Juanita McClellan is 90 years old and an example of what one highly capable and strong willed woman can accomplish in 40 years on her own. Juanita has lived in Cane Hill, Ark., for 65 years, and her grandchildren are the seventh generation on the farm. Her husband Charles passed away in 1971 and she and her son Johnny continued with the slaughterhouse business in Cane Hill for another two years before he died. She sold one year later. Juanita said, “At the time, I didn’t know if I was going to sink or swim, so I sold it and started to build the farm of my dreams.”
Currently Juanita owns 129 acres, 40 mixed momma cows, 19 calves and two Angus bulls. She was reluctant to buy the two Angus bulls because she’s not overly fond of their temperament, but she also realizes black sells better. At the urging of her neighbor and “adopted grandson,” Lee Jones, she sold her previous bull that was getting too big to breed at 1,625 pounds and bought the two Angus. Juanita is especially fond of having some Santa Gertrudis blood in her animals because the calves tend to be long and slim but grow quickly with few complications. Juanita said, “In my heart of hearts I’d like to have another Santa Gertrudis bull.”
This year Juanita started a pasture rotation system with five pastures, two of which she also hays once each year. The system required some new fencing but seems to work well for her.
Most recently, she has installed two watering tanks controlled by floats and made out of tractor tires that are connected by PVC pipes to a spring fed pond she cleaned out five years ago. With the addition of those tanks, each pasture has its own water source so no water has to be hauled which is especially important for her during winter.
As many others have done, Juanita has downsized her herd, but in her case it is to keep the numbers reasonable in terms of her ability to care for her animals rather than as a result of the difficult weather in the last two years. She did make a concession to the weather when she sold her calves this year. She said, “I had the biggest calf crop I ever had but not enough pasture, so I sold some at 300 pounds instead of the usual 500 pounds.”
Juanita believes that the most important factor in having a successful cattle operation is having a close relationship which each animal in the herd. When one is off to the side or behaving oddly, she not only notices the behavior but knows exactly which animal it is. All have names, most of which are descriptive such as Four Eyes or Crooked Horn. She tames the animals through the use of cubes and constant attention as well as never yelling at them or using a hotshot. Juanita said, “If I want my cattle, all I have to do is call them. There’s no need to try to round them up because they will pretty much go wherever I want, whenever I want, though they’re not too fond of the sorting pen.”
Juanita’s favorite part of farming has always been driving her tractor which she calls her favorite toy. At one time she had a tractor that would only carry one round bale at a time but invested in a larger one that would carry two so she wouldn’t have to be out as much in the winter. She and Lee work the cattle together although she has had a shoulder injury which is currently keeping her from driving her beloved tractor.
Developing her farm was not easy though, the land had been bequeathed to her husband when he was only 5 years old. For income Juanita always worked off the farm at a variety of jobs from a lumberyard to a co-op to doctors’ offices. She worked for one doctor for 26 years and quit at 83. She said, “I liked working for doctors almost as much as the cows… but not quite.”
One year she bought hay only to have lightning strike and destroy both the hay and the barn. At that time she sold all the cows but seven and restarted her herd. She bought a bull and kept adding to her herd by keeping the heifers. In 1978, she built her own house “on a shoestring” and even insulated it herself. For 40 years she has been the only wage-earner and is proud of the fact that she owes money to no one. Juanita said, “I’ve enjoyed every minute out here and plan on enjoying many more.”
