OFN May 1, 2023

Liability Insurance

Making sure farm operations have the right coverage

Don’t Forget Dental Care

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to remember that prevention is key for oral health

Happy on the Farm

Chris Brust says his farm life has improved his mental health

Living on the Edge

Neville Gough fulfills his dreams of being a farmer

rumor mill

OKFB awards scholarships: Jana Stacy of Muskogee County, Okla., was one of nine high school seniors to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Rancher’s committee. Ottawa County Farm Bureau member Taylor Fent is the recipient of the $1,000 Collegiate Farm Bureau scholarship. She is currently attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College studying animal science.

Council applications available: Applications for the 2023-24 Agriculture Youth Council are now available for Oklahoma high school students entering their senior year in the fall of 2023. Members will meet once a month throughout the school year. Activities include visits to Oklahoma agricultural companies and organizations, opportunities to learn about the legislative process, and job shadows with industry professionals. High school seniors from all Oklahoma counties are eligible to apply. Membership in 4-H/FFA is not required. For more information or to apply, visit go.ozarksfn.com/oho.

Beef donated: Members from the Oklahoma Cattlemen’ Association joined together to donate more than 800 pounds of beef to the Ronald McDonald House Charity in Tulsa, Okla. The effort started by Russell Boles, Watson, Okla., donating a steer to benefit the charity. From there Watson Farms Meat Processing in Council Hill, Okla., donated the processing. A result of joining together, the two were able to provide a freezer full of steaks and ground beef for families staying at the House. Cowgirl Beef, owned and operated by Christina Farris, Fort Cobb, Okla., also donated beef snack sticks to go in the grab-and-go snack area of the house.

Record participants: Members of Arkansas 4-H and FFA from 69 counties each received flocks of 15 to 16 two-day-old chicks through the Poultry Chain program organized by the Cooperative Extension Service. Scharidi Barber, extension poultry instructor for youth programs for the Division of Agriculture, said 2,260 youth will receive chicks this year – the largest number of participants in the program’s more than 40-year history. Participants will raise Lohmann White chickens, a yearround egg layer that can begin laying eggs around 18 weeks. Barber said this breed is “more feed-efficient,” making them a cost-effective option for the program amid high feed prices.

Students honored: The Ferguson College of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University recently recognized 20 Seniors of Distinction. Those seniors from the Ozarks include Jerret Carpenter of Poteau, Okla., natural resource ecology and management and philosophy; Roy Grant of Muskogee, Okla., agribusiness; and Hunter McConnell of Owasso, Okla., animal science. The trio was also each honored with the Dean’s Award of Excellence.

Know a Good Rumor?

OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm

JUST A THOUGHT

3 Jerry Crownover –Clearing the clutter

4 Jody Harris – Spring is in the air

5 Julie Turner-Crawford –Taking care of yourself

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 Farming and technology merge

8 Fulfilling his farming dreams

9 Eye on Agribusiness highlights Searcy Farm Supply

10 A different world underground

11 Town & Country - Shelby Bergman

18 Chris Brust says he’s happy on the farm

20 Youth in Agriculture features Weston Evans

FARM HEALTH & INSURANCE

12 Oral health is critical

13 Thinking about joint replacement?

16 Walk your way to better health

17 Knowing what’s candy and what isn’t

FARM HELP

21 An optimistic outlook

22 The fight with flies and ticks

23 Do you have the right coverage?

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

24 Breeding season or year-round coverage?

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

just a thought

Life Is Simple

By Jerry Crownover

With the help of my wife, I have spent the past four days giving the shop/machinery barn a long, overdue cleaning and a bit of reorganization. We filled a 20-cubic yard dumpster to the brim with things that I shouldn’t be holding onto (#hoarding). Judy rarely goes to the machinery shed, so she was shocked at the disarray. As she was making her way through the maze of old wire, rusty buckets and dilapidated cardboard boxes, with an armload of more refuse, I heard her scream out in pain as she tripped over an immovable object. Her shin had discovered my father’s old, 120-pound blacksmith anvil. “What is this?” she mumbled in despair as she vigorously rubbed her aching leg.

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”.

Publisher Administrative Amanda Newell, Marketing Manager Eric Tietze, Accounting Advertising

Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales

Amanda Newell, Production Sales Circulation Eric Tietze, Circulation

Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors

Lance Albin, Anita Harrison, Kaylee HudsonMiller Tina LuAnn Hart, Dr. Zachary Jarrett, Cheryl Kepes, Michael Kinney, Sonya Kullmann, Charlotte Marsch, Marissa Snider and Sheila Stogsdill

About the Cover

Chris Brust says his farm, above all, makes him happy. See more on page 18.

Submitted photo Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2022. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

I began a much longer-than-intended discourse about my dad’s abilities as a primitive ironworker. I told her of my job as the boy who cranked the bellows of the blacksmith forge, which provided the air-fuel, directed through a metal vent, to the burning coal that would enable my dad to heat the metal to a red-hot, workable temperature. When my dad was still farming, with a team of horses or mules, he could shape and fit horseshoes to a custom fit for the animals. Those skills allowed him to do so many things with metal that are no longer needed in the modern world of arc welders and plasma cutters. I continued to educate my wife about the role of the anvil by explaining that the round hole in the anvil permitted Dad to heat a piece of metal and punch a hole in it long before electric drills would do the same thing. The square hole was where

To contact Jerry, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’

— Continued on Page 6

Freshly Picked

By Jody Harris

We are officially in pollen season in Northwest Arkansas. The birds and the bees are busy spreading it tree to tree and flower to flower. Our cars and windows are covered in a thin layer of yellow dust. It’s a symbol of this wonderful season of renewal. I have been busy in my garden. I am determined to stay on top of the weed control this year.

I have hesitated to plant more than potatoes, onions and a few other cold weather crops. Each time I jump the gun and plant flowers and tomatoes too early, we get a little late season frost. There are low temperatures predicted again this weekend as I share this story with you.

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.’

During the Easter season, my oldest daughter took me to a local tulip farm outside of Fayetteville. When we pulled up, the parking lot was packed. I made a comment to her as we approached the front gate, this was the kind of farm city people come to when they wanted to feel like they were in the country. It was such a pretty place with several rows of beautiful tulips.

The operation was diversified with berries, a fruit orchard and beehives. The gift shop touted local honey and other items. My favorite feature was an old combine that had been gutted and made into a major part of the slide and playground area. It was a fun, local experience and also quite expensive.

After realizing the cost of visiting a local tulip farm for cut flowers, we are now determined to grow more cut flowers in and around our family vegetable garden this year. I enjoy working on and adding to all the flower beds adorning our family farm. My youngest daughter and I have plans to add layers of more staggered bulb flowers this year. We have been researching all colors of tulip bulbs under the sun. We have created a whole bed of flowers to attract hummingbirds.

Recently, I had an opportunity to visit with a couple of friends from the Chester area over lunch. They have a lot of experience with beekeeping. I have not braved starting any beehives at our farm yet. I was wide-eyed as he told me how he catches a swarm to get a queen bee into the beehive. It is fascinating and terrifying. I really want to try out a beekeeper’s suit and watch someone gather honey. I am a big patron of local honey because I have been told it helps with allergies. There is an entire section of our local library dedicated to beekeeping, including hives. I just might surprise myself and get into it soon.

Hopefully the danger of frost will pass soon so we can get busy with more flowers and vegetables. Until then, there are track meets, baseball games and our oldest daughter’s first high school prom to tend to. There is no shortage of things to do this spring. Our family seems like a bunch of busy birds and bees this year and always. I hope you are having a lovely spring.

Pollen season is just about over, bless you neighbor.

Across The Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

Ihave reached that “certain age.”

The purchase of a new vacuum cleaner was the highlight of my weekend a while back, and now I’m excited about the new attachment for my leaf blower, so I don’t have to climb a ladder to clean gutters. I don’t like being away from home after dark, and I have to watch the early-morning local news every morning, or it throws my whole day off. I catch myself saying, “back in my day,” and I complain of old injuries or new aches and pains that flair up with cold weather or rain.

Yep, I have reached that “certain age,” and I don’t like it. Late last summer, I thought reaching that “certain age” was why I was having some issues.

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.

My vision had drastically deteriorated. I found myself driving differently because I really had to focus, and I realized I was cocking my head back all the time to look through my bifocals because

— Continued on Next Page

DESSERT

Chicken Piccata Pasta

• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 1/3 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 1/2 Tbsp butter

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped

• 2 shallots, chopped

• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

• 1/2 C white wine

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 1 C chicken broth or stock

• 3 Tbsp green olives, drained

• 1/2 C parsley, chopped

• 1 pound penne pasta, cooked to al dente and drained

Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil and the chicken to the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken until lightly golden all over, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and return the skillet to the heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter, the garlic and shallots to the skillet. Sauté garlic and shallots for 3 minutes. Add flour and cook 2 minutes. Whisk in wine and reduce liquid for 1 minute. Whisk lemon juice and broth into sauce. Stir in green olives and parsley. When the liquid comes to a bubble, add remaining butter. Add chicken back to the pan and heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Toss hot pasta with chicken and sauce and serve.

