Todd Mitchell
Hometown: Rogersville, Mo.
Family: Wife, Shannon; children, Tad, 19; and Shelby, 16.
In Town: For the last 10 years, Todd Mitchell as been the owner and operator of BlackBurn All Septic Tank Service.
“When I had the opportunity to buy the business, I did,” he said. “I was tired of working for other people and wanted to work for myself. It keeps me busy because I’m the only employee.”
The business has both residential and commercial clients.
“We pump grease traps from restaurants and then we have a lot of residential septic pumping. I go just south of Ozark, over to Mount Vernon, Mansfield and Buffalo. We have decent sized service area.”
In the Country: Todd is no stranger to livestock, but about four years ago he started a completely new operation with haired sheep, including Katahdin, Dorper and Barbados.
“We’ve got about 20 head of sheep right now,” Todd said. “It’s really nothing big; it’s just something to help control weeds.”
Todd began his haired sheep operation after a relative began raising Katahdins.
“I just thought I would give them a try,” Todd said. “He said they were better to eat than wool sheep and were tougher.”
Todd said the Barbados are a “challenge” to keep in at times, but the Katahdins and Dorpers help keep the Barbados a little calmer.
“Those are also pretty tough and are pretty good moms,” he said of the exotic looking sheep. “They also didn’t sell to well, so I wanted to get something with more size. I have a Dorper running with them and the Katahdins, and it’s really making some nice crosses. Dorpers are really a hardy, muscled breed and I like the results.”
Todd said he markets is lambs through the sheep and goat sale at Buffalo Livestock Market in Buffalo, Mo., and has been pleased with the returns on his crossbreds.
“I think the ethnic market is really just about the only thing that is really keeping the sheep and goat market going today,” he added.
In the future Todd hopes to improve the fencing on his 21-acre farm, which also is home to eight horses, and expand his sheep operation.
