NEIGHBORS
Chasing the American Dream
Colton Whitney serves as an advocate for the beef industry and agriculture
PRESTON, MO. - Growing up on his family’s Hickory County, Mo., cow/calf operation, Colton Whitney does the typical farm kid things.
“I help my dad every day with the cattle and their needs, like working and vaccinating the herd,” he said. “In the winter, I put out hay and...
Getting Bigger and Better
15-year-old has started his own herd with plans for growth after high school
MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO. - In the heart of Wright County, Mo., 15-year-old Westin Pridemore is making his mark on the agricultural world.
With his family owning and leasing around 1,100 acres, Westin’s life is deeply intertwined with the land and livestock that define his family’s Angus cow/calf operation,...
Building Dry Creek Cattle Company
The McDermott family traded horses and tack for heifers
LONG LANE, MO. - For several years after the McDermott family moved to Missouri from mid-state Kansas, their daughters, Kayelee and Bailey participated in a 4-H riding program operated by Brian and Tammy McKinney. Then, in 2020, dad Tim got into a long-running conversation with an older gentleman in the area...
It Started with One
A stray goat led to a family’s farming business
POTEAU, OKLA. - What started with a single Kiko buck that Starr Lonto’s son gave her that has developed into a family business that is quickly becoming one of the more popular closed herds of goats in east Oklahoma, if not the entire region.
Sweet Creek Goat Farm is outside Poteau, Okla.,...
A Full-Service Barn
101 Livestock Auction & Feed offers more than just livestock sales
BLACKWELL, ARK. - Since August 2003, 101 Livestock Auction and Feed has been serving the Blackwell, Ark., community and much of the surrounding area. Since 2008, Owner John Knight has been at the helm of the company and he spends much of his time consulting on customer livestock needs.
The...
NEIGHBORS
Allison Horne
Town: Niangua, Mo.
County: Webster
Family: Elijah Horne
In Town: Allison Horne is the agriculture teacher for the Niangua R-5 School for the coming year.
“I grew up close to Niangua,” she said. Allison and her husband, Elijah, have made their home in Niangua, so being close to home is a big factor. Part of being an ag teacher is spending some late...
Arrowhead Milling Company
Owners: Josh Spain, Jordan Spain, Carter Leeper
Location: Lockwood, Mo
History: Arrowhead Milling Company is a small-town feed store located in Lockwood, Mo. It began as a locally-owned grain exchange and was purchased by the current owners in 2021. After the purchase, it was reopened under its current name, Arrowhead Milling. One of the owners, Carter Leeper, had been in the...
American Made
American Made General Stores support local economies and American craftsmanship
There was a time not too far in the past when buying local, American made products was the only affordable choice. Before items were mass-produced and jobs were outsourced to other countries, Ozarkers, like most Americans, would get what they needed from the local general store or barter and trade...
Emma Evans
Age: 15
Hometown: Gentry, Ark.
Parents: Wes and Laura Evans
Sibling: Weston Evans
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I have grown up on a commercial cow calf beef operation my entire life with a small herd of registered Charolais cattle on the side. I also show Charolais heifers at all levels from county fair to Junior Nationals. When I am not at...
LeeAnn Blevins
Hometown: Viola, Ark.
Family: Husband Teddy, daughter Kaitlyn Blevins (24) and son Gavin Blevins (18)
In Town: LeeAnn Blevins has been a family and consumer science agent with the Baxter County, Ark., University of Arkansas Research and Extension Service for the last 2 1/2 years. She assist workers, families and consumers with research-based knowledge on topics that affect their lives, like...
Rooted in the Community
The Tontitown Grape Festival is one of the oldest and largest festivals west of the Mississippi River
TONTITOWN, ARK. - For 125 years, the Tontitown, Ark., community has gathered to fellowship, eat spaghetti, and celebrate community. The 125th Tontitown Grape Festival is Aug. 6 to 10 in Tontitown.
While the festival has grown to include all of Northwest Arkansas and has...
Pond Management
Keeping water clean and healthy is important for livestock
Ponds are often used as drinking sources for cattle due to their natural availability and efficiency....
Evaluating Pasture Conditions
Understanding scoring methods for pastures
One of the first steps to getting the most out of pastureland is assessing its composition and condition. Thorough evaluation...
Bovine Buzz
Flies are more than a nuisance to livestock
High humidity levels create the perfect inhabitance for pesky vermin to reproduce and flourish – specifically flies...
Utilizing Growth-Stimulants
There is still some hesitancy to use implants
For decades, many producers have incorporated the use of growth-stimulant implants in their cattle operations. All implants...
Precautions Against Avian Flu in Dairy Cattle
Maintaining good biosecurity can reduce the risk
What started as only an avian infection has now spread to dairy cattle. In March, highly pathogenic avian...
Bovine Buzz
Flies are more than a nuisance to livestock
High humidity levels create the perfect inhabitance for pesky vermin to reproduce and flourish – specifically flies...
