Grant and Heather Keenen
In Town: Grant Keenen runs a cattle consulting business. He helps farmers with decisions like which pedigrees to use and when to sell calves. He also performs row cropping for other farmers. He was formerly the Director of Commercial Marketing for the International Brangus Breeders Association. Heather Keenen works for Team Ag Real Estate. She is the office manager and performs appraisals mainly on rural homes and chicken farms over four states. Heather is considered ‘quality control’ for the agency. The pair are very involved in their community. Grant is on the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association State Board. Heather is part of the first class of the Arkansas Farm Bureau State President’s Leadership Council.
In the Country: The couple owns 20 acres in Prairie Grove, Ark., and another 144 acres near Carthage, Mo. They split their time between the farms. They have about 50 head of crossbred cows with Brangus influence. “We like the Brangus breed because they are heat tolerant. They make great momma cows and have lots of longevity.” Grant and Heather also raise soybeans and wheat. They utilize the wheat by having more calves born during the spring. The row cropping business does give some flexibility in scheduling. Grant does most of the managing of the farm, but major decisions are always made together.
Advice for Others: “We have spent some money on upgrades. The added income from our jobs have allowed us to make the necessary improvements to the farm. We have improved the corrals, fences and added automatic waterers. By constantly improving, we have made the farm less labor intensive. It makes it easier to be away.”
Story and Photo by Lynlee Franks