From the M60 to the M6, the Kubota M Series is part of our tractor lineup rated #1 for durability and owner experience in the U.S. as awarded by Progressive Farmer.* Available right now for a great deal.

just a thought

Across the Fence

Continued from Previous Page

it was clearer. It was getting harder and harder to read or work on the computer, two things I do for my job.

I finally broke down and got my eyes checked. Yep, my vision was much worse, which was no surprise because I had put off having my eyes checked for years – like six years.

In passing, the optometrist said I might want to consult with an eye surgeon “sometime,” but he did not express it was an emergency. Bill told me not to wait to get that appointment, and I knew he would hound me if I didn’t.

I saw the optometrist on a Friday and got a referral sent to an ophthalmologist the following Monday. By Wednesday, I got a call from the ophthalmologist’s office with an appointment for 10 a.m. the next day. I tried to put the appointment off, but the lady on the phone said the doctor wanted me seen as soon as possible.

GRAY BROTHERS EQUIPMENT

The following day was like a whirlwind. Ladies were putting things in my eyes to hold them open, telling me to look at flashing lights, putting in countless drops, asking me all these questions about shooting pain, and so on. When the doctor finally came in, he popped more things into my eyes, and said I needed surgery. He explained I have a form of glaucoma. The opening that regulates the fluid and pressure in my eyes was in danger of closing, and if that area closed off, I would have excruciating pain and be blind in 48 hours.

Life Is Simple

Continued from Page 3

one would place a hardy tool (an upside-down, chisel-type tool) that enabled the user to cut hot metal long before the oxy-acetylene torch was commonplace.

That’s a lot to take in at once. Other than bad vision, I had no headaches, no pain in my eyes, or other symptoms to alert me a problem was brewing. No one could believe I had no eye pain or headaches. I asked if we needed to schedule the procedure sooner rather than later.

“Oh, we’re going to do it in a few minutes,” the doctor said in a very frank tone.

After a couple of hours in the doctor’s office, I was on my way home. It took an additional procedure and couple more trips to get me in the clear, but it’s a condition I will be monitored for the rest of my life.

Today, I have new glasses, know the symptoms to watch for, and an appointment for this fall to get everything rechecked. Get your eyes checked, folks. Don’t put it off, especially if you have high-blood pressure like I do. There could be more going on than you realize. What I chalked up to being that “certain age” could have meant certain blindness for me.

It’s never fun to go to the doctor, but putting things off can only make a minor condition worse. Most farmers and ranchers tend to brush off injuries, illness or other health concerns because they have other things to do. “I ain’t got time for this,” is a phrase I have said multiple times myself. We always have other things to do, but tasks and chores should not come before your health.

KubotaUSA.com

*Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2023. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months on purchases of the new M60 and M4 equipment and $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 48 months on purchases of M5, M6 and M6s Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. Offers expire 06/30/23. Some exceptions apply. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your Dealer or KubotaUSA.com.

I explained how my father would use this hardy tool to cut pieces out of a discarded leaf spring (a long, slender strip of hardened steel) from an old truck or wagon and attach that piece to an existing moldboard plow, thereby giving it a new plow point (about the only thing that ever wears out on a plow). That was an annual

chore before we would begin plowing each spring. After the new point was attached, Dad would heat up the new unit to a hot, cherry-red and literally beat the blunt piece of metal with a hammer on the anvil until it was sharp enough to cut through the soil of that creek-bottom farm. I can still smell the aroma of that burning coal and hear the rhythmic tempo of a hammer on anvil.

With furrowed brows and clenched teeth, Judy interrupted, pausing with staccato-like precision between each word, “When I said, ‘What is this,’ I meant, ‘What is this doing here?’”

meet your neighbors A Love of Farming and Technology

By Sheila Stogsdill

Brent Rendel mixes his engineering background with practices at Rendel Farms

With a background in engineering Brent Rendel has turned his love of scientific methods into saving money and Oklahoma soil.

Brent and Jera Rendel are third generation farmers. They along with Brent’s mother Sue and nephew Zack operate Rendel Farms in Ottawa County north of Miami. The 54,000-acre farm grows wheat, corn, grain sorghum and soybeans.

The Rendel family can trace their family’s farming roots before statehood, when Brent’s great-great-grandfather moved to Oklahoma in the late 1800s from the Ohio River Valley. Brent can also trace his engineering heritage back to his father, Mark, who also had a mechanical engineering degree from Oklahoma State University.

After graduation in 1986 with a mechanical engineering degree from Oklahoma State, Brent served his country for the next seven years by working as a Navy submarine officer and nuclear engineer. In 1993, Brent left the Navy and returned to Oklahoma to run a family steel fabrication business.

In 1986, he helped dig the family roots in Ottawa County a bit deeper when he joined the family’s farming business.

The technical background of engineering has always piqued Brent’s interest. So, he really fell in love with farming when he could marry it with engineering.

Winter canola used as a rotation crop was one of fruits of that marriage of farming and engineering.

“Rendel Farms was the first farm in northeast Oklahoma,” Brent said referring to using the crop.

Brent got his hands dirty doing onfarm research when Oklahoma State was expanding their in-field use of the GreenSeeker technology they developed.

The GreenSeeker technology provides an opportunity for the farmer to apply

only the needed nitrogen fertilizer on their farms for the growing season, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension website. Using the GreenSeeker sensor, a handheld device, allows the farmer to instantly take a reading of the crop’s health, the website states.

“The results were surprising,” Brent said.

The GreenSeeker sensor said the soil did not need any nitrogen at all on a wheat field, he said.

Always cautious and analytical, Brent approached the sensor’s readings like anything else.

He measured the results, and he discovered the field without the added ni- trogen yielded as well as the other fields of wheat that year. The savings from not applying that nitrogen resulted in a significant increase in profit.

Brent evaluated GreenSeeker the next year across more fields and all yielded very favorable results.

One avenue of farming Brent’s ancestors did not utilize was social media.

Brent’s Twitter handle @OkiefarmerBrent has more than 838 followers. Brent follows farmers across the county and retweets everything from his favorite football team – Kansas City Chiefs – to his love of dogs – to selling farm combines – to passing out farming research knowledge.

Brent also uses his combination of farming-science background at Oklahoma State University Extension where he conducts research on improving farming methods.

Brent is one of the recipients of the 2019 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence.

Brent currently serves as Oklahoma Oilseed Commission, secretary/treasurer; the Oklahoma Soybean Board, chairman and the United Soybean Board, director. The commissions administer the state canola and sunflower, state soybean and national soybean checkoff program.

Miami, Okla.

“I think the internet has made the world a smaller community but yet enlarged a farmer’s resources family,” Rendel said.

“Farmers across the county can connect with each other and help one another.

Brent also serves as a farmer/cooperator with several on-farm research programs, including the Kansas Ag Research and Technology Association (KARTA), the Rainfed Agriculture Initiative Network Farmer-to-Farmer program (RAIN F2F) and Data Intensive Farm Management Project (DIFM).

Submitted Photo

meet your neighbors Living on the Edge

By Tina LuAnn Hart

Neville Gough fulfills his dreams of being a farmer

“If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room,” is a quote Neville Gough often heard from his father while growing up in Northwest Indiana and it is how he lives his life today.

Neville is a first-generation farmer. He did not grow up farming, and his family has had no history of farming for several generations. Neville came from a construction family. His grandfather was a bricklayer, and his father was a bricklayer and a developer. Neville naturally followed in their footsteps and became a construction manager.

However, his love for farming started on those Indiana back roads when he would ride his bike. While riding, the avid endurance cyclist would pass miles of farms that grew corn, soybean, hogs and cattle. Being outside was what he really enjoyed, and he found being in the country was his place of peace and rest.

Neville and his wife Elizabeth have six children, and he dreamed of farming for his family. Last year, he decided it was time to make the dream a reality. He has a lot of dreams and goals, and he is the type of person who goes after those goals once he has set them. “It may take me a while to get there, but I will obviously get there one day.”

When he finally decided farming was what he wanted to do, he suddenly proclaimed, “I’m going to do this thing.” And he did.

“Everything, by God’s grace and His providence, just fell into place after much prayer,” Neville said. “Then, all of a sudden, one thing happened after another, and I was blessed to lease 50 acres; then, since I had the land, I purchased my first cows. It all just fell into place. .”

After researching all the possibilities, he decided the approach he wanted to take would focus on the regenerative farming principle; minimize or eliminate tillage, protect the soil, add biodiversity and integrate livestock. The benefits of this approach are a marked increase in overall soil health and an increase in soil organic matter.

“We are not cattle farmers; we are grass farmers first,” Neville said. “I’ve been focusing on the soil health, kicking the dirt, digging with a shovel, and trying to figure out what I need to do to bring life back to it and trying to be a wise steward of the land with the limited material and budget that I have.”

