The Wilson’s are spending time as a family on the show cattle road
MARHSFIELD, MO – Duell and Amber Wilson of D & A Cattle Company, located in rural Webster County are enjoying the best part of raising registered Limousin and Lim-Flex show cattle – and that is, watching their daughters learn both the basics and the intricacies of the show cattle world. Their farming operation is growing on 15 acres with four cow-calf pairs with a total of 10 calves.
“Kharis is nine and Roux is six,” Duell began to explain. “My parents’ farm, Kevin and Kay Wilson, is right across the road there. They have 120 acres and we’ve always had cattle, commercial cattle. About 10 years ago, my brother, Chase started raising registered Limousins. My niece, Karlee is into showing cattle. Her dad, Chase gave Kharis her first bottle calf, a Limousin. I think she was about five at the time. She’s always been around her grandparents’ cattle and just loves going along on the Ranger to check on the cows.” He grinned. “And now at age nine, she loves the work and the relationship with the cattle.”
In the past few years, Kharis has already had a successful career in showing cattle at national shows in Amarillo, South Dakota, Tulsa, and Georgia.
Her younger sister, Roux is starting to get enthused about the whole process as well. Her uncle also gave her a Limousin calf for her birthday. “She’d like to win a buckle like her big sister,” Duell continued, “but she knows she’ll have to earn it herself. They don’t give those away so it is up to her.”
Duell works at Don Vance Auto in Marshfield as their service advisor and Amber works from home as a pediatric case manager for Cox Health.
Amber picked up the narrative. “We used to pay a fitter to come in and do the clipping and fitting helping to get the animals all ready but we have learned how to do that ourselves so it is a special time, for Kharis and I to work together as mother and daughter. We’re very hands-on with this whole thing.”
Kharis has also participated in some of the sales talk competitions at the Red Angus Jr. Nationals this past year that she attended with family friends. She also still enjoys going with her Uncle Chase to sales and to look over the cows.
“She’s a better judge of livestock than I am,” Duell followed up with a smile. “She really has an eye for it already.”
He added. “I go along as the ‘grunt force’ as I call it, on the shows with the girls, working with the trailer, getting everything set up. It’s definitely a case of ‘divide and conquer’ – getting everything ready but that’s how we did around 20 shows last year.”
Meanwhile, back at home there is plenty to do to make it all work when it comes to show time. “There are different feed protocols for each animal and six or seven feeds and supplements go into each animal’s ration. Our local feed companies, like Gordon’s Feed in Marshfield and Letterman’s Feed in Conway have been great at advising us when we ask,” Amber continued.
The Wilsons have also welcomed the help of 16 year old FFA student Max Rost, with their operation. He is working with them on AI. “Max came out and what he did took on the very first try!” Duell exclaimed.
Meanwhile, each day, the animals have to be fed, washed and trained to make the show days a success. “One of the things we really love about the show world,” Amber continued, “is that everyone works to help each other, sharing ideas and tips. There are at least six or seven different Limousin producers in Webster County that are heavily invested in showing. It’s so good to be able to have someone to call when you have a question.”
“We may be in competition down the road, “ Duell concluded, “but we stall together at the various shows and the camaraderie is great. This is our life. Other families are into sports or music with their kids but this is how we spend our time as a family. It’s a great way to teach our kids about the raising and care of the animals and how to be safe while doing it. But it’s also about integrity and learning the life skills which will serve them later. We ask them to do their very best work. Try your hardest. That’s all we can ask.”
