sandra is part of the 13 percent of female producers in the United States running an operation alone. Making her unique and setting her apart from other operations.
“It’s mainly myself right now. My father and I ran it together up until he passed away a little over a year ago. So, I bought his cattle out and continued to keep running it,” said Sandra.
Maintaining an operation as large as Sandra’s comes with many hardships. In busy and demanding times, Sandra looks to her husband, Rickey Wright, for help. Rickey is the owner of Bald Knob Animal Hospital. His skills as a veterinarian help aid Sandra in keeping the cattle healthy and at their best performance.
Sandra will look to her son, Charlie Wright, if more help is needed. Other than the occasional two to three days help Sandra receives, she is found to be able to get things done by herself.
With overcoming everyday obstacles on the ranch comes the difficulty of
finding balance with work and being a mother and wife.
“It just all runs together,” Sandra laughed. “You have some kind of supper, and I’m grouchy and I wash clothes and I hang them around. There are times of the year that are not as busy, and it is not as bad.”
Rickey refers to her as the “energizer bunny” due to her ability to stay on the go. Some might call it “Girl Power.”
“I’ve always done it, so I haven’t thought very much about how my gender influenced me. I just always wanted to learn.”
While rising to the challenge has always come naturally to Sandra, she finds inspiration from her mother, Frances Bryd.
“She just could do it. She worked off the farm for a few years and worked nights. My grandmother lived right across the road from us, so she helped babysit and cook for us,” said Sandra. “Momma could just do everything.”
At age 85, Francis has a lot of grit and strength. Sandra still finds pride today in her mother’s abilities to preserve and accomplish any task around the farm and at home.
“She was the ‘cooker’ as my son called her one time. She cooked our meals, she helped with the haying. She baled hay for us in the past. She’s helped us all this past summer. She, age 85, helped me pull a calf just last calving season,” said
Sandra. “And just the year before that, she helped me when I was at home by myself. She rides with me in the truck to go check fields and wants to go and help hold the gate, so I let her go. She’s always here and getting involved in some way.”
While Francis’ life choices have contributed to Sandra’s inspiration, those who know Sandra are influenced by her actions as well.
“I think most of the people that know her admire her as to what she has been doing. And people see what she does when they come by this farm every day,” Rickey said.
Sandra encourages the younger generation of women to join the 13 percent.
“Do it,” said Sandra. “There is no reason you can’t do it. Just get out there and do it.”
The Byrd Family Ranch is the very result of the hard work and heart Sandra has poured into her operation. Her role as a producer, mother, and wife is a source of inspiration for others and her execution in those roles portrays some of her most admirable characteristics. Sandra paints a picture for our future generation of women in agriculture and creates a view that lasts a lifetime.
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l Age: 16
l Hometown: Lamar, Ark.
l Parents: Bill and Courtney Wilkins
l Siblings: Jaylea, Abby and Mayci Wilkins
l FFA Chapter: Lamar FFA
l Chapter Advisor: Chris Bacchus
What is your involvement in agriculture?
“I help my parents operate a 65-head commercial cow/calf operation, as well as operating six broiler houses. I am responsible for daily tasks such as feeding, checking water sources and putting out minerals. I am also responsible for helping in the chicken houses on the weekends during the school year and all summer. During the summer I also pick and preserve produce daily from our garden.”
What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/ living on a farm?
“My favorite part of the agriculture industry is the connections I form with people in the agriculture industry throughout the U.S.”
What are your future plans?
“I plan on attending college and pursuing a degree in nursing with a minor in agriculture leadership.”
By Brad Pistole
In my line of work, I have the unfortunate job to deal with the passing of someone’s spouse, parent or sibling. I see in these moments of grief I know how, if the details aren’t thought of ahead of time, the pain can be compounded with the frustration of trying to navigate through the messiness of financial matters not thought of ahead of time.
Recently, a friend died, her husband not only has to deal with the grief of losing his spouse, but also with all the details of their financial life.
It soon became evident that he did not know the details of their finances (he didn’t even know the password to the checking account).
Brad Pistole of Ozark, Mo., is farmer and a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Certified Annuity Specialist®, and CEO of Trinity Insurance & Financial Services, INC.