Neville recently purchased 10 Texas Longhorns from 4B Longhorns in Oklahoma, eight heavily-bred cows and two heifers. He also purchased two bull calves, hoping to keep one as a herd bull.

“Because this is my first time ever farming and they (from my research) tend to be more forgiving to a first-timer mistakes,” Neville said of his Longhorns.

Other reasons for choosing

Longhorns are the ease of calving, parasite resistance, foraging reputation, a gentler temperament than some breeds, and natural-

ly-leaner meat that is lower in cholesterol than chicken. He believes there could be a niche market in Northwest Arkansas for a naturally-lean beef product, with it being a very athletic, health-conscious community.

Neville has done a lot of research into regenerative farming and follows several prominent farms practicing it efficiently. Wolki Farms out of Australia is one of his favorites.

“I just love their regenerative systems approach and their farm tour experience ideas, how they are bringing people, who didn’t grow up on a farm, or had that farm experience, to their farm to teach them about farm life,” he said.

His long-term goal is to model his business in a similar fashion and provide a farm stay experience with direct-to-consumer sales and potentially a custom butcher shop.

Neville’s current goal is to complete his movable paddock system to mob graze the herd. Mob grazing differs from traditional rotational grazing due to it being a shorter duration but high-density grazing event with a longer grass recovery period. Paddocks are typically grazed from one to two days with a 30-to-60-day recovery period. Each paddock will be from 1 to 2 acres each and have poly-wire strand sets. Neville plans to use GPS to grid out the

paddocks. He has a mobile chicken coop, 16 chickens and some eggs in an incubator waiting to hatch. His goal is to have 40 to 50 chickens grazing with the cattle to scatter manure and eat any parasites that may be present.

He is working on a mobile watering system that will allow him to get water from one paddock to the next more efficiently. Since he has an incline on one of his pastures is a considerable distance away from his only water source, he may have to build a pond in order to gravity flow the water to the paddocks instead of trying to push it up the hill.

“It is a learning experience and I still have a lot of learning to go,” he said.

Neville is quick to give credit to his friends from church and work who are farmers.

Neville is passionate about creating good soil health and making the land more sustainable.

“I really want to leave this dirt that I am a steward of in better condition than when I received it,” he said. “I know what I do will only make a minor impact on the environment, but I want to do my part. Growing up as a developer’s son and now being in the construction industry myself all I have done is take out ecosystems. Now, I finally get the chance to help an ecosystem and develop something that will live long beyond the buildings and the parking lots.”

Submitted Photo

By Julie Turner-Crawford

Owners: Billy and Kim Tripp

Location: Searcy, Ark.

History: Billy and Kim Tripp have owned and operated Searcy Farm Supply for 23 years. The couple bought the business from the Taylor family, who had owned it since 1970.

Products and Services: Searcy Farm Supply offers a wide line of products for farmers and ranchers, be it for livestock, forge production or row crops, and have 11 employees ready to serve the needs of their customers.

“We sell fertilizer, and we sell feed, chemicals, garden seeds, garden plants, bale wrap, nuts, bolts, plows and all farming supplies.”

Searcy Farm Supply offers livestock feed for all livestock species, including rabbits and chickens, with bagged selections from Hirsch.

Searcy Farm Supply offers bulk fertilizer and a fleet of applicator buggies are available.

Additionally, seed from DeKalb and D&PL and a good selection of herbicides and insecticides are available. Irrigation items can also be found at Searcy Farm Supply. Victor, Joy and Nutro dog foods are also in stock for the pet owner. Clothing is unavailable at Search Farm Supply, but customers can find a selection of Muck and LaCrosse boots.

Hunters can also find food plot mixes and deer attractants. Some locally-produced items, such as fresh produce, honey and pecans, can also be found at the store, depending on the season.

Because they are farmers themselves, Kim said they know what farmers need and want, and feel that is one of the reasons for their success over the last two decades. The Tripp family also operates Tripp Gin Company, which processes cotton, and Tripp Custom Picking.

Future plans: The Tripps plan to continue to serve their customers, but there are no plans for expansion.

“Things are working pretty good and keeping us busy like it is,” she said with a laugh.

SUDAN/MILLET

ozarks roots

Splendor Underground

For nearly 180 years, adventurers have come to a natural wonder millions of years in the making.

Cosmic Cavern in Berryville, Ark., was discovered in 1845 by John More and his two sons while mining for lead near Indian Creek. The Moores dubbed the cavern Moore’s Cave.

Early exploration of the cave found a chamber and an underground lake below the opening.

Ewell family homesteaded above the cave in the 1880s and mined for “cave onyx,” which was carved into jewelry and figurines sold at Eureka Springs. Two boys resumed the mining for cave onyx in the 1920s, and some of that onyx became the gear shift knob for the Model A Ford.

The cave was undeveloped until 1927 when a staircase was built to begin tours. Since its discovery, Moore’s Cave has been known as Bear Cave, Maple Springs Cave, Joe Johnson Cave at Sycamore Hollow, Majestic Cave, Mystic Cave and Mystery Cave.

Owned by Randy and Anita Lang-

By Julie Turner-Crawford

hover since 1980, the cave is nowCosmic Cavern is Arkansas’s largest, privately-owned show cave. In 2022, 26,2000 guests explored the cavern.

Manager Janell Honey said the cave is about a half-mile long, and visitors may choose the one-third mile round trip, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes, or take the “wild tour” and explore the undeveloped cave area discovered by Randy in 1993.

“He blasted through and found an entire area and another lake,” Janell said. “The north part of our cave, everything is pristine and pretty much untouched; it’s what a cave is supposed to look like.”

Randy’s discovery was more than 1,000 feet of additional space.

The new area has been dubbed the “Oh My God” room, which Randy uttered when he found a new section.

“It is absolutely amazing,” Janell said. “It is pristine and has the tallest soda straw (a young stalactite) in the Ozarks, which is 9 feet tall. It was a column from top to bottom at one time, but a few inches broke off the top, so it’s balancing there. It’s one of my favorites and a

crowd favorite too. When you look in there and see all these massive columns that are like a million soda straws that have come together to make one big column, it’s pretty amazing. This cave is just amazing, and we love to show it off.”

The Silent Splendor is part of the 1993 discovery. Pure white soda straws and bizarre helictites cover the ceilings of this section of the cave. Many of the formations are transparent.

The two lakes in the cave are “bottomless.” In 1996, divers descended about 80 feet in the cave’s waters and found no bottom.

“We’ve tried, but they just keep going,” Janell said of the lakes.

History knows when the cave was found and what has happened there since its discovery, but there are still many unknowns.

“There is just so much history here,” Janell said. “We’ve even got one ghost. He likes to play little tricks on us now and then. When you are in the cave by yourself, you never feel like you’re alone; you keep thinking someone else

is there and coming around the corner. He’s ornery.”

Janell explained that someone wrote the name “Sam” on the wall of the cave, so they assumed the prankster was the spirit of Sam, but that might not be the case.

“We had a physic in the cave who identified this young boy as Jacob,” Janell said. “His name must be Jacob, but I call him Samuel Jacob.”

Visitors are welcome to take photos but cannot touch the formations inside the cavern.

All cave tours are guided, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes to navigate the steep and uneven stairs, but leave their coats and sweatshirts in the car. The cavern remains a constant 64 degrees.

“We get free AC in the summer and free heat in the winter,” Janell said. “The 99 percent humidity makes it feel more like 68, and we tell people they are going to get hot.”

Cosmic Cavern is open daily, except for Christmas day. It is also closed in January and February, reopening March 1 each year.

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

First discovered in 1845, Cosmic Cavern continues to awe crowds

Shelby Bergman

By Kaylea Hutson-Miller

Hometown: Wyandotte, Okla. and Adair, Okla.

Family: Husband Garrett

In Town: Shelby Bergman has worked in some form or fashion in her husband Garrett’s agricultural education programs since they began dating in 2015. For the last two years she has worked professionally with him as the FFA agricultural assistant at Miami, Okla. High School.

Shelby got her start in ag ed first as part of the Adair FFA Chapter, and then later, as a student at Northeast Oklahoma A&M College in Miami. Initially, Shelby began pursuing an ag ed degree at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Since joining the staff at MHS, she has gone on to complete her agriculture degree at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

“My favorite thing is watching students learn and achieve both big and small goals,” she said. “I enjoy being able to coach them along the way and encourage them to try new things and step outside of their comfort zone. I remember how scared I was when I first enrolled in FFA vs. where I am now. My hope is to create a little spark of interest that can be turned from a flame to a wildfire.”

In Country: Her background includes showing beef cattle nationally and competing on the horse evaluation team while a student at the U of A. The couple now have a 7-acre farm in Ottawa County. They use the land for whitetail deer hunting, spending recent years cleaning up excessive brush and adding landscaping. Long-term goals include expanding their property and either raising Boer goats or beef cattle. Shelby jokes she would like a few guineas and chickens, but has not convinced Garrett to venture into poultry.

