meet your neighbors
Multiple Operations in One
Photos by Amanda Bradley
By Amanda Bradley
Sheep, cattle, pigs and more on the Rumfelt farms
David and Laura Rumfelt of live on the Conway farm where David Conway, Mo., manage two farms also runs his Trucks and Tractors Repair in Laclede and Wright counties shop. On the Conway farm, they raise where they raise mainly beef beef cattle with 70 cow/calf pairs. On the Hartville farm, there are 65 momma cattle, sheep and pigs. David, a fourth-generation farmer, cows. The cattle breeds at both farms are started his farming career slowly in the a mix of Gelbvieh and Charolais. The 1980s with a few bottle calves in Hartville majority of new bulls are retained for and Grovespring, Mo. David is also the farm use. Typically, when market allows, fourth-generation Rumfelt to own the 300- most of the beef cattle are sold directly acre Hartville property, a place rich with to consumers, then the animal is delivhistory, and remnants and signs of Native ered to a processor where customers can pick up the processed beef. The cattle American life along the Gasconade river. Before David and Laura acquired the graze the pastures for a large part of their Hartville property in 2021, his father diet, but they are also supplemented with and stepmother, David Rumfelt, Sr. and hay, corn, and minerals. The results are a Susan Rumfelt, owned the property; healthy beef with well-marbled meat. At the Conway property, there are preceded by his grandparents, Dorman and LaVern Rumfelt, and before that, currently 36 Katahdin sheep, a breed of David’s great-grandparents, Alfred and haired sheep. These are a low-mainteMary Alice Rumfelt, farmed and home- nance, hardy sheep that provide a quality lean meat, which are aspects David steaded the property in the likes about the breed. The sheep are late 1800s. fed a diet of hay, a small amount The Conway farm, formerof feed and forage sorghum. ly owned by Laura’s parents, Some of the lambs are sold once Chester and Rhonda Wood, weaned, and some are rewas purchased by David and tained. They sell sheep ready Laura in recent years as well. Conway, Mo. for harvest, when market David, Laura, and their youngallows. est of four daughters, Olivia,
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Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are part of the Rumfelt farming operation.
Yorkshire and Hampshire cross hogs are raised at the Conway property as well. With a couple of sows and boars, there are a couple of litters of piglets running around as well. New piglets are rarely, if ever sold, and generally are retained to raise for pork. The hogs are sold directly to consumers when their optimal weight is reached for processing. The breeding program for all the livestock on the property are complete natural cover. The animals are all properly vaccinated and wormed to ensure animal health and quality as well. There’s also the homestead side of things at home. David and Laura are raising 100 meat chickens for their own use and for a few close family and friends. There are also 140 laying Cinnamon Queen hens which provide eggs for their own use and to sell to neighbors. In addition, geese and turkey free-range on the property for their own use; they’re hoping to provide goslings and poults for sale next spring.
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Olivia, 13, grew up on the farm and loves the birds best. Picking up a chick in her hands is a lot easier for her than climbing in the sheep pen or the cattle field, but she adores all the animals on the farm and as always been a “farm girl,” her family admits. “I just like being able to walk outside and hear the birds chirping and no cars driving by,” Olivia said. David’s goal for the farm is to just keep going and keep growing. “I’d like to eventually produce more of my own feed, and get into growing more grasses like Sudangrass,” he said. Laura added, “The goal is to exclusively farm within five years, and possibly open a farm-to-table store soon, selling our own homegrown products.” To help run the store, David has the perfect girl in mind — Olivia. With so many different irons in the fire, it’s likely the Rumfelts will be fulfilling that goal sooner than later, something David and Laura agree upon.
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