Justin Mauss grew up in agriculture

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Growing Up in Agriculture

By Jaynie Kinnie-Hout

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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. Justin Mauss has strong roots in the cattle industry

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. father before him, going all the way back to The herd evolved over time into a black 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. Career Ag Teacher of the year. Justin grew up on his parents 100-acre

“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 opera-

The 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 eduteaching can be a demanding career. cation. Currently, Justin is in his sixth year

“Beginning in January through April, we of teaching at Carthage Technical Center. hit the contest seasons, state degrees and Justin’s grandfather’s were both very influproficiency awards really hard. We also spend ential in his career as an agriculturalist. a significant amount of time before and after “I grew up helping my grandpa feed 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 doesn’t manage their time well, learned how to talk to people in the catthe burnout rate is really high,” tle business, I learned how to market Justin noted. my cattle, market myself and how to

When he isn’t nurturing the take care of everything on the anminds of future farmers, Justin imal husbandry side of things. My can be found at Mauss Farms near grandfather on my fathers side, Climax Springs, Mo., nurturing Carthage, Mo. Dean Mauss, was a big influhis black Angus herd. The 900- ence in the stewardship of the acre farm was originally founded land. He served on the very

first Soil and Water Conservation District for Camden County. He also served for fifty years with the Camden County Farm Bureau board where he served as President for several years. Stewardship and conservation of the land was something he took great pride in, my father takes great pride in, and by acclimation I take great pride in those things as well.”

Mauss Farms operate a commercial cow/calf operation consisting of 110 pairs of black Angus. They also have a purebred side of the operation that are marketed online or by word of mouth. They also finish out beef and sell replacement heifers and bulls.

Their priority is ensuring the cattle they raise are profitable in a cow/calf operation and performing well in the feed lot. Mauss Farms utilize an all-natural breeding program. They also sell halves and quarters of their butcher beef.

Mauss Farms market most of its cattle through Miller County Stockyard. Once the calves are weaned, they are backgrounded for approximately 90 days, then sold.

Calving takes place twice per year, beginning Sept. 1. They strive to have everything done by Nov. 1. Spring calving is pushed back to mid-January, and they like to be done by the middle of March.

Mauss Farms is a 100-percent family operation. They do all the work themselves.

“My dad Mark, and my uncle Daniel, do the majority of the work up north in Climax Springs,” Justin stated. “They’re the ones that keep the home fires burning. It’s one of those things where we have to work closely together, and it’s been that way since the 1800s. That’s how we run it.”

There are 300-acres of open pasture and the remainder is forested land.

The pastures consist of fescue, clover, lespideza, orchard grasses and warm season grasses. The bulk of the operation is grazing April 1 through Oct. 1. Very little hay is fed during this time as they strive to keep a good cow-to-pasture ratio. The cows are periodically supplemented with range cubes and cake.

They supplement with Crystalyx protein tubs and all cows and calves are kept up to date on vaccinations. Plus, they worm regularly.

Justin’s goals for the future are continuing the stewardship of the land and cattle that were passed down through the generations as-well-as continuing the legacy of the Century farms preserving them for future generations.

When Justin isn’t busy with his many agricultural pursuits, he can be found at home in Carthage with his wife Kelsey who is also a good hand on the farm.

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