Logan Gragg is at home on the farm or the mound

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Farming and Baseball

By Terry Ropp After being drafted by the Cardinals, Logan Gragg used his signing bonus to start his own farm

Submitted Photo “As long as I am outside, I’m on a plane headed for home as the corona- great,” said Logan Gragg, a virus invaded the lives of every American.” 21-year-old minor-league base- The downside of the pandemic is hold- ball player and new farmer. ing off Logan’s rookie year though that is

Farming and baseball have been interwell-balanced by the fact he is able to be twined for Logan’s entire life. At age 3, he on his farm during the critical first year. watched his middle sister Loren play T-ball. His mother is deeply involved. Not only Although she was three years older, he re- did she find Logan’s newly acquired land fused to be left out and got in the middle of with 38 usable acres out of 40, but she it all. The result was baseball hooked him. also plays catch with him so he can keep Another of his early memories is needing his arm in shape. to doctor a calf with his grandfather Lonnie One of the first things Logan did when Gray. Lonnie was driving and Logan was in he purchased the land was to bale 20 un- the back of the Ranger so he could jump touched, tall and lush acres. He harvested out as it passed the calf. Logan jumped out 119 round bales because it was so thick and and held onto its leg when Lonnie drove subsequently fertilized with chicken litter back and gave the calf a shot. from a local business. His plan for the fu-

“Farming and baseball have always been ture is to bale 50 to 100 bales per year. part of my life,” Logan recalled. “Because my “One of the most important things I dad owns Gragg Construction and works ev- learned from my schooling is the value of ery day, I had a lot of chores as a kid, but the maintaining good pasture during winter only things I hated were household chores Logan Gragg offers some grain to his in order to minimize hay consumption,” like taking out the trash and sweeping.” herd daily so the cattle are easy to Logan said.

Logan played baseball throughout his youth move and roundup. One of the necessary compromises of his and developed into an excellent pitcher for dual life is that his bull will run with the the Prairie Grove Tigers in Arkansas before herd year round, which will eventually playing baseball at Connors State Junior College and then transferring disrupt the current synchronization but also spread out the work to Oklahoma State. At the end of his junior year, he was drafted by throughout the year. He feeds a little grain every day so he can the St. Louis Cardinals and used part of the signing bonus for a 40-acre easily round up the cattle when needed. He purchases Ration 3 farm near his parents, Scott and Shauna, who lived at the family farm from Cattlemen’s Feed in Colcord, Okla., and adds loose mineral in Prairie Grove. for herd health.

His main criteria for land was to be close to family so he could contin- Because of his upbringing and his education, Logan is comfort- ue helping his grandmother, Mary, as well as his folks and others, espe- able with following his family’s vaccination protocol and using a cially during haying season. He also wanted to be close to his parents’ pour-on wormer. He plans on using a rub for flies, but only if neces- place because his mom is the main caretaker of Logan’s farm during sary. He has divided his land into two pastures which are comprised baseball season. Logan purchased land in Lincoln last November. Soon of fescue, ryegrass, Bermuda and a little natural clover. He plans on after he also purchased a small herd of commercial cattle. Logan bought fertilizing with chicken litter, as he did last December. 21 commercial females and a commercial Angus bull. The rainbow Logan admits he’s very laid back, until he steps on the line to herd includes 16 black Angus, two Red Angus, two Charo- pitch. Baseball fires his competitive passion but also lais and one Longhorn/Charolais cross. serves as the flame and kindling for building the farm

“Everything just sort of fell together,” explained Logan. “I Lincoln, Ark. of his dreams. wanted early-spring calving so I could be around for most of “I love baseball and will play as long as I am able,” Logan the calving season and for breeding season because baseball said. “When the time comes for me to retire from baseball, season is from March 1 to Sept. 1. My calves started coming I plan on coming back home and beginning to take over the in February and most were born before I left for training construction business for my dad while building my farm at the camp. The irony is I barely got started before I found myself same time. If I’m outside, I’m happy and it’s as simple as that.”