“I have an interesting perspective in regard to the agricultural industry as I joined my FFA Chapter as an eighth grader and began exhibiting LimFlex and Angus heifers,” Shelby said. “My interest and passion for the industry began there and has never stopped. I’ve learned a lot but there is still so much to learn. I love the traditions wrapped up in farming and enjoy being able to watch my hard work and efforts pay off. Whether that is in growing my own produce, my interest in horticulture, livestock, or students it’s what I enjoy.”

In the Future: Shelby hopes to build long-term relationships in the community.

“The more relationships we build, the more opportunities and doors we can open for students,” Bergman said. “There are some big things in the works that I can’t quite share at this time but I can say there are some amazing things happening within our community and our program so stay tuned.”

FARM HEALTH & INSURANCE

Don’t Forget Dental Care

By Dr. Zachary Jarrett, D.D.S.

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to remember that prevention is key for oral health

I am Dr. Zachary Jarrett D.D.S. and I practice dentistry in rural Missouri. Having grown up on a small farm in central Missouri, farm life is near and dear to my heart. My father is a turkey and cattle farmer as was my grandfather before him. When I applied to dental school, I knew I wanted to come back close to home and practice in a rural setting. I am proud to serve in my community. We provide much needed services to individuals who otherwise would not have access to healthcare.

Life on a farm is busy and there are constantly new challenges. Livestock need to be fed and tended to daily. On a turkey farm, something is always in need of repair. The busier life is, the more likely we are to put things off until things become painful or bothersome. I often hear patients say, “I haven’t been to the dentist in years, but I can’t take this pain any longer.”

If I could give farmers and ranchers one piece of advice about their oral health, it would be simply – don’t wait until you are in a lot of pain to see the dentist. Prevention is key to good oral hygiene. Routine dental exams and cleanings are important for us to catch

things while they are minor and require less invasive treatment. Preventative dental treatment is often much more affordable and comfortable than the extensive care that is required from waiting until it becomes painful. It’s best to change the oil in farm equipment routinely instead of waiting for the engine to smoke or stall. In the same way, catching oral health problems early leads to the best outcomes.

For many patients, having bad teeth seems like a family curse that can’t be escaped. I often hear, “Bad teeth run in my family, so I guess that’s why my teeth are bad too.” Some patients who already have extensive dental problems may fall into thinking, “Why bother – I will just get dentures.” The problem with this thinking is that it falsely causes patients to give up on caring for their teeth. While there are genetic factors to oral health, most of these issues can be overcome with good oral hygiene habits and routine dental care.

I often tell patients dentures are a life-changing decision. Patients with dentures must learn to talk and chew again; it’s like losing a leg and learning to walk with a prosthetic. Patients are always

surprised at how differently dentures function than their natural teeth. Even when multiple teeth have been lost, beginning to practice good oral hygiene habits and routine care still leads to better outcomes.

As every cattle rancher already knows, the condition of a cow’s teeth can be a sign of the overall health of the animal. Cattle ranchers may be surprised to learn that the condition of their teeth is also associated with their overall health. For example, research shows that there is a correlation between oral health and other conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Good oral health promotes good overall health for the whole family. By keeping routine dental exams and practicing daily brushing and flossing, you can be a part of a new health legacy for your family. One day your child may say, “Everyone in my family has good teeth so that’s why I do too.”

Dr. Zachary Jarrett, D.D.S. is a dentistry practitioner at Jordayn Valley Community Health Center in Lebanon, Mo.

farm health & insurance

a Walk

By Charlotte Marsch

Walking has many benefits, including improving muscle strength and reducing stress

“So what do you want to talk about today? What questions do you have?”

Taylor Pedersen, D.O., asks as a group of walkers takes off down the trail at Dallas County Community Park in Buffalo, Mo.

On a rare warm and sunny day in early March, the group first talks about how nofat and low-fat diets can harm the brain and lead to dementia. The conversation transitions to how popular diet programs can be harmful and which diets to avoid.

Next up, sugar consumption in the U.S. has increased exponentially since the 1960s.

What is to blame for the increase?

“Processed foods,” Kristina Kaufmann, D.O. said. “Sugar makes everything taste better, but sugar is like a drug. It is addictive. Fruits and vegetables with lean meats are the way to go.”

The doctors tell patients daily that they need to be more active. Pedersen recalls a quote she often repeats,

“Respect your body enough to move it,” she said.

By hosting the monthly walking events, the doctors show they are willing to do what they are telling their patients to do.

“And we want people to know we are real people, too, just like them,” Kaufmann added.

Walking together reinforces the idea of accountability, which Kaufmann says is

vital to success with a fitness program.

“Even if you’ve worked out your entire life, it’s so easy to get into a rut and not want to do it,” she said.

Benefits of walking

Why walk? Can’t you burn more calories and get more benefits from other forms of exercise?

“Walking is something everyone can do,” Kaufmann said. “It doesn’t matter your speed. It’s important to get your heart rate up, but you don’t have to run to do it. Especially as women get older, we need to exercise to build our muscles and keep our bones strong. And it helps us sleep better.”

Walking is good for:

n Muscle strength

n Joint health

n Stress relief

n Emotional health

n Mental health

n Heart health

n Weight control

“There are so many things that just mov ing your body can do for you that really no medicine or other form of health can do for you in such a unified, combined manner,” Pedersen said.

“Walking is the best thing that we can do for our bodies.”

slaughter bulls

Replacement Sheep/Lambs: Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2 (per unit): 125.00195.00.

Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 230.00-525.00.

Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/20-40 lbs lamb (per unit): 150.00-450.00.

Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/40-60 lbs lamb (per unit): 260.00-350.00. Feeder Goats:

Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 330.00-405.00.

Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 230.00-300.00.

sheep & goats

Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards Sheep/Goat 4/22/23

Receipts: 1,928

slaughter cows

Compared to the sale 2 weeks ago feeder lambs sold 10.00-30.00 lower with slaughter lambs 5.00-10.00 lower. Slaughter ewes sold steady to 10.00 higher. Sheep families sold up to 525.00 per family. In the goat portion of the sale feeder kid goats sold 30.00-60.00 higher. Slaughter kid goats sold 10.00-15.00 higher. Not enough slaughter nannies for a comparison. Replacement nannies sold up to 385.00 per head. Supply was heavy with good demand. Supply included: 22% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (1% Lambs, 99% Hair Lambs); 38% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (3% Wooled & Shorn, 83% Hair Breeds, 2% Ewes, 10% Hair Ewes, 1% Bucks, 2% Hair Bucks); 20% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (53% Hair Ewes, 47% Families); 11% Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 6% Slaughter Goats (76% Kids, 13% Nannies/Does, 8% Bucks/Billies, 3% Wethers); 3% Replacement Goats (93% Nannies/Does, 7% Families).

Feeder Sheep/Lambs:

Lambs - Medium and Large 1-2 (per cwt): 240.00.

Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 240.00275.00.

Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:

Wooled & Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 225.00-250.00.

Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 210.00265.00.

Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 185.00-235.00.

Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 50.00.

Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per unit): 100.00.

Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 130.00.

Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per unit): 130.00.

Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per unit): 100.00125.00.

Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 55.00.

Hair Bucks - 1-2 (per cwt): 100.00-140.00.

Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 170.00.

Slaughter Goats:

Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 320.00-410.00.

Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 210.00-280.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 120.00-130.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 165.00-235.00.

Wethers - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 160.00.

Replacement Goats:

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per unit): 150.00-385.00.

Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 300.00.

Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat 4/20/23

Receipts: 666

Compared to the sale 2 weeks ago feeder lambs sold steady to 10.00 lower with slaughter lambs 20.00-35.00 lower. Slaughter ewes sold steady to 10.00 higher. In the goat portion of the sale feeder kid goats sold 30.00-40.00 higher with slaughter kid goats selling 35.00-55.00 higher. A 50 lb. kid replacement goat sold for 410.00. A young replacement billie sold for 390 per head. Supply was moderate with good demand. Supply included: 20% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (9% Lambs, 91% Hair Lambs); 37% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (5% Wooled & Shorn, 59% Hair Breeds, 12% Ewes, 24% Hair Ewes); 3% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (100% Families); 14% Feeder Goats (87% Kids, 13% Wether Kids); 19% Slaughter Goats (59% Kids, 24% Nannies/Does, 8% Bucks/Billies, 9% Wether Kids); 6% Replacement Goats (90% Nannies/Does, 10% Families).

Feeder Sheep/Lambs:

Lambs - Medium and Large 1-2 (per cwt): 215.00-245.00.

Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2 (per cwt): 180.00270.00.

Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:

Wooled & Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 177.50.

Wooled & Shorn - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 125.00.

Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 185.00245.00.

Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 160.00-220.00.

Hair Breeds - Good 1-2 (per cwt): 100.00-150.00.

Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 105.00.

Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 75.00-90.00.

Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 55.00-70.00.

Hair Ewes - Good 2-3 (per cwt): 125.00.

Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 77.50-125.00.

Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 65.00-110.00.

Replacement Sheep/Lambs:

Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per unit): 140.00-210.00.

Feeder Goats:

Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 305.00-365.00.

Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 250.00-310.00.

