Providing professional gaited horsemanship
THAYER, MO. - “In the past, we’ve sold horses, sight unseen, but I won’t do that again,” Mike Meizler of Rafter M Training Stables stated recently when describing their training operation at Thayer, Missouri in Oregon County. Mike and Joy Meizler train gaited Missouri Fox Trotters, specifically for trail riding.
“Our goal is to provide a safe...
Libby Shaver, the future of young cattlewoman
GROVESPRING, MO. - Libby Shaver of Grovespring, Mo., comes from a long line of Ozark farmers, including her parents, Shane and Denise Shaver, grandparents, Steve and Doreen Shaver of Morgan, Mo., great-grandfather, Darell Rue, and her brother Dakota and his family, all of whom have been supportive of her continuing in the family...
Massey Land and Cattle Focuses on Performance, Fertility and Carcass Merit
CABOOL, MO - Located in Cabool and Mountain Grove, Mo., Massey Land and Cattle is a family-operated seedstock cattle operation owned by Buck Massey and Kelly Massey. Built on a foundation of performance-driven genetics and practical management, the operation focuses on raising registered cattle that meet the demands of...
LeNoir Family Farm sets down roots in Missouri
ELKLAND, MO. - Steven LeNoir grew up on a small farm in Georgia that was once part of a pre-civil war plantation that covered thousands of acres. He was a calvary scout with the US Army from 2008 until 2012, serving in South Korea and Hawaii. Since then, it is fair to...
Family history at Henderson Family Cattle
GUY, ARK. - On summer days in the hayfield, a mason jar of lemonade has long been a Henderson family tradition.
“When we were dating, he was in the hayfield, and I’d ride out on the truck to bring him lemonade,” Traci Henderson said. “I can remember it just like it was yesterday.”
Today, the tradition...
Hometown: Schell City, Mo.
County: St. Clair County
Family members: Daughter, Alexus Evans; Parents, Donald and Anita Evans
What is your off-the-farm job/career? “I am the medical coding manager for a rural healthcare system in west central Missouri. I have a background in health informatics and have been in the healthcare field since I was a teen. I am passionate about rural healthcare...
Age: 18
Hometown: Deepwater
County: St. Clair
Parents: Jim & Stephanie
Siblings: John & Isaac
FFA Chapter: Lakeland FFA
Chapter advisor: Clint Johnson
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I’ve been involved in agriculture through both my family and FFA. We’re not a huge farming operation, but we do raise livestock. FFA has taken that even further for me. Between my SAE projects, contests, and chapter activities, I’ve gotten to learn...
County: Madison County, Ark.
Owners: Ruth and Jim Jones
History of the Business: Ruth Jones started the business in 2020 in Springdale, but in 2025, she and her husband, Jim, built and moved to a brand-new sale barn in Hindsville, Arkansas. The grand opening in mid-December had more than 1,000 visitors and the first cattle sale had almost 1,400 head of...
2026 marks the Centennial celebration of the Mother Road
Hit the road this year for a once-in-a-100-year trip and explore and discover all the exciting events and activities that will celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary. There will be many projects and programs to participate in that will be commemorating the Mother Road. Many activities will be focused on preservation,...
Hometown: Schell City, Missouri
County: St. Clair
Family members: Larry Bray, husband. Son, Shawn Bray and future daughter-in-law Morgan Bellamy. Son, Devon and daughter, Alivia
In Town: I have worked in the banking industry as a document specialist since 2019. I have recently retired early to become a full-time grandma.
In the Country: My husband and I live on 20 Acres in rural St. Clair...
Hometown: Morrisville, Mo.
County: Polk
Parents: Trent and Hillary Manning
Siblings: Anglin, Abel and Amos Manning with another brother on the way
4-H Club: Eudora 4-H
Club Leader: Hillary Manning
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I live on my family’s century farm in Polk County, Missouri. My parents have operated a fencing business for the last 8 years. Through that I have learned how to build multiple types of fences...
Tips for managing ticks and flies around cattle this spring
As Oklahoma enters the spring months, Dr. Jonathan Cammack, Oklahoma State University State Extension Specialist...
Alpha-gal syndrome gives new urgency to tick prevention
As temperatures rise and people begin camping, fishing and farming, it’s more important than ever to be...
Tall fescue arises as long-term cover crop
Tall fescue has established itself regionally as one of the most versatile grass species, and its value as...
Extension Offers Mental Health tips for farmers, farm families facing unique stressors
With the uncertainties of weather and global economics, compounded by geographic isolation, farmers...
The increased risk
Cardiovascular disease is a group of health conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control...
Preserving healthcare close to home
Rural hospitals are a quiet but vital part of life in Missouri. They provide emergency care, deliver babies, treat chronic...
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