meet your neighbors
The Lifestyle for Leslie By Terry Ropp
Leslie Smith discovered early in life that farming and ranching are her calling High school brought membership in FFA and participation on her school’s livestock Leslie Smith was raised in Mutual, Okla., on a predominantly cow/calf and grass hay operation. When she was just 5 years old her mother Gina, and judging team, with ag teacher Chip Laubach serving as adviser. Though Leslie never showed cattle, she did show goats and sheep, and was heavily involved in grandparents, Darrell and Jeanetta Webb, took her to a nearby ranch to various rodeo associations, with goat tying as her main event. ride a little paint pony named “Buns of Steel” or Bunny for short. When Leslie was 9, her grandfather was injured in a farming After about an hour and a half of riding, Leslie she cried all accident while chopping down a tree for firewood. That the way home , begging her family to purchase the horse. incident forced the family to downsize their operation “It was about a week later when I walked outside to by selling some of the land and cattle. By the time the best surprise” Leslie said. “Bunny not only beLeslie reached high school, she was pretty much came my childhood best friend, but also set me in charge. Her grandparents had aged and her on a lifelong path of loving horses.” mom worked as a phlebotomist at the local Young Leslie had one problem, however. hospital, working variety of hours. Leslie While she absolutely loved being outside, stepped up and accepted responsibility she was terrified of their Angus cattle. to help the family maintain their cattle Then one afternoon when sorting catoperation with Gina helping out whentle, her grandmother faked a heart atever she could, usually on weekends. tack. Now when cattle are worked, the “I was 7 years old and watching whole family participates, along with the action from outside the corals,” a couple of generous friends. Leslie Leslie recalled. “All of the sudden, helps run the animals through the my grandma, who was surrounded chute and sort. She also participates by cattle, doubles over and starts in ear tagging and branding, in adscreaming for me to come and help dition to helping with vaccinations her. As soon as I got to her, she stood and castration. She also has recently up and said, ‘I told you cattle aren’t so purchased 10 first-calf heifers. While bad.’ The fear was gone.” the number is few, she hopes to use Being the fourth generation to grow the heifers as a foundation for her own up on the family farming and ranchherd. ing operation, she knew early on this Going to college and pursuing an agriwas the lifestyle she wanted to live. cultural degree was a given. Leslie currently From sorting and working cattle to balattends Oklahoma State University in Stilling hay, and always having a good horse to water, and is a double major in agribusiness ride, Leslie stayed very busy. with an option in farm and ranch management, “Growing up on a ranch you learn that there and animal science with an option in production. is no possible way to ever get everything done,” She is also working towards a minor in agricultural Leslie explained. “If you aren’t do something, you’re real estate appraisal and a certification in equine enterprobably doing something wrong.” prise management. Aside from academics, Leslie is an active While being able to drive a feed truck and tractor by age 9 member and officer in the Tri Delta sorority, in addition to comand starting each and every day around 5 a.m. to feed isn’t the peting on the OSU Horse Judging Team and being involved in various typical lifestyle for most young people, Leslie considers the lifestyle she Submitted photo other clubs and organizations, such as collegiate cattle and horse associations. grew up in as a blessing, wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Leslie also helps operate the family ranch, with her mother doing Leslie joined her local county 4-H club at the age of 9 and begged most of the daily care, with Leslie returning home frequently to to show. Gina then purchased Leslie’s very first show goat, Chochelp out in person. olate Chip. Leslie won the reserve champion doe at her first counClaremore, Okla. Leslie is already using her college education by altering some of ty fair and even took home the junior showmanship title. the family farming and ranching management practices. One im“I was having the absolute time of my life,” Leslie said. “When portant improvement skill Leslie has implemented since going to announcing me as the showmanship champion, the judge referred to me as the college, is the use of synchronization protocols in their cows and only girl in the entire ring who knew how to smile. I think that and a bit of luck especially first-calf heifers, which aides in shorting up calving peis what did it for me.”
8
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
AUGUST 30, 2021