Kids - Selection 3 (per cwt): 100.00.

Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 345.00-360.00. Wether Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 255.00.

Slaughter Goats:

Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 300.00-377.50.

Kids - Selection 2 (per cwt): 260.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 60.00-145.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 143.00-185.00. Wether Kids - Selection 1 (per cwt): 310.00-385.00.

Replacement Goats:

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 155.00-245.00. Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 170.00200.00.

National Sheep Summary 4/21/23

Weekly Trends: Compared to last week traditional slaughter lambs steady to 3.00 higher; other lambs under 70 lbs 15.00-50.00 lower, heavier weights mostly 10.0020.00 lower, except at New Holland, PA 10.00-30.00 higher. Slaughter ewes steady to 15.00 lower. No comparison on feeder lambs. At San Angelo, TX 8,103 head sold. No sales in Equity Cooperative Auction. Superior Video sold 420 slaughter lambs in Utah. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs not tested. 3,251 lamb carcasses traded with no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless specified.

Cheese: Barrels $1.7500. The (-0.0405) and Fluid Milk/Cream: throughout got frost and temperatures milk production problematic transporting from plants plants in and running sales are reported Milk volumes to meet current reported. is steady spring breaks. manufactures Demand of condensed contacts to production are 1.15-1.30 and 1.00-1.27 SPOT PRICES

Sheep/Lambs:

Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt):

Shorn - Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 125.00.

Choice and Prime 1-3 (per cwt): 185.00-

Choice 1-3 (per cwt): 160.00-220.00.

Good 1-2 (per cwt): 100.00-150.00. (per cwt): 105.00.

and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 75.00-90.00.

Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 55.00-70.00.

Good 2-3 (per cwt): 125.00.

Utility and Good 1-3 (per cwt): 77.50-125.00. and Utility 1-2 (per cwt): 65.00-110.00.

Sheep/Lambs: and Medium 1-2 w/<20 lbs lamb (per 140.00-210.00.

1 (per cwt): 305.00-365.00.

2 (per cwt): 250.00-310.00.

3 (per cwt): 100.00.

Selection 1 (per cwt): 345.00-360.00.

Selection 2 (per cwt): 255.00.

1 (per cwt): 300.00-377.50.

2 (per cwt): 260.00.

Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 60.00-145.00.

Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 143.00-185.00.

Selection 1 (per cwt): 310.00-385.00.

Goats:

Selection 1-2 (per cwt): 155.00-245.00.

Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid (per unit): 170.00-

Summary 4/21/23

Compared to last week traditional steady to 3.00 higher; other lambs under 15.00-50.00 lower, heavier weights mostly 10.00except at New Holland, PA 10.00-30.00 highewes steady to 15.00 lower. No comparison

At San Angelo, TX 8,103 head sold. No Cooperative Auction. Superior Video sold lambs in Utah. In direct trading slaughter lambs not tested. 3,251 lamb carcasses trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold weight (CWT) unless specified.

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance 4/21/23

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.5525 and 40# blocks at $1.7500. The weekly average for barrels is $1.5310 (-0.0405) and blocks, $1.7570 (-0.0420).

Fluid Milk/Cream: Milk output is strong to steady throughout the country. Parts of the Northeast got frost and freezing overnight, and Arizona had temperatures into the lower 90s, but impacts to milk production were minimal. Transportation is problematic for parts of California, with some areas transporting heavy volumes. Overall demand levels from plants have improved with previously shut plants in the Central Valley area of California up and running again. Class III spot load purchases and sales are reported at $11 to $4 below Class prices. Milk volumes for processing needs are available to meet current demand, as no shortages are being reported. Overall bottling demand has picked up and is steady with educational facilities past scheduled spring breaks. Demand for Class II by ice cream manufactures is reportedly trending seasonally higher. Demand for Class III and IV is strong to steady. Plenty of condensed skim milk and cream is available, as contacts report a heavy to balanced supply compared to production needs. Cream multiplies for all Classes are 1.15-1.30 in the East, 1.21 - 1.29 in the Midwest, and 1.00-1.27 in the West.

SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM: $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT, F.O.B., producing plants, Midwestern U.S. - $2.9369 - $3.0309.

cow/calf pairs

e voice of the Ozarks

Thinking About Joint Replacement?

By Anita Harrison

Having a conversation with your doctor can help you decide

Talking with an orthopedic surgeon will help patients decide when the time is right.

Farmers value independence. It’s one of the benefits of the job. But it’s hard to stay healthy and active with a bad hip, shoulder or knee.

“You can’t afford to let joint pain hold you back on the farm,” said Lake Regional Orthopedic Surgeon Jeffrey Mutchler, D.O. “The good news is, you don’t have to grin and bear it. Total joint replacement is a safe, effective treatment that renews confidence and restores independence.”

Like any big decision, you’ll want to get all the facts first, Dr. Mutchler added.

“It is major surgery, and you want to learn as much as possible to ensure you are ready,” he said. “Talking with an orthopedic surgeon will help you know if it’s the right time for you.”

Here are five signs it’s time to have that talk.

1 Pain is ruling your life. When joint pain makes it hard to sleep or forces you to change your daily routine, that’s a sign your current coping tactics aren’t enough.

2You’ve already tried other treatments. “Nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy and injections, might bring enough relief to make surgery unnecessary, or at least delay it,” Dr. Mutchler said. “But if you’ve tried other treatments and they no longer work, or you’re starting to deal with unwanted side effects, it makes sense to look at surgery.”

3You are losing independence. It’s one thing to give up a once-in-a-while game of basketball. It’s another to find yourself unable to climb into a truck or

put on socks. Joint replacement is important for getting people back to their normal daily activities.

4You are ready to take on surgery and recovery. You must commit to follow through on doctor’s orders for exercise and rehabilitation. “Joint replacement is not an instant fix,” Dr. Mutchler said. “Success depends on you putting in the time and effort to get strong.” Committing to the full process is so important that Lake Regional offers Total Joint Camp, a two-hour class that walks through the process, from start to full function. Loved ones are welcome to attend and absorb as much information as possible.

Your orthopedic surgeon will review your medical history to ensure no health problem rules out surgery. You also might be encouraged to make some lifestyle changes – for example, quitting smoking – to be as healthy as possible for the procedure and recovery.

5You feel it’s time. Maybe you’ve heard that you have to be a certain age to be a candidate for joint replacement. Although age is a consideration, it’s no longer the deciding factor for most people. Instead, the focus is on symptoms and quality of life. Are you missing activities you enjoy? Are you feeling down because you can’t do what you want and need to do? Are you ready to commit to recovery? “Your orthopedic surgeon will help you weigh any age consideration with the potential gains in quality of life,” Dr. Mutchler said. “You will know if the time is right.”

Anita Harrison is the assistant manager for lake Regional Public Relations. She can be reached at 573-302-2770 or by email at aharrison@lakeregional.com

By Sonya Kullmann

Adults are reminded to be vigilant when it comes to children and edibles with THC

Marijuana is now legal in Missouri –both for medicinal and recreational use. That means more people may have edibles in their homes, vehicles or purses, and that can pose a danger to kids.

Calls to poison control centers about children ages 5 and younger consuming edibles containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, increased almost 1,400 percent during the past five years, and 98 percent of those children found the edibles at home.

“Many of these products look just like candy, baked goods or familiar drinks,” said Becky Spain, Mercy injury prevention specialist and Safe Kids coordinator. “Kids – especially those who can’t read –may have no idea they contain marijuana. It can take an hour or more for them to feel any effects and by then, they may have consumed multiple doses.”

Those effects can last six to eight hours, and because of a child’s size and weight, they are at a higher risk of overdose.

“We are seeing so many children come in that show signs of overdose,” Dr. Diane Lipscomb, Mercy pediatric intensive care physician, said. “The signs range from just feeling woozy to patients who are altered to the point they actually need help in an intensive

care setting and are put on ventilators.”

Older children may get into their edibles on purpose, but they too can experience unexpected side effects.

“It often takes more than an hour to feel the effects of an edible,” Spain explained.

“We see teens consume one and when nothing happens, they take another. That can get dangerous quickly.”

Lipscomb agrees.

“The levels can end up being toxic. And don’t forget, these children are still growing, and their brains are developing,” she said. “Marijuana edibles can impact their growth and development.”

There are ways you can protect the young people in your life.

“Keep cannabis products in their original packaging and store them on a high shelf in a medication lockbox,” Spain said. “Also, don’t consume cannabis products in front of children, because they like to mimic adults.”

Also, you don’t know what other adults may have in their homes, purses or vehicles, so tell your kids never to eat anything that looks like candy or treats without first getting an adult’s permission.

Sonya Kullmann is the media relations and communications manager for Mercy Health.

meet your neighbors Happy on the Farm

By Michael Kinney

Chris Brust says his farm life has improved his mental health

Chris Brust entered the pig business early in life. When he and his older brother won one in a raffle when he was 12, he had no idea that one day it would lead to the creation of Ozark Acres Farm and have an impact on his mental health.

