Age: 19
Family: Parents, Jason and Angie Morgan; and older brother, Jade
Hometown: Lamar, Mo.
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I’ve grown up on my family’s farm where we have a commercial Angus cow/calf operation of 300 head on approximately 1,800 to 2,000 acres in rural Barton County. We also raise row crops, like corn, soybeans, wheat and prairie hay,” Lauren explained.
This past summer, Lauren like so many others, spent sometime in the show ring at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo., showing her 18-month old crossbred show steer, Okie. After the state fair, the two also made an appearance at her hometown Barton County Fair in late August, which was his final show.
“He was be sold to be on someone’s dinner table, but then that is the end goal with raising beef cattle,” she added with a smile.
Life on the farm is always what’s it’s been about. Lauren admits she never truly considered any career other than agriculture.
“I love everything about life on the farm, but I really love working with cattle the most. I brush hog and do lots of farm chores. I especially love working with my grandpa, Jim Morgan, who is 78 years old now and is starting to slow down a little. When we go brush hog and do other things, we always take two tractors so I can be of some real help and take a little of the load off of him.”
Future Plans: “Right now, I’m a sophomore at Crowder College, studying animal science. It’s a nutrition based goal in which eventually I’ll be formulating rations for livestock, as in working for one of the feed companies. I’m also really interested in genetics as well as nutrition so I could see myself doing something with that. I’d also like to raise my own livestock. After another year at Crowder, I’ll be transferring to Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., to finish up a four-year degree.”
