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Breeding for Top-Quality Animals
Craig and Debbie Bacon of Bacon Cattle and Sheep strive to breed the best of both species.
By Terry Ropp
Bacon Cattle and Sheep breed for show-quality Herefords and club lambs While both Craig and Debbie Bacon came from production agriculture families in Missouri, their backgrounds were different and had significant impact on how their cattle and sheep operations evolved. The couple met at the University of Missouri. Craig was raised at a dairy farm and showed Herefords. Debbie was raised on a registered Angus, swine and row crop farm. Professors predicted the couple would raise black baldies. That didn’t happen. Craig was familiar with Herefords and deeply influenced by his ag teacher Gregg Alsup, as well as good friends Dr. Burl and Reba Pfander. Consequently, Bacon Cattle and Sheep raise registered Herefords and commercial club lambs, along with some Dorset ewes. However, most ewes are heavi-
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ly-influenced Hampshire crosses with Route Creations. Cassie has two children all ewes bred by Hampshire rams. The while Amanda and her husband Kirk Boecker have recently gifted Craig and Debbie a new sheep are mostly Debbie’s area. “Craig won about the cattle because grandson named Oliver. Son-in-law Kirk is his opinion was stronger than the profes- an integral part of Bacon Cattle and Sheep, sors’ and even mine,” Debbie bantered working full time on the operation with a good-naturedly. “However, we have 30 focus on managing the cow herd, while also acres devoted to sheep, something our assisting with the sheep portion of the operation. daughter Amanda particularly enjoys.” Debbie remembers the pride she felt in the Craig and Debbie have three children, two of which work at Simmons where responsibility of steering a tractor while her Craig is senior vice president of Techni- 12-year-old brother Terry chucked square cal Service. Son Justin works as a senior bales of hay from the carryall. When done, Terry climbed back onto the tracfood technologist while their tor and took over. Because Debyoungest daughter Amanda manages the regulatory team Siloam Spring, Ark. bie’s father Delmar worked off the farm, Terry was in charge at that at Simmons. Their oldest young age and quickly made Debdaughter Cassie lives in Canbie his “right-hand man.” ada along with her husband “That gave me confidence although I and have their own livestock didn’t find out until years later that my marketing business, Rural Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
mom often complained to my brother that I was always working on the farm and not helping her in the house,” Debbie confided. “I also remember the loving and wonderful time I spent with my dad walking and checking cows. The combination lit my fire and made me decide to stay in agriculture.” Predictably, the couple started out in Missouri but soon moved to Tennessee for graduate school. After a short stint in Madison, Wis., they moved to Arkansas and established their farming enterprise. The Bacons relocated to Siloam Springs, Ark., in order to purchase more land and expand their herds. While the lay of the land was appealing, the fact that it was available at the right time, in one parcel and located on Highway 16 made their current acreage a wise choice. All Hereford breeding stock is registered,, with the Bacon cattle operation producing numerous state and national champions. APRIL 26, 2021
