The name Hammond is synonymous with several different things, especially in Licking, Mo. In the 60s it meant Hammond Post & Lumber – on Highway 63 north of Licking. For over 30 years, the late Bill Hammond sold thousands upon thousands of all sizes of penta-treated posts and lumber all over the Midwest.
Bill retired in 1986, leaving his son, Mike, to manage the mill while he started buying farms that needed clearing, fences and lots of work to bring them into full production.
In the early 2000s environmental issues made it hard to comply with federal regulations so the Hammonds phased out the mill. Today, Mike and his son, Derek Hammond, own four large farms that are wall-to-wall grass with over 170 cow/calf pairs.
Hammond also means education and community involvement. Karen Beeler Hammond, Mike’s wife, has taught over 20 years at Rolla High School. Mike also substitute taught at Rolla Schools and spent several years coaching youth sports such as basketball, football and Little League baseball. Derek has a degree from Missouri State University in West Plains, Mo., and Jordan, Mike and Karen’s daughter, has a degree from Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.
In 2011 Mike and Derek purchased WW Feeds in Licking and turned it into Hammond Feed which is a privately owned business. Mike said, “When we opened the feed store I wanted it to be a place where people would feel comfortable and a gathering place for visiting.” It certainly is that, a table and chairs are the first thing you see when you walk in the door. The coffee pot is always on.
This feed store is not just a “feed store.” It is a “feed and sporting goods store.” Derek said, “The two things dad and I like best are cattle and outdoor sports. This store satisfies both.”
Hammond Feed are dealers for Crescent Feed, ADM Feed and Nutrena Feed. They stock feed for all farm animals including chickens and rabbits. Brad Gale works with Mike and Derek. Mike said, “I don’t know what we would do without Brad and his knowledge of various types of animals. He knows everything including what kind and how much dewormer to give a goat or sheep and what to feed quail in captivity.”
Mike mentioned there is a large Amish community north of Licking and they have huge rabbit barns. Mike noted, “Rabbit feed is surpassed only by cattle feed.”
“The feed store has worked out really well with our farms,” Derek added, “Because selling feed helps us figure out what works and helps customers. Raising cattle helps sell feed because you can see the results.”
Hammond Farms raise purebred Limousin cattle. They started out with mostly Red Limousin cows but in recent years have been using Black Limousin bulls. Mike explained, “In this area black just sells better.”
The Hammonds keep bulls with the cows year round and have calves every month with the majority being born in the spring. Mike said, “The calves are hardy with low birth weights and the cows are good mothers with lots of milk.” The herds have clean water, mostly from spring fed creeks, and graze on fescue and clover. Hay is custom baled on leased ground and fed as needed on the farms and the balance is sold through the feed store.
Mike and Derek have a unique marketing system for their feeder calves. Mike explained “The calves go straight from the farm, off the cow, into pot loads to a veal processing plant in Milwaukee, Wis. This alternative market processes only all natural, pasture raised beef. Derek added, “They are very particular about clean beef. Not only do the calves have to be clean and out of purebred Limousin bulls, the cows have to be chemical free and the calves have to be at least 50 percent Limousin.”
Derek continued, “We have to be very careful when shipping and handling the calves. There can be no bruising or marks on them so we never hit them with anything and they are not packed too tight in the trucks that haul them to market,” They are butchered the same day they arrive. The carcass must have a hanging weight between 240 to 280 pounds. Mike said, “Price per pound is based on shipping weight.” He was very enthusiastic about the premium price per pound and the fact that heifers bring the same price per pound as the steers.
Hammond Farms are proud that they raise clean, all natural beef and provide all types of feed and farm supplies for area livestock producers, and you don’t have to go out of town to get ammunition and sporting supplies.
