Name: Collette (Colly) and John Magruder
In The Country: “We started with nothing but an empty field,” John said. “The property was originally land that was homesteaded. We built our house in 1999. We have 150 acres, and run commercial cattle, 22 momma cows, all cow/calf pairs right now, and one Charolais bull, he’s by BR Duke. We are both AI certified, and do AI with our cattle. We never butcher our own beef, but sell at auction.”
In Town: The Magruders own the Leslie Cafe. “I just come in every day and go to work,” Colly said. “We’re open six days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and we stay open until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with Friday night's special being Mexican food.”
Family: The Magruders have no children or immediate family members living, but they consider the people who work in the café like family.
How do you balance working at the cafe and taking care of the farm?
“We both work at the café and at the farm,” Colly said. “John cooks on Saturday nights, I cook the rest of the time and Cheryl does the specials. When John broke his leg, Cheryl took over and did the cooking while he was laid up. "I did the farm work in the mornings, then came in and cooked. Our crew at the café took over and worked extra time. We also raise Pembroke Welsh Corgies. Sometimes we work cattle with all of them we’ve trained.”
What would you like readers to know about Leslie Cafe?
“The café was established in 1948, and had numerous owners,” Colly said. “I worked three years for the previous owner, I’ve had it myself for the past three years. In May this year a food critic, Michael Bauer, stopped to eat. He later wrote a favorable review on the café. It’s posted on his Web Site, Between Meals: Out of Town.”
Why do you farm?
“It’s what I’ve done my whole life,” John said. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have cattle.” Colly smiled and added, “Most little girls grow up dreaming of marrying a prince, I always wanted to marry a farmer.”
By Jeanie Horn