Because of this, I thought I would take the time to share what I advise my clients to do regarding the preparation of what is inevitable.
I advise my clients to keep a list of all their accounts (checking, savings, CD, annuities, life, mutual funds, etc.) in their Safe Documents folder. In it along with names and phone numbers of their advisors for each of those accounts. For the checking, savings, CD’s, etc., those accounts should have a POD (Payable On Death), as well as having their passwords for those accounts given to someone they trust.
Why give the password to someone they trust? What happens if the mortgage needs to be paid and yet the death certificate is not available yet?
Even though the account may have the POD, until the death certificate is produced, only those on the account has authority to access the accounts to take care of any necessities.
When it comes to a spouse having to deal with the financial decisions; the grief can cloud their choices, and that is why having a plan written out and discussed with the family and the advisor can take away one less decision to make, since it has already been made. This is especially true when it comes to planning the funeral.
All the proper planning in the world will not be beneficial if the information cannot be found during the crucial days and weeks following the loss of a loved one, or not having a written-out plan and discussed with an unbiased advisor and attorney to help carry out those wishes.
While the topic is maybe challenging to discuss, it is essential.
Here are some tips of things to have in your Safe Documents Folder:
1. Will: If the deceased had a will, it outlines how their assets will be distributed and who will be in charge of carrying out their wishes.
2. Trust documents: If the deceased had a trust, the trust document outlines how assets will be distributed and who will manage the trust.
3. Life insurance policy: The policy outlines the benefits and who the beneficiaries are.
4. Marriage certificate: If the deceased was married, the marriage certificate may be needed to prove their relationship with their spouse.
5. Social Security card: The Social Security Administration will need to be notified of the death, and the deceased’s Social Security number will need to be included on certain forms.
6. Military discharge papers: If the deceased served in the military, their discharge papers may Being prepared is smart planning.
Making farming a little easier
In the Ozarks, tall fescue thrives as a hardy, insect resistant and drought tolerant grass. However, the type of tall fescue pervasive in many pastures, Kentucky-31, creates toxins that negatively affect some aspects of livestock production. “Kentucky-31, produces toxins that impact livestock production which includes reduced conception rates, milk production, and weaning weights, as well as others,” Sarah Kenyon, PhD, field specialist in agronomy with the University of Missouri, said.
Replacement Options: Producers looking to replace Kentucky 31 tall fescue may choose to plant a novel endophyte tall fescue. “Novel tall fescue, sometimes called ‘friendly,’ contains an endophyte but the endophyte does not produce the toxins resulting in livestock impact,” Kenyon explained. Additionally, producers may choose to plant an endophyte free tall fescue that contains no toxins, but it is more susceptible to insect infestation, overgrazing and heat. Both the novel endophyte and the
what do you say?
What is a task you perform on your farm to prepare for spring?
endophyte free cultivars have a similar growth cycle as Kentucky 31. Another replacement option is native warm-season grasses. These varieties typically produce the most forage in June, July and August. The warm-season grasses generally require less fertility compared to cool season grasses. “The native warm season grasses need less nitrogen and, in some cases, less phosphorus and potassium as well because they are deeper rooted and pull up mineral from deeper in the soil profile,” Gene Schmitz, specialist in livestock with the University of Missouri Extension, said. “They also pull up more moisture from deeper in the soil profile.” Schmitz added the native warm season grasses can be very productive and good for grazing and haying.
Advantages: One advantage to renovating pastures is eliminating the potential health risks and negative impacts to livestock that exist with toxin producing fescue. “Research has demonstrated that having 25 percent of the total grazing acres in novel tall fescue can help to al-
“We check pastures and hay fields to see if we need to drill new grass. We put fertilizer out. Continue to feed and monitor the cattle for new babies.”
Geri Dennis Washington County, Ark.
leviate the impacts of fescue toxicosis,” Kenyon stated. “This research is important because it means that farmers do not need to convert all of their tall fescue, but having a portion of their acres, managed correctly, could have a big impact on their overall production.”
Secondly, replacing Kentucky 31 with a forage like a native warm season grass, can enhance several aspects of herd performance. “The advantages are improved animal performance, improved reproduction, gains on stocker cattle, improved breeding rates, improved calf gains and improved stocker gains,” Schmitz, explained.
