Hometown: Dora, Mo.
Family: Wife Gwen; five adult children; 12 grandchildren
In Town: Calvin and Gwen Chambers founded Southern Missouri Homes and Farms in Dora, Mo. Calvin is the farm specialist for the agency.
Calvin has been in real estate for about 10 years, and Gwen has been in the industry since 1993.
“I was driving a truck, and she was doing real estate,” he explained. “When we married 10 years ago, it was kind of a no brainier. She mostly does homes, and I mostly do the farms.”
In the Country: Calvin’s family has owned the same farm near Dora since 1896. Over the years, the 63-acre farm has held various farming operations, including a dairy, but Calvin and Gwen raise and breed registered Missouri Fox Trotters.
“My dad got his first Fox Trotter in 1966, and we have had them ever since,” Calvin said.
Calvin stands two studs and has a dozen mares for breeding. Fox Trotters born at the Douglas County, Mo., farm have been marketed as trail horses as far away as California.
“Trail riding is the most popular thing right now,” Calvin said. “People want a good, smooth-riding horse.”
Calvin may participate in a local Fox Trotter show from time to time, but he is more comfortable on the trail.
“I will sponsor five national Fox Trotter rides next year; four of them will be in Douglas County,” he said. “Douglas County will have seven national rides next year, and the Douglas County Fox Trotters have a ride every Wednesday somewhere, and the Howell County group has a ride every Saturday.”
Last year, Calvin booked about 10,000 miles on horseback.
“I went to California, Montana, made two trips to Arizona, Illinois, Iowa and to North Carolina where I rode a horse into the ocean,” Calvin said. “We were coast-to-coast riders last year.”
Calvin takes at least six horses when heading off on a trail ride.
“There is usually three or four of us going, so I take a load,” he explained. “I can haul six or eight in my trailer, so I just take six.”
Calvin plans to continue to breed horses and ride as often as possible. He and Gwen have also considered adding a few head of Dexter cattle to the operation.
The rural way of life is something Calvin has always known, but he can think of no other way of life.
“In my opinion, your lifestyle is the most important thing you can choose to do,” he said. “It’s a good lifestyle to have a few horses and raise some of your own food if you can.
