Henson Farms is a small, but powerful operation, says Dan Henson of his family-run, 35-acre Limousin cattle farm in the Bloomfield Community in Benton County.
"This operation doesn’t depict our sole survival," added Dan, who is also vice president of Simmons Feed Ingredients. Getting right down to cattle business, Dan explained, "When we cull, we don’t mislead to gain an extra hundred bucks. We try not to sell anything that we won’t buy. We, as a family, work together and look out for one another. We take care of our animals and put them first."
Dan and his wife, Kathy, began their Limousin cattle operation in 1998 after Simmons co-worker Tom Stanberry convinced Dan to switch from Angus to Limousin, "because of the breed’s well-earned reputation." The couple was joined in 2001 by his parents, Clyde and Anita Henson, and their granddaughter, Hillary.
Clyde and Anita married in 1950 after meeting at the American Royal in Kansas City, where they both rode jumpers. Later, they started a thoroughbred horse operation in Union Community near Lavaca, Ark., in Sebastian County. They were honored as Farm Family of the Year in the early 1970s there.
The switch from race horses to cattle for the lifelong livestock tenders wasn’t that complicated. "It’s easier than thoroughbreds," explained Clyde. "We’ve been able to work side-by-side our whole lives doing what we love. Anita and I grew up in the Depression, and the rule then, as it is now, is the livestock eats before we do. It’s always been that way."
The cattle go through about 100 round bales of hay a year, plus they feed on bermuda, crabgrass, fescue and some rye, plus the calves get a feed mix with 14 percent protein.
Today, Henson Farms has increased to 33 heifers of which three are donors and 30 are recipients. Seven foal calves and three spring calves also are on the farm. All bulls are sold for show prospects, and what isn’t show quality is sold at local auction.
Heat synchronization, AI and embryo transplants are the most effective investments seedstock producers can make, according to the Hensons.
"Henson Farms’ success rate is better than 85 percent," Dan said. "Out of 13 eggs, one recip didn’t keep an egg. We took her back to Four Corners Embryo Transfer in Strang, Okla., and she stuck. We’re fortunate to get such a large number of eggs on every flush."
Through flushes, the Hensons try to maintain homozygous black and homozygous polled, two characteristics that drive the seedstock business. Limousin breeders who balance those two traits with high growth, sensible birth weight, calving ease and good carcass quality stand to gain a competitive advantage over the competition. "If you’ve got cattle that can do a lot of things well, they’ll bring more dollars in the marketplace," he said.
The heavy musculature and medium size of these cattle are outstanding breed traits, as the carcass yields good cutability. The meat is tender and fine-fibered because of their low fat levels, which consumers favor. Limousin have much to offer in an era where leaner cuts of beef are the standard, noted Dan.
Farm life has been a sweet learning experience for Hillary, now 17, a Gentry High School senior reared since she was three days old by Clyde and Anita. "They have given me a wonderful country life. I want to get my education, so that I may be able to care for myself and them, too. My life on the farm has turned me into who I am, and I wouldn’t trade this for anything else."
Hillary has followed in the footsteps of Alaina, Dan and Kathy’s daughter, who started showing the family’s Angus and winning grand champion at state fairs. The first time she showed in 2001, Hillary took reserve champion Limousin bull at the Benton County Fair. Since then, she has garnered more than 50 ribbons from county, district and state livestock shows; claimed grand champion