Additionally, warm season grasses produce additional forage during the hottest time of the year. “Having 15 to 30 percent of the total grazing acres in warm season forages can increase forage yield in the summer months,” Kenyon explained. “Cool-season grasses, like tall fescue, orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, etc. reduce their growth in the summer months. Warm-season grasses have different cell structure that allows them to be most productive in hot temperatures.”
Disadvantages: But there are disadvantages. Tall fescue can be hard to kill. And even after efforts to eradicate the toxic tall fescue it can invade renovated stands. In addition, some fields may simply not be conducive to renovation. The fields may be too steep, the soil too rocky, and terrain unsuitable for other grasses to be planted.
Moreover, the process takes time. During the time of eradication, replanting
and growth producers will incur a loss of productivity on those acres. Also, some of the replacement grasses may not be as hardy and drought tolerant as Kentucky 31 tall fescue.
Steps of the Process: There are a variety of ways to eradicate endophyte infected fescue. Extension specialists recommend spraying the infected field with an effective herbicide, seeding a smother crop, and planting a new forage. Then wait for the new forage to grow and produce a full stand.
Other important renovation measures to consider whether producers reseed with a native warm-season grass or a novel endophyte tall fescue variety. First, conduct a soil test and utilize the information to correct soil nutrient deficiencies. Next, institute a weed control plan, both before and after seeding a new forage. “These steps will help with the success of the renovation process and with future productivity of the new forage stands,” Schmitz explained.
Lastly, follow recommended harvest management practices for the renovated acres. Overgrazing or cutting forage plants too short will weaken and shorten the lifespan of the new stands.
Stages of Implementation: When undertaking the task of renovating pastures, implement the transformation in stages to battle loss of productivity and mitigate risk. For example, if a producer wants to renovate 40 acres, then spread the process out over four years transforming 10 acres each year.
“I drag my pastures to break up hay and manure piles.”
Jeff Hopkins Rogers County, Okla.
“We do a daily rotation with our cattle, so we go around and make sure our fences are in working order.”
“I brush hog and clear fence rows to get rid of last year’s growth that got missed with the hay mower.”
Fry
As the season edges closer to spring, the time spent feeding winter hay will come to an end. Now is the time for producers to make plans to clean up those old hay feeding sites and use the cleared-out space for new forages. Hay Site Management: When left unkempt through the spring and into the summer months, hay feeding sites from the previous winter may evolve into weedy messes. According to agronomy specialists, the winter hay feeding spots are some of the most fertile spots in the entire field because of the added manure. However, with no permanent
grass at the feeding site, weeds can take advantage of the open ground and fertility. Clearing the areas of the manure and uneaten hay, provides insight for management strategies for next winter’s hay feeding season. “Farmers should use this review of their pasture damage to evaluate how to best feed hay in the future,” Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy at the University of Missouri Extension, said.
Forcing cattle to clean up hay, is something that can help overcome the problem of damaged pastures. In addition, producers should move the bale rings to a new
location before feeding more hay. This strategy will ensure there are less problems in the spring.
A similar practice should be followed when unrolling hay in a field. “It’s very important to limit the amount that is unrolled, so that there is no more than a day’s allocation of hay,” Schnakenberg explained.
Problems at Hay Feeding Sites: If bale rings are never or rarely moved, then some feeding areas may become so full of manure that there are mounds of it left behind. This creates a significant concern for efficient hay feeding. Additionally, when the bale rings stay in the same area manure is not properly distributed around the field and damage can be excessive on the feeding areas.
Ways to Clean Up Sites: There are ways to clean up feeding areas and make them productive again, but in all cases, it can become labor intensive. According to agronomy specialists, in areas where excessive rotting hay is still there, there
may be a need to burn those sites to expose the soil for forage growth again.
Research indicates there are ways to utilize the hay feeding areas as ground for new forage. “Dr. Greg Halich with the University of Kentucky has been studying spaced bale feeding for years, using carefully planned bale ring spacing around fields,” Schnakenberg said. “In his research, he has found the aftermath of a feeding area can turn into the most productive sites in the field the following year.”
Take advantage of the bare soil and excessive fertility left behind by hand seeding in late winter before the weeds get a foothold. Forage specialists suggest some of the best forages for these sites include clovers, annual ryegrass and, in some cases, orchardgrass. Adding annual lespedeza and/or forage crabgrass will also benefit those sites in the summer months. “Compared to the standard fescue pasture in the surrounding are-as, these sites turn into cattle candy for cows when they first enter a paddock,” Schnakenberg explained.
Pecking and cannibalism among chicken and turkey flocks could be an expensive problem for farmers without the correct preventative measures. Birds with high stress and fear levels, dam-aged feathers and skin increase economic costs and reduce production efficiency.
In the Merck Veterinary Manual, Dr. Fredric J. Hoer said crowding, light intensity and poor nutrition are reasons why pecking and cannibalism occurs. Feed management, light management and environmental enrichment could reduce and prevent this issue.
According to Phillip J. Clauer, Virginia Cooperative Extension poultry specialist, due to the numerous reasons for cannibalism outbreaks, it is very important that cannibalism control be a part of every producer’s management program.
“If a chicken should sustain a penetrating wound through the skin, where there is some bleeding, other chickens in the flock will gather around and incessantly peck at the would until it becomes larger and larger to the point of death,” said Terry Conger, veterinary medical officer of Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas.
Poultry producers must consider the pecking order when managing flocks. Stronger, more aggressive birds will start pecking at the weaker or injured birds.
Cannibalism is essentially impossible to stop once it has started.
Low fiber diets, lack of protein and other nutrients may cause the birds to start pecking. For smaller flocks, feeding large handfuls of fresh greens, like clover grass or weeds could help keep birds busy. For larger producers, finding feeds with higher fiber percentages will keep them more content.
The absence of feed and water could also cause birds to compete for their food,
making them more aggressive toward each other. Ensuring that the birds have free access to water and food at all times is important according to Clauer.
“Photoperiod is extremely important for layers as it stimulates growth, development and re-productions, and thus, egg production,” said Weimer. “Light type, intensity and wavelength also affect bird productivity and welfare.”
Using 15-to-25-watt lights and avoiding excessively long periods of light will decrease the likelihood of harmful pecking. Weimer added proper facility management and enriching environments keep birds content and busy, ensuring less aggression.
Environment is detrimental to the wellbeing and productivity of poultry flocks. Producers must maintain proper stocking density, equipment, diet formulation, water quality, litter quality, biosecurity and air quality, according to Wiemer.
Another method to prevent pecking and cannibalism is beak trimming. Trimming the tip of the beak provides a square tip, making the risk for injuries less likely. This process must be done when the chick is 10 days old or younger.
“If the pointed end of the beak is blunt, [pecking and cannibalism] won’t happen,” Conger said.
If a producer observes pecking and cannibalism, it is important to separate the weaker or injured birds. Applying anti-pecking ointment to wounds could also help prevent further damage.
Pecking and cannibalism in poultry flocks could be a costly welfare issue that can be avoided if proper management practices are used.
“Don’t take chances,” said Clauer. “Make cannibalism control a part of your management program and you will save a great deal of time and money.”
The first signs of spring have arrived. Warmer days and sprigs of green grass point to the growing season on the horizon. While producers wait for the full arrival of spring, it’s time for some pasture maintenance.
High fertilizer prices can take a big chunk out of a producer’s budget. Therefore, producers planning to fertilize their fields may want to consider strategies to ensure they are getting the most benefit for their money. “There is no reason to fertilize a field with nutrients that are not needed,” Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy with the University of Missouri Extension, said. “Yet, farmers and ranchers who put a standard ratio of fertilizer on the same ground year after year are gambling and often miss opportunities to have positive impacts on forage production.”
Extension forage specialists recommend producers utilize soil test results to guide their decisions on the proper fertilizer blend. Following a soil test for each field is the only way for producers to know the specific phosphate, potash, and lime needs for that field. “It pays to have a prescription recommendation for each field instead of guessing with fertilizer blends that only have a shotgun effect on fertilizing,” Schnakenberg added. It’s not too late to get a soil sample submitted and to use those results for the next three to four years to implement a more precise fertility approach to farming.
