In Town: Sam has been a District Sales Manager for 17 of his almost 20 years with Missouri Farm Bureau. He has 10 offices in eight counties he oversees by hiring, training, managing, motivating and problem solving with ten multiline insurance agency offices. From Mountain Grove north to Versailles, Marshfield to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Sam spends one day in his office at Camdenton, Mo., then the rest out in this field area. “I’m really proud of the people I work with. We’ve been the most productive Farm Bureau district in the state eight of the last 9 years, because we have good people,” he said.
In the Country: In north Dallas County Sam and his wife, Tammie, run Beefmaster cattle on about 500 acres, half owned, half rented. “We’ve been raising replacement heifers, both purebred and first crosses, since we bought this place 9 years ago. We also sell a few bulls each year. My wife and I both grew up on farms. She stays at home, and we couldn’t do half the things we do at the farm without her being actively involved with it. I’m also a board member on the Central States Beefmaster Breeders Association. We want to continue to improve our herd with good genetics, and promote our breed.”
Why Beefmasters?
“It’s an American developed breed built on six essentials: Disposition, Fertility, Weight, Conformation, Hardiness and Milk Production. Beefmasters have a great maternal instinct. I have to have calving ease, because I’m not there a lot, and we just don’t have calving problems. They’re hardy, the heat doesn’t bother them, neither does the cold. They’re a muscular animal, and you can cross them with Angus, Charolais (any breed) and their crosses are phenomenal.”
What insurance advice would you offer farmers?
“Two things. One, make sure you have farm liability insurance coverage, so someone doesn’t end up owning your farm because of an accident. Then, if you want to pass on the farm or ranch to the next generation, it takes planning. You have to plan and make arrangements for those in your family who want to stay at the farm, and for those who don’t.”
By OFN Staff
