Name: Joe Bartholomew
In Town: Joe Bartholomew came to Lebanon, Mo., to work for a drug store chain that went broke shortly afterwards. In 1991 he opened his own store, Joe’s Pharmacy, which has grown steadily ever since. “My choices were to join the unemployed or start my own business." Like farming, the pharmaceutical business is changing rapidly in the 21st Century. These days, there is so much paper work, with the insurance companies, that’s all we have time for. It has changed a lot in the last 20 years.”
In the Country: Joe and his family own 470 acres in northern Laclede County. He lives on a 47-acre portion, and has the rest in a couple of pieces nearby. He has raised a variety of different types of cattle – Holsteins, Herefords, Braunvieh and Angus, chickens and exotics such as buffalo and golden pheasants. Joe’s interest in farming began with his childhood, growing up in Union, Mo. “We’ve really had all these different kinds of animals, because my son, Adam is always wanting to raise something."
Family: Joe and Beverly Bartholomew have a daughter, Pamela Dawson and two sons, Joshua Richard and Adam Bartholomew.
How do you manage both domestic livestock and exotics?
“You have to remember that buffalo, for instance, are not domesticated animals. They are big and really interesting, but they are wild animals and you don’t want to turn your back on them."
Joe says he has enjoyed keeping the different types of animals, but after last year’s ice storm, the buffalo had to go. “They are a grazing animal, and prone to wander. Once those fences came down a bit, I couldn’t keep up with them.”
How does a person balance a business with farming?
“You have to know when you have reached your limits." Earlier this spring, Joe sold several head, cutting his herd size, but he laughed as he explained, “I had over 40 and I sold off half, but I counted the other day, and we’re already back up to 28. Not a lot, by some people’s count, but more than enough to keep me busy!”
By Laura L. Valenti
