NEIGHBORS
Building a Reputation
Fair Grove, Mo., teen diligently works to improve his French Alpine herd
Goats have been a part of Devon Miller’s farm life since childhood.
His mom, Elise Miller, has raised meat goats since she 12, but when the Millers began looking at show animals, Devon wasn’t interested in showing meat goats. He gravitated, instead, to dairy goats.
Devon and Elise began looking...
Collecting the Data
White Dorper producer Charlie Robinson traces his with flock with NSIP
Charlie Robinson was introduced to Katahdin and Dorper sheep in high school through a neighbor, and he had a few head of his own.
After a few years, it was off to college, then to veterinary school, so his sheep operation stopped. As time went on, Charlie graduated from vet...
A Passion for Showing
Faith Calvin hits the show ring with her registered Shropshire sheep
Faith Calvin has helped on her family farm in Dudenville, Mo., since she was 5 years old. Along with her parents, Kenlee and Sarah Calvin, she helps raise Red Angus cattle, Shropshire sheep, and Polish and Dutch rabbits.
She has grown up helping her dad with cattle chores and attending 4-H...
Generations
Farming is in the Butler family’s DNA
Raising cattle, planting crops in Northeast Oklahoma – it’s been a way of life for more than 100 years for members of the Butler family.
Now as the fifth generation prepares to pursue careers in agriculture, the future looks promising for the family.
Detmer and Mary Houck settled in what is known as the former...
From Strawberries to Cattle
The Hamm family started with 90 acres and now has about 500
In 1958, Thomas Franklin and Darylene Joy Hamm traveled from a strawberry farm in Marshall, Ark., to a 90-acre strawberry farm in Stilwell, Okla., that was for sale near to Tom’s parents.
When Tom explained he didn’t have the money to buy the farm he offered to trade his...
NEIGHBORS
Randy Bittick
• Hometown: Sarcoxie, Mo
• Family: Parents Glenn and Anna Bittick; brothers Bryan and Jason Bittick; and sisters Carol Meyer and Johnna Greathouse
In Town: Randy Bittick started working part time at Leggett & Platt in Carthage, Mo., 21 years ago while he was in college. He is now a full-time laborer at the company’s wire mill. He welds wire and...
Serving the Community since 1905
Pearl Brothers offers hometown service
Pearl Brothers Hardware store in Joplin, Mo., has been around since 1905, although it has not always in the same location that is today.
The actual Pearl brothers originally opened the hardware store at 2nd and Main in Joplin. The initial store opened as a hardware store offering sporting goods and a pawn shop.
In 1949, father...
J&J Processing
• Owners: James and Julie Etter
• Location: Pierce City, Mo.
History: James and Julie Etter bought an older building in Pierce City, Mo., in January 2001 in hopes of starting J & J Processing, a custom processing plant. The building had once been a processing and packing plant, but when they purchased it, it was set up as only a...
Moriah Ashby
• Age: 17
• Parents: Mark and Darci Ashby
• Siblings: Micah and Maddi Ashby
• Hometown: Walker, Mo.
• FFA Chapter: NEVC FFA
• Advisor: Brett Neil
How have you been involved in agriculture over the years?
“My family and I live on a Boer goat farm. We raise and show our goats. My dad sells them as well. We raise goats from the time...
Brett Seaman
Family: Wife Deanne, son Tim and daughter Tori
Hometown: West Fork, Ark.
In Town: “I was born in Bakersfield, Calif., and met my future wife Deanne while serving in the Navy as a helicopter mechanic. When I deployed during the Gulf War, Deanne moved back to our childhood stomping grounds in Arkansas and in with my mom Gina. I am now...
Nutrition and Milk Production
Homegrown forages and constant monitoring are keys to success
Nutrition plays a major role in milk production. Consulting with a nutritionist or extension expert can...
Managing Dairy Steers
Strategies for success in the steer market
For some dairy farmers, raising dairy steers may feel like operating a completely different enterprise. In order to...
Breeding Dairy Heifers
Optimal timing and management for dairy heifers
There are a number of financial benefits to breeding dairy heifers at the optimal time. Determining when to...
Selecting Traits for Production
Sire traits are important to today’s dairy industry
First things first, producers should assess their operation and decide if they want to utilize a bull...
Estimated Breeding Values
Shepherds are utalizing EBVs to improve their flocks
When shepherds evaluate an animal for its potential to be added to their flock, typically the first...
Starting in Small Ruminant Production
What producers need to know before buying sheep or goats
Before diving deep into the small ruminant business, consider some of the following tips from...