“The deal was we had to have one litter of pigs and show that gilt at the county fair. And so that’s how we got started in the pig business back in when I was a kid,” Chris said. “I kept that. (His brother) went off to college. My dad passed away when I was just turned 12, and my mom and I kept that until I was probably 15. I started at a young age with animals on the farm and all that good stuff.”

However, it took Chris almost 40 years to understand how much he needed the farm. After his father’s death, Chris seemed to be looking to do anything except for what he loved.

When he was 19, he went into the construction business. That was the start of a long list of different occupations in different fields of business that included real estate and selling mortgages, which he didn’t officially quit doing until 2023.

“Apparently, there was a lot of trauma going on in my life,” said Chris, who is 55 years old. “It drove me to some anxiety and depression. And my therapy is working outside with my hands. It took me a long time to figure that out. But it finally did, and it started with a garden so I would have something outside the norm to do. Then, when I moved down here, I came back to a garden. Then came the livestock. I decided to buy a couple of pigs to raise for processing and just to have on the farm. I got to thinking, why don’t I just have piglets with them. Our first sow had 14 piglets and saved 13. That’s when we got started

in the pig business.”

Since starting the Ozark Acres Farm in 2021, Chris has considerably built up his livestock inventory. On his 4.7 acres of land, he currently has four breeding female pigs, one of which is due next month. He also has a boar, 30 laying chickens and 175 Cornish cross-meat chickens that are going to be processed in late May.

“The reason I added a boar and two more guilts to my stock was when I started paying for artificial insemination,” Chris said. “And I’m going to start selling feeder pigs. I wasn’t going to do that, but now that I’m going to start selling feeders because there’s a demand for it. And I can have two litters of feeder pigs sold, which will pay my feed bill for a year for all five of my breeding stock. If I can get my breeding stock paid for by selling two litters of feed pigs, then that piece is broke even. The only thing I’m paying for now is the feed costs for feeder pigs that I grow out and process. And that should make its own money back by itself. So, I’m really at a net zero at that point before I start growing out feeder pigs.”

Chris feeds his livestock conventional pig feed and doesn’t use any non-GMO or organic seed because there has been no demand for it.

“It’s just all conventional feed,” Chris said. “I buy it in bulk in 2,000-pound bags. I’m paying about 26 cents a pound.”

When it comes to how large Chris wants to grow, he doesn’t have any particular number in mind.

“I want to be profitable. Size is relative to that,” Chris said. “Eventually, we’re going to need more space. Right now, I probably don’t for the livestock. I probably don’t even

use half of it, to be honest with you. I’ve got some room to expand, but we’ll eventually move into a bigger space. Or I’ll lease some ground. I got some ground earmarked with a neighbor of mine that I might be able to lease and run some animals on it.”

When Chris decided to open up his farm, he wasn’t going to do things like everybody else. Despite his age, he is still open to using any method to help build his business.

That is why less than a year ago, Chris was introduced to TikTok by a friend.

“One day, he came out, and he brought his young son, and they saw some baby chicks,” Chris recalled. “He goes, ‘Man, you need to get on TikTok.’ I said I’m 54

years old, and I’m not getting on TikTok. ‘You need to be on there.’ And so that’s where it all started.”

With the help of his daughter, Cassidy, Chris has become an active member of the TikTok nation and has gained a sizable following of 15,000 in just seven months.

Chris’s content varies, but it is always farm related. In a video posted Feb. 12, 2022, more than 780,000 people watched a chicken jump onto the back of a pig as the Ozark Acres Farm staff loaded them into their traveling pins. Almost 7,000 people pushed the like button on a video that lasted less than 15 seconds.

Yet, according to Chris, TikTok isn’t even his most popular social media site. The videos on his business Facebook page get even more traffic with his 23,000 followers.

Photo by Michael Kinney

meet your neighbors

However, when it comes to making money, Chris relies on the proven oldschool ways.

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Chris said. “I’m not getting any business from them right now. I’m getting business from my location and word-of-mouth and my local feed store. They’re allowing me to set up like a booth on Saturdays at like a farmers market, where I can actually sell my pork and chicken products.”

Chris said he will soon be adding beef and other items to his table.

“I’m kicking around the idea of having some rabbits. People don’t think of rabbits, but you can raise meat rabbits,” Chris said. “I don’t know how much money is in it. But what I look for too is a draw to get people and kids to the farm. If I’ve got bunnies and people can come tour the farm, or I’ve got baby pigs, and people come tour the farm or baby chicks, then that helps me sell my product.”

More importantly, the farm has become what Chris wanted in his life.

“I read a book called The Depression Cure, and one of the things it said was to get out and do something out of the norm that you don’t do every day that can become a habit and a hobby and something you enjoy doing,” Chris said. “tTat’s when I started a garden,” Chris said. “So that’s when that all started. I could spend all day on the tractor and building pins and building structures and that type of stuff. I don’t care how much money I make; it just makes me happy.”

Photo by Michael Kinney

61 Counties 17,000 Copies

38,000 Readers

Weston Evans

By Marissa Snider

Age: 11

Hometown: Gentry, Ark.

Parent: Laura Evans

Sibling: Emma Evans

4-H Club:

Benton County 4-H

What is your involvement in agriculture?

“I have lived on a farm for my entire life and I love the farm life. I’ve been active in the Logan 4-H Club since I was 5 years old. Currently, I do livestock judging through Benton County 4-H, including meat judging, skill-a-thon, and quiz bowl. I also am participating in the Benton County Pasture to Plate program for the second year.”

1 Place To Reach e Most Cattlemen

What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/living on a farm?

“My favorite part is raising animals. My livestock and pets are a big part of my life. I also really enjoy the people around me who are always willing to help me learn and do better. Being actively involved in a club and part of the agriculture community in Northwest Arkansas, I really feel like I have a community of support that gives me confidence to try new things.”

What are your future plans?

“My future plans are to go to college for animal science and participate on a college judging team. Since judging and livestock have always been a big part of my life, I can’t imagine doing anything different.”

What is the best advice about agriculture you have received from adults?

“Jacie Smith has helped me a lot. She has taught me how to format my questions for livestock judging and she has coached me through showing cattle. She has really been a big part of my 4-H experience.”

Awards: “This year, I have done really well showing cattle. It seems like every time we go in the ring, we’re getting banners, cups, money, and other stuff – like feed buckets.”

Advice from

the ofn ag-visors the professionals Optimism in Farm Country

By Lance Albin

When asked about the outlook for agricultural commodities, I simply go back to the most basic economic equation – supply and demand. For many decades, the world has been able to produce more agricultural commodities than what there was demand for. In the past decade, this has fundamentally changed. For each of the three major crops grown in the U.S. (corn, soybeans and wheat) the demand side of the equation has been phenomenally strong and the world now struggles to keep up from the supply side. Until this picture changes significantly, I will remain bullish on all three of these crops. There are certainly nuances and different factors driving each of the different crops, but at a very high level I believe that strong prices will persist for as long as we see this exceptional demand remain in place. World corn production will likely be limited by a potentially weaker-than-usual South American crop as well as reduced total acres due to the relatively high cost of nitrogen. Of the three main crops it appears that for this year corn will likely have the most catalyst to the upside. International demand for U.S. corn was dampened last fall by a very strong U.S. dollar, but the U.S. dollar has come down significantly from it’s highs and this should be very supportive to improve U.S. corn exports in 2023.

Argentina is struggling with their worst drought in over six decades and this is likely supportive for soybean prices in the coming year. This is, however, at least partially offset by a very strong Brazilian crop. Over the intermediate term, the renewable diesel initiatives could prove to be very important in the soybean market as big oil and big ag come together to add what is estimated at over 550 million bushels in new soybean crushing capacity by 2026. Renewable diesel is 100 percent substitutable for traditional diesel and this again is likely very supportive to the soybean market out to the intermediate term.

The wheat market continues to be impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine which unfortunately does not seem likely to be resolved anytime soon. Global supplies remain tight and a good portion of the U.S. wheat acres face drought concerns. A weakening U.S. dollar is also very relevant and helpful to U.S. wheat exports.

On the input side, farmers are glad to see some lower prices on the chemical side, especially for 2-4-D and glyphosate and many believe that most of the drop we would see here has already happened. Fertilizer prices are well of the highs of the spring of 2022 and continued to drop throughout the month of March. Despite these drops, fertilizer remains stubbornly high when compared to the spring of 2021. Energy prices had seen a big reduction with WTI crude oil dipping below $70/barrel but have now jumped back above $80/barrel with the recent OPEC production cuts. Interest rates have become much more of a key consideration with the Prime rate of interest now at 8%. Managing each of these primary inputs will be absolutely key to farm level profitability in 2023.

So, what will 2023 look like for ag producers in the U.S.? I remain optimistic and bullish. Timing of input purchases and crop sales will be key. I’m reminded of my high school algebra teacher who always admonished the class: “if you do something on one side of the equation, be sure to do it on the other side of the equation as well.”

