Age: 14
Hometown: Buffalo, Missouri
County: Dallas County, Mo.
Parent: Kelsey Dugan, mother
Siblings: Brothers, Braxton Warner, 12 and Christian Warner, 14 and sister, Avery Dugan age 9
FFA Chapter: Buffalo, advisor, Maryann Boro
4-H Chapter: Advisor, Kristin Obley
What is your involvement in agriculture? “For me, it is totally family involvement,” Hayden explained. “I have between 120 and 130 head of registered production show cattle as well as commercial cattle.
“I hope to be up to 200 by this summer. We live on a feedlot so we have all breeds – shorthorn, Simmental, Simi-angus. My family has always farmed. My grandpa, Billy Dugan raised commercial cattle and he still helps me some.”
Hayden’s cattle are on 250 acres, some that they use in combination with Hale Farms, managed by Lucas Hale. Hayden participates in both FFA and 4-H. Her SAE (Supervised Agriculture Experience) with FFA is in Beef Production. She shared that she really enjoys getting to learn more through FFA and that it has helped her to sharpen her showing and communication skills. Likewise, she is involved in all aspects of the industry. “I like it all,” she laughed.
“Calving is not fun in the winter time but it’s preferred that show cattle be done calving by December or January each year. We show at all our local county fairs like here in Dallas County as well as Webster, Laclede, and Polk counties. We’ve also shown cattle in Memphis and at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. I hope to get back there this year.”
Hayen started her cattle showing with a family friend, Ranae Poole who has been a great help to her and now she is able to do so on her own.
“We make our own feed mix, using silage, corn that we grow for that purpose, and hay,” she continued. “You have to feed show cattle a little differently, so we add some supplements to their feed, like cotton seed hulls. The registered cattle go to our feed lot as we keep them right now to grow our own herd while the commercial calves go to the sale barn at about 600 pounds.”
Hayden’s mother, Kelsey Dugan used to background calves so with that Hayden doesn’t have to engage a great deal in the way of veterinary services.
What are your plans for the future? “I’m hoping to keep learning more and especially to learn more about A.I. this summer. I plan to go on to veterinary school and become a large animal vet,” she concluded.