For producers planning to add nitrogen to fields with cool season stands, the nitrogen should be applied anytime from late February through April. “The earlier the better for maximum growth such as for hay fields, however, if it is needed on pasture, nitrogen can be staggered in various fields later during the spring following grazing,” Schnakenberg stated.
Nitrogen application may be needed on farms with a high stocking density. However, if the farm has a low or moderate stocking density, additional nitrogen may not be necessary. “Usually, the biggest bang for the buck on nitrogen will happen in August for fall growth,” Schnakenberg shared. “Spring nitrogen often just propels grass growth faster and in some cases we won’t have enough cattle on the place to fully utilize it all.”
Due to last year’s drought, forage specialists advise producers to evaluate their stands this spring to make sure there is enough grass for the season. This would include developing a short-term and longterm plan for thickening the stand. “Our stands are open enough that weeds will likely be a severe problem in 2023, occupying space that should have forage in them,” Schnakenberg said.
Instead of trying to establish a permanent stand of tall fescue or orchardgrass in the spring, which may not survive the summer, experts recommend choosing an alternative. This year some producers have used forages such as turnips, annual ryegrass, clover or spring oats to get by. Another alternative producers may want to try is adding forage crabgrass and lespedeza. Those two forages will come up in time to fill gaps in the summer.
For producers with very thin stands of permanent grass, another option would be to drill in summer annuals such as sorghum sudangrasses or millets in mid-May to help stretch the forage through the summer months. “Once we get through the summer, we are hopeful that we can have a less droughty fall where we can plant tall fescue and/or orchardgrass back in our stands around early September,” Schnakenberg stated. “If there is excess crabgrass or foxtail in fields, we may have to delay planting to when cooler weather starts to taper off their growth in the fall.”
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‘Tis the season for adorable, fluffy chicks to be for sale at farm supply stores. The current price of eggs makes the thought of caring for a small flock even more appealing to many folks. However, there are some things to keep in mind before taking the leap into raising chickens.
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PATIENCE: Though most aspects of farming require patience, poultry experts say some people are surprised how long they must wait for their chicks to mature and lay eggs. “A lot of people get chicks in the spring, and they get halfway through the summer, and they say, ‘Why are these chicks not laying eggs, they look so big?’ It’s because they are still not old enough,” Tatijana Fisher, PhD, Missouri poultry specialist and Lincoln University assistant professor, said. Most chickens are 5 or 6 months old before they start to lay eggs.
CONSIDERATIONS: First, it is important to plan for the chicks care from the time they are little through maturity. “They are a live animal, and they require care 365 days out of the year,” Fisher explained. “You have to have a plan; for example, if you have to go on vacation. Don’t underestimate that they are a living animal that needs care.”
In addition, checking local ordinances, HOA requirements, and county codes to make sure chickens are allowed is an important step. This is particularly true for people living within city limits or in a neighbor with a HOA association.
ENS: Another consideration is the vast number of predators. “Everything in the world loves to eat chickens – ev-
erything,” Fisher said. Foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, dogs, coyotes, snakes, and that’s just to name a few. Additionally, free ranging chickens are vulnerable to aerial predators such as hawks. Poultry specialists recommend designing and building a coop that will protect the birds during the day and especially at night.
PLAN AHEAD: The cute fuzzy chicks can pull at the heart strings, but
kept inside for a long period of time. It’s important to plan and build a coop, so it’s ready when the chicks are big enough to transition to a coop.
poultry specialists reiterate the importance of thinking through the decision prior to purchasing chicks. “I do recommend that people plan and not impulse buy chicks,” Fisher shared. “I always recommend planning ahead because they grow up faster than you think.”
The plan should include determining where the chicks are going to be housed in the short-term and long-term. The chicks become very dusty if they are
PURCHASING
There are a lot of heritage breeds that will work well in backyard flocks such as Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks and Orpingtons. There is no need to stick with just one breed, owning several breeds has its advantages. “When you have them from different breeds it is easier to tell when something is wrong and keep track of it, than if they are all the same,” Dr. Fisher added.
If raising laying hens is the goal, make sure to purchase female chicks or pullets (young female chicks). Though buying a straight run may be less expensive, the chicks are picked up exactly as they hatch. Therefore, a straight run typically contains 50 percent hens and 50 percent roosters. Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs. So, if egg production is the ultimate goal, select all females from the start.
Chicks possess a unique feature that allows them to be shipped from hatcheries within 24 hours of hatching. Their anatomy allows them to survive without food or water for the first 48 to 72 hours. “At the very end of their incubation, the last thing they do is draw the last bit of yolk that they have been feeding on into their abdomen,” Fisher explained. “They have a yolk sack in their abdomen that will last two to three days before they have to eat or drink.” As soon as the chicks arrive at their destination, they will need food and water.
In the next issue of Ozarks Farm and Neighbor, the Farm Help section will take a look at the specifics of raising chicks to be healthy, productive chickens.
3/24 Eichelberger Estate Auction – Pryor, Okla. • Lester Miller Auctions
3/25 Applegate Living Estate Auction –Inola, Okla. • Rockin M Real Estate & Auctions LLC
3/25 Consignment Auction – Wagoner, Okla. • McKinney Auctions
3/25 Spring Consignment Auction – Ozark, Ark. • Reading Auction Service
4/1 Personal Property Auction – Ozark, Ark.
• Reading Auction Service
4/22 Farm Equipment and Real Estate Auction – Branch, Ark. • Reading Auction Service
3/20 Sanders, Logsdon Living Estate Auction
– Springdale, Ark. • Auctions by Larry R. Williams
3/25 March Consignment Auction – Siloam Springs, Ark. • Gateway Auctions
3/25 Public Auction – Berryville, Ark. • Stump ’s Realty & Auction Service Inc.
3/25 Retired Air Force O cer’s Antique Estate Auction – Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions
3/27 Suttles, Marroy Living Estate Auction –Springdale, Ark. • Auctions by Larry R. Williams
4/7 Mixed Estates Auction – Rogers, Ark. • S&S Auction Service
4/8 NWA Equipment Consignment Auction
– Fayetteville, Ark. • Reading Auction Service
4/8 Vernon E. Smith Estate Auction –Harrison, Ark. • Bailey Auction Service
4/15 Cabin & 80 +/- Acres Public Auction –Pettigrew, Ark. • Reading Auction Service
4/15 Storment Estate Auction – Benton, Ark. • Howell Auction Service LLC
4/22 334 + Acres with 3 Ponds & 5,631 sq. ft.
Custom Built Home Ranch Auction –Lincoln, Ark. • Auction Management Group, 479-790-5513, AuctionMG.com
• See Our Ad on Page 6
closes 3/22 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
3/25 Farm Equipment Auction – Lonoke, Ark.
• Robert King Auctions
3/28 Martin & Son Farms Online Auction –bidding closes 3/28 at 9 a.m. – bigiron. com
• Big Iron Auctions
3/28 Online Only Farm, Ranch & Construction Auction – Cherry Valley, Ark. • Witcher Farms
3/29 Becky and the late David Dalbey Farm Retirement Auction – Burlington Junction, Mo. • Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate
3/29 Equipment Online Auction – bidding closes 3/29 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
3/30 Heavy Equipment Auction – Oklahoma City, Okla. • Dakil Auctioneers Inc.