Lance Albin is the president of UMB Bank’s Agribusiness Division. He can be reached at Lance.Albin@umb.com.

help

Making farming a little easier

Fighting Flies and Ticks

By Cheryl Kepes

Tips to get ahead of insects before they infest herds

The beauty of spring is starting to arrive in the Ozarks along with the hope of many warm days on the horizon. Though there is much goodness that comes with warmer weather it also ushers in pests such as flies and ticks. According to extension entomologists, there are actions producers can take now to ward off large fly and tick infestations in the months to come.

Decrease Development Areas

One way to keep flies from proliferating this season is by eliminating environments where they grow the best. “Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, develop in decaying organic matter and do quite well in manure mixed with wasted hay and urine,” Kelly Loftin, Ph.D., professor and extension entomologist with the University of Arkansas, said. “This excellent fly development media may buildup in winter feeding areas if sanitation was not considered from the onset.”

Round bales fed intact can leave behind piles of dirty, leftover hay. If this is the case, extension specialists recommend spreading out the mixture of hay and manure into a thin layer. Once the hay and organic matter dries, it will become a less suitable media for fly development.

what do you

say?

Do you insure your livestock?

Both stable flies and house flies develop in piles of hay wastage and organic matter. Extension entomologists recommend producers roll out hay bales during hay feeding season to minimize the possibility of wasted hay and organic matter buildup.

Monitor for Presence

Horn flies and face flies develop in a different way compared to stable flies and house flies. “Horn flies (Haematobia irritans) survive winter as pupae under manure pats and develop only in fresh cattle manure and face flies (Musca autumnalis) survive as adults and develop in fresh cattle manure, so cleaning up wasted hay has minimal effect on horn and face fly breeding,” Loftin explained. Due to the nature of horn and face fly development, extension entomologists recommend producers monitor their animals for signs of horn flies and face flies. Knowing when the pests are present and how many there are, will be the determining factors in initiating pest control protocols. This is also the case for ticks.

When it comes to horn and face flies, Dr. Loftin recommends monitoring cattle with the goal of keeping the horn fly abundance below 200 flies per animal and face fly

“Ours are insured through our business because we take our livestock to other homes. Also, our chickens are our business, so if we lose some this is a way to recoup the financial loss.”

Eleni Parsons Benton County, Ark.

numbers below 10 per animal. Additionally, producers should evaluate pest populations throughout the season to determine if their fly control program is effective.

Vary Insecticide Class

Extension entomologists recommend recording the class of insecticide used to control horn flies and maintaining application records, especially when using insecticide impregnated ear tags. “To combat insecticide resistance in horn flies, switch insecticide classes from year to year,” Loftin advised. “It would be best if you could refrain from using a specific insecticide class for at least two years before returning to that class.”

Health Concerns

Flies and ticks can be the source of health concerns in cattle. Biting flies can serve as mechanical vectors of some cattle diseases, such as anaplasmosis. Horn flies are associated with increases in the prevalence of summer mastitis. Face flies are irritants and can mechanically transmit bacteria associated with pinkeye. Additionally, face flies can transmit the eyeworm, a parasitic nematode that infests the eye cavity.

“I insure for death loss. Being a show goat operation, it’s worth it to have that peace of mind. In the past, I have had some higher-dollar livestock die, and I was able to replace those animals.”

Walker Anttila Washington County, Ark.

Ticks can also be the culprits that spread some diseases to livestock. Along with the concerns posed by native tick species, a new species, the Asian longhorned tick, has been identified in the United States. The Asian longhorned tick is considered a threat to livestock.

“Since its initial discovery in New Jersey in 2017, its confirmed range has expanded to 17 states including three counties in Missouri and two counties in Arkansas,” Loftin explained.

The Asian longhorned tick is unique because it can reproduce without mating. “This form of reproduction is called parthenogenesis where basically engorged, unmated female ticks can lay up to 2,500 eggs that eventually (after a couple of molts) become adult female ticks that can repeat this process,” Loftin stated. “As a result, enormous numbers can occur in the environment and on a host.”

The massive number of ticks that can attach to livestock can cause significant blood loss. The Asian longhorned tick can also infect cattle and other animals with a parasite that affects red and white blood cells resulting in anemia, weakness, jaundice and sometimes death.

“I used to, but I don’t anymore. The cost was getting too high.”

Jim Milum Boone County, Ark.

“I do not. I’m a very small producer; it would not be worth me paying a premium. Even if I have a complete loss, it’s not going to be that big.”

Ken Lovell Logan County, Ark.

Liability Insurance

By Cheryl Kepes

Making sure farm operations have the right coverage

Whether it’s a hobby or full-time job, farmers may want to explore adding farm liability coverage to their insurance policy. Farm liability insurance protects farmers and their assets from lawsuits associated with an accident that results in bodily injury and/ or property damage to someone else. “If you are deemed by Missouri statutes to be liable through negligence or careless acts your liability (farm liability insurance) is going to cover those types of incidents,”

Les Mallard, owner of Les Mallard Insur-

ance LLC in Fair Grove, Mo., explained.

LIABILITY COVERAGE: The circumstances in which producers would need farm liability insurance include a wide range of incidents. For example, if some of a producer’s cattle get out into the road and cause a car accident. Or if someone gets injured while on a producer’s farm. Another example includes if a producer is driving farm machinery on the road and causes in an accident. These are just a few situations in which farmers will need liability coverage if they are found negligent.

If the incidents that occur are connected to the farming operation or farming activity, then only farm liability insurance will cover the costs. Liability coverage connected to a regular homeowners policy will not protect farmers in farm related incidents.

Insurance agents recommend farmers, no matter how big or small their operation, get farm liability coverage. “My opinion is farmers should definitely pur-

chase farm liability coverage,” Mallard said. “It is just as important as having liability coverage on an automobile or anything else. If you do not have it and something occurs, it is 100 percent on you to pay and if it is a very big suit or claim they can put liens on your assets that you have because you are obligated to pay it if the judgment goes against you.”

Farm liability coverage will pay for any costs associated with the incident in which the farmer is deemed liable. This includes settlement amounts, court costs and attorney’s fees. Typically, there are no deductibles associated with farm liability claims.

THINK AHEAD: One thing to keep in mind is even the smallest of farming operations may want to consider adding farm liability coverage. Take for instance a family living on a small acreage decides to purchase a calf for their child for a 4-H or FFA project. Even that one head needs the special coverage, because

it would not be covered under a typical homeowners policy. “Some people will not think about that, but they are leaving themselves exposed to some gaps in coverage by not having the farm liability situation covered,” Mallard added.

In addition, Mallard suggests when updating or getting insurance coverage people should think about their future plans. Even if they currently don’t have any livestock, they should consider adding farm liability to their policy if they are planning to have livestock in the near future. The specific liability policy needed depends on the type of operation. Hobby farmers can obtain different coverage than producers with commercial operations. Full-time farmers typically have a commercial farm policy that includes liability coverage. However, hobby farmers can add the farm liability coverage to their homeowners’ policy, which then converts the policy into a farm owners policy.

Breeding Season Versus Year-Round Breeding

By Cheryl Kepes

Factors for producers to consider for their operations

Whether a producer favors a designated breeding season or a year-round approach, there are advantages and disadvantages to keep in mind when choosing which management strategy to follow.

CONVENIENCE

In some respects, implementing a breeding season creates convenience in processing and weaning compared to year-round breeding.

“I like the idea of actually having a very tight breeding season – 60 to 70 days in total length,” Bruce Peverley, Nowata and Craig County Extension Educator with Oklahoma State University, explained. “The reason I prefer that is that I am going to have a more uniform calf crop. When I work or process cows and calves, I have a much larger chance of being able to gather all of them at one time, so I don’t have to regather.”

Additionally, in a breeding season system all the calves can be weaned at the same time. This saves time and labor.

FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE

Another aspect realized is one that can impact a producer’s pocketbook. Consider what happens as the calving window starts to stretch further and further between calves.

“Calves nursing a cow will typically gain about 2 pounds a day while they are on the cow. The later they are born in the breeding season the lighter they are going to be,” Peverley said.

Producers managing toward a herd

that produces large, uniform groups of calves can snag higher premiums. Calves grouped together by size and sold in larger groups gain a price advantage.

IMPROVED EFFICIENCY

Operating with a tight calving window can provide some opportunities to gain efficiencies.

“When we are in critical times, like calving, we can at least, in theory, provide more time and labor as needed to get a more successful calving rate as opposed to being strung over a longer period of time,” Peverley said.

The longer a calving season is stretched out the more of a chance a producer may miss a cow when she might need help.

YEAR-ROUND BREEDING

Some producers manage following the old saying, “I will take rain or a calf any day.”

The proponents of year-round calving appreciate the convenience of leaving in a bull with their cows. They consider it less management and hold to the philosophy of when the cow is ready to breed it will happen.

DOWNSIDES

However, in a year-round breeding system producers can more easily lose track of some of the cows’ production cycles. For example, some cows may calve every 365 days but there may be

some cows in the herd that don’t calve until 14 months. A year-round breeding season requires continual tracking.

