meet your neighbors
Growing Up in Agriculture By Jaynie Kinnie-Hout
Justin Mauss has strong roots in the cattle industry Submitted Photos
Justin Mauss, pictured with his wife Kelsey, grew up around agriculture. He is now an agriculture teacher in Carthage, Mo., and is still a part of the family operation.
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Justin Mauss, agriculture teach- by Henry D. Mauss in the late 1800s. Justin’s er and FFA advisor at Carthage grandfather, Dean Mauss, started the family’s Technical Center, Carthage, Mo., first commercial Polled Hereford cow/calf always knew he wanted a career operation after returning from a stint in the in agriculture, like his father and grand- United States Air Force in the early 1950s. The herd evolved over time into a black father before him, going all the way back to the late 1800s and segwaying to 2020, when Angus operation heavily influenced by the he was named Missouri’s Outstanding Early Herefords, and is still in operation today. Justin grew up on his parents 100-acre Career Ag Teacher of the year. “It was an honor to receive that award,” farm in Bois D’Arc, Mo., where they grew Justin said. “Last year was a rewarding year.” hay for the family’s Climax Springs operaThe Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teach- tion. He attended Ash Grove High School ers Association recognizes the efforts of effec- focusing on FFA and graduated in 2011. He tive teachers who work tirelessly to provide a then attended Missouri State University, high-quality education to their students. Ag graduating with a degree in agriculture education. Currently, Justin is in his sixth year teaching can be a demanding career. “Beginning in January through April, we of teaching at Carthage Technical Center. Justin’s grandfather’s were both very influhit the contest seasons, state degrees and proficiency awards really hard. We also spend ential in his career as an agriculturalist. “I grew up helping my grandpa feed a significant amount of time before and after school working with our kids. It’s nothing to cattle. I learned a lot of my basic cattle have a 60- to 70-hour work week. If a teacher skills from my grandfather W.D. Pipkin. I learned how to talk to people in the catdoesn’t manage their time well, tle business, I learned how to market the burnout rate is really high,” my cattle, market myself and how to Justin noted. take care of everything on the anWhen he isn’t nurturing the imal husbandry side of things. My minds of future farmers, Justin grandfather on my fathers side, can be found at Mauss Farms near Dean Mauss, was a big influClimax Springs, Mo., nurturing Carthage, Mo. ence in the stewardship of the his black Angus herd. The 900land. He served on the very acre farm was originally founded
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
APRIL 19, 2021