3/31 Kermit Gilbreath Estate Auction – Apache, Okla. • Bridges Auction & Sales Company
4/1 Spring Consignment Auction – El Dorado, Ark. • Davis and Associates Auctioneers
4/1 Wise Bros. Consignment Auction –Kingdom City, Mo. – Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate
4/4 Wiggins Farm Equipment Consignment Auction – Okeene, Okla. • Wiggins Auctioneers
4/5 Equipment Online Auction – bidding closes 4/5 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
4/6 Augustin Farms Retirement Online Auction – bidding closes 4/6 at noon –bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
4/6 Rebbe Estate Online Auction – bidding closes 4/6 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions
4/15 Spring Farm Equipment Auction –Nashville, Ark. • Todd Morris Auction Company
March 2023
23 Cattle Market Update – 6 p.m. – Marion County Fairgrounds, 513 E. Seawell Avenue, Summit, Ark. – 870-449-6349 or bsee@uada.edu
23 Cattlemen’s Meeting – 6 p.m. – Stonehill Land and Cattle, Miami, Okla. – call to register at 918-542-1688
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
28 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6-9 p.m. – Thousand Hills Cowboy Church, Leslie, Ark. – Cost: $20 – no pre-registration required – for more information call 870-448-3981 or 501-745-7117
29 Soil Fertility Workshop – 5-6 p.m. – Cost: $10 – Cherokee County Extension Office, Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163
30 Beef Cattle Production Meeting – 5:30-8 p.m. – Thousand Hills Cowboy Church, Leslie, Ark. – to register call 870-448-3981
April 2023
4 Conservation Workshop – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Free event, free lunch –Inter-Tribal Council, 21 N. Eight Tribes Trail Suite C, Miami, Okla. – call Carroll to register at 405-331-0160
4 Small Ruminant Workshop – 1-4 p.m. – Ozarka College, Ash Flat, Ark. – to register or for more information call 870-895-3301 or 870-994-7363
March 2023
25 777 Farms Purple Reign Santa Gertrudis Sale – Magnolia, Ark. – 423-364-9281
25 Arkansas Bull Sale Multi-Breed Bull Sale – Cleburne County Livestock, 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. – 417-880-6873 or 417-536-8080
3 Brockmere Farms Inc. 29th Annual Angus Bull & Female Sale – New Cambria Livestock Auction, New Cambria, Mo. – 660-258-2901 or 660-375-2155
4 Hubert Charolais Ranch 44th Annual Bull & Female Sale – Monument, Kan. – 785-672-2540 or 785-871-7760
5 Pesticide Applicator Training – 10 a.m. – First Electric Community Room, Heber Springs, Ark. – Cost: $20 – to register call 501-362-2524
5 Soil Fertility Workshop – 5-6 p.m. – Cost: $10 – Cherokee County Extension Office, Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163
11 Apple Grafting Workshop – 1 p.m. – Boone County Farm Bureau Office, Harrison, Ark. – to register call 870-741-6168
13 Raising Chickens for Beginners – 2-4 p.m. – Faulkner County Extension Office, Conway, Ark. – 501-329-8344
14 Taking Your Chicken and Egg Production to the Next Level – 2-4 p.m. –Faulkner County Extension Office, Conway, Ark. – 501-329-8344
15 Ag Trade Show – Poteau, Okla. – for more information contact the Le Flore County Extension Office at 918-647-8231
15 Best Care Training – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – UACCM Workforce Training Center, Morrilton, Ark. – register by calling 479-968-7098
15 Cleburne County 4-H Foundation Fishing Team Bass Tournament – Devils Fork Park, Greers Ferry Lake, Ark. – for more information contact the Cleburne County Extension Office, Heber Springs, Ark. – 501-362-2524
18 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Jeral L. Hampton Meeting Place, Booneville, Ark. – 479-963-2360
19, 20 Serv Safe Class – Russellville, Ark. – for more information call 479-968-7098
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
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
8 Ozark & Heart of America Beefmaster Breeders Spring Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 979-229-6563
11 Sydenstricker Genetics 18th Annual SydGen Influence Sale – Mexico, Mo. –573-473-9202 or 573-581-5900
14 Waddle Farm Performance Bull Sale – Kirksville Livestock Market, Kirksville, Mo. – 585-208-0349 or 585-208-0322
15 Belle Point Ranch Pathway to Opportunity Sale – Lavaca, Ark. – 479-782-5579 or 989-965-6363 or 989-798-8223
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 Missouri Charolais Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. –
15 The Power Performance Pedigree Registered Angus Sale – Mountain Grove, Mo. – 417-293-8002
22 East Central Missouri Angus Association Spring Sale – Interstate Regional Livestock, Cuba, Mo. – 417-224-6296
22 Heart of the Ozarks Angus Association Spring Sale – Ozarks Regional Stockyards, West Plains, Mo. – 205-270-0999
22 Missouri Red Angus Association Show-Me Reds – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 816-807-6606
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
www.HorseheadRanch.net