On the other hand, producers who utilize a tight breeding season, may have some cows that fail to breed during the designated timeframe for whatever reason. There are cows that simply may not fit into the established breeding season system.

Producers who calve throughout the year may manage cows and calves that are in different stages of production in the same pasture. If spring and fall calvers are all in the same pasture, then it makes it more difficult to determine how to feed the entire group.

“When it comes to supplying nutrition, usually one group is going to be dry and one group is going to be wet,” Peverley said. “So, who do we feed for?

Do we feed the dry cows and cheat the lactating cows or vice-versa? I have trouble seeing that as a very effective system.”

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

When determining what works best for a particular operation extension specialists recommend looking at forage and weather patterns.

The forage available when calves are on the ground should be considered, as well as the weather temperatures when it is time for the momma cows to bred back.

“There are a lot of factors and concerns we want to look at and they are also tied to the management that the producer wants to put into it,” Peverley said.

— ZONE B AUCTIONS —

4/29 Estate & Real Estate Auction – Cedarville, Ark. • Contrail Auction Service

4/29 J&H Spring Consignment Auction –Warner, Okla. • J&H Equipment Auction

4/29 Real Estate & Personal Property Auction

– Mountainburg, Ark. • Reading Auction Service

5/6 Consignment Auction – Van Buren, Ark.

• Faucher Auction & Realty

5/13 Farm Auction – Warner, Okla. • Wright Way Auctions

— ZONE C AUCTIONS —

4/29 Estate Firearm, Gold & Silver Coin Auction

– Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions

4/29 Junior Cheatham Estate Auction –Lincoln, Ark. • Price Auction Marketing

4/29 Spring Equipment Auction – Harrison, Ark. • Horton Auction Company

5/1 Brewer, White Living Estate Auction –Springdale, Ark. • Auctions by Larry R. Williams

5/5 Mixed Estates Auction – Rogers, Ark. • S&S Auction Service

5/6 Estate Auction – Lincoln, Ark. • Collins’ Auctioneering

5/6 Living Estate Auction – Siloam Springs, Ark. • Professional Auctioneers

5/8 McCrary, Stone Living Estate Auction –Springdale, Ark. • Auctions by Larry R. Williams

5/15 Logsdon, Apperson Living Estate Auction – Springdale, Ark. • Auctions by Larry R. Williams

5/17 Online Only Real Estate & Personal Property Auction – Harrison, Ark. • Wooley Auctioneers

5/20 41 +/- Acre Country Estate Auction –Gravette, Ark. • Barnes 4 State Auction Service

6/9 June G.O.A.T. Estate Auction – Sulphur Springs, Ark. • Barber Auctions

— ZONE D AUCTIONS —

4/29 Freddie Sheppard Estate Auction –Greenbrier, Ark. • Sims Family Auctions

5/3

5/6 Bill Cotham Estate Auction – Scott, Ark. • LJC Auction Service

5/6 Double Estate and Consignments Auction – Glenwood, Ark. • McGrew Auction Service

5/6 Live Auction – Paragould, Ark. • Phillips Auction Company

5/7 Don & Natasha Rutherford Living Estate Auction – Goodman, Mo. • Dwayne Craig Auction Service

5/10 Online Equipment Auction – bidding closes 5/10 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions

5/13 Biggers Inc. Inventory Reduction – Camden, Ark. • Todd Morris Auction Company

5/13 Farm Machinery Consignment Auction –Bloom eld, Mo. • Jacob Goodin Auction Service

5/13 Guns, Tools, Furniture & More Auction –Branson West, Mo. • Melton Auction & Realty Co., LLC

5/17 Online Equipment Auction – bidding closes 5/17 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions

5/24 Online Equipment Auction – bidding starts 5/3 at 7 p.m., bidding closes 5/24 at 10 a.m. – bigiron.com • Big Iron Auctions

ozarks’ calendar

May 2023

2 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 2 – 3-6 p.m. – University of Arkansas Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings

2 Poultry Waste Management Course – 6-8 p.m. – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Okla. – for more information call 918-253-4332

3 Poultry Waste Management Course – 9 a.m. – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Okla. – must RSVP – call 918-253-4332

5 Pecan Management Workshop – Le Flore County Extension Office, Poteau, Okla. – must RSVP – call 918-647-8231

6 Dairy Goat Workshop – Harrison, Ark. – for more information contact Boone County Extension Office at 870-741-6168

6 Diamond Daze – Main Street, Sallisaw, Okla. – for more information call 918-775-4838

6 Marion County Low-Cost Rabies Clinic – 9 a.m., Yellville School – 11:15 a.m., Lakeway Fire Dept. – 1:30 p.m., Fairview Fire Dept. – 2:30 p.m., First Security Bank in Bull Shoals – for questions call 870-453-7387 or 870-449-6349

6 Plant Sale Trade Day – starts at 9 a.m. – Fairgrounds, Greenwood, Ark. – for more information contact the Sebastian County Extension Office at 479-484-7737

11 Searcy County’s High Tunnel Field Day – 5-7 p.m. – 201 Factory Road, Marshall, Ark. – to register or for more information call 870-448-3184 ext. 3 or 870-448-3981

18 Mudisible Gardening and Herbs – 6 p.m. – Cost: $5 – Boone County Farm Bureau, Harrison, Ark. – limited seating – to register or for more information call 870-741-6168

20 Marble City Farmers Market Spring Fling – 9 a.m. – Main Street, Sallisaw, Okla. – for more information call 918-775-4838

23 Babysitting Basics – 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – First Electric Community Room, Heber Springs, Ark. – Cost: $10, lunch provided – register by May 19 – 501-362-2524

ozarks’ auction block

April 2023

29 Aschermann Akaushi 36th Edition Sale – at the ranch, Carthage, Mo. –417-793-2855

29 18th Annual Great American Pie Limousin & LimFlex Bull & Female Sale –Lebanon, Mo. – 402-350-3447 or 320-287-0751

29 Wienk Charolais 54th Annual Bull Sale – at the ranch, Lake Preston, SD –605-860-0505 or 605-203-0137

May 2023

1 Gardiner Angus Ranch 8th Annual Meating Demand Bull Sale – at the ranch, Ashland, Kan. – 620-635-2156

6 Coyote Hills Ranch Annual Limousin & LimFlex Production Sale – at the ranch, Chattanooga, Okla. – 580-597-3006

6 Heartland Highland Cattle Association 12th Annual Spring Highland Cattle Auction – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. –417-345-0575 or 309-251-5832

6 Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks Female Sale – Soaring Eagle Sale Facility, Springfield, Mo. – 417-839-1200

7 JD Bellis Family Herefords Three Generations Raising No Excuse Herefords Production Sale – at the Farm, Aurora, Mo. – 417-466-8679

23 Tree Workshop – 10 a.m.-noon – White County Extension Office, 2400 Old Searcy Landing Road, Searcy, Ark. – Free to the public, light refreshments will be served – for more information call 501-268-5394

24 CPR Certification Class – 8 a.m.-noon – First Electric Community Room, 150 Industrial Park Road, Heber Springs, Ark. – Cost: $10 – register by May 19 –501-362-2524

25 2nd Homesteading Event – Faulkner County Extension Office, Conway, Ark. – for more information call 501-329-8344

June 2023

2-3 Le Flore County Quilt Show – 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Kiamichi Technology Center, Poteau, Okla. – 918-647-8231

5-7 Cattlewomen’s Boot Camp – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Creek County Fairgrounds, Sapulpa, Okla. – for more information call 580-332-7011 or 918-224-2192 or visit, go.ozarksfn.com/frm

27 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 3 – 3-6 p.m. – University of Arkansas Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings

July 2023

28-29 Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention & Trade Show – Hot Springs, Ark. – 501-224-2114

October 2023

17 2023 Soil Health Workshop Series Part 4 – 1-4 p.m. – University of Arkansas

Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Cost: $10 per workshop – register at bit.ly/nwa-soil-trainings

12 GDD Angus & Combined Forces Female Sale – Kingsville, Mo. – 423-426-2986 or 816-500-2362

13 Mead Farms Female & Bull Production Sale – Mead Sale Headquarters, Versailles, Mo. – 573-216-0210 or 573-302-7011

13 The Summit Sale of 2023 – P Bar S Ranch Sale Headquarters, Sand Springs, Okla.– 615-330-2735 or 402-350-3447

19 Show Me Select Replacement Heifer Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 417-276-3313 or 417-345-7551

20 Wilder Family Limousin Springtime Spectacular Sale – Milam County Livestock Auction, Cameron, Texas –402-350-3447 or 979-268-5491

27 National Braunvieh Field Day – McBee Cattle Company, Fayette, Mo. –573-228-2517

June 2023

4 Hawkeye Country Angus Sale – Bloomfield Livestock Market, Bloomfield, Iowa – 940-531-1851

8-10 Missouri Junior Cattlemen’s Association Replacement Heifer Show & Sale –Missouri State Fairgrounds Youth Building, Sedalia, Mo. – lisa@mocattle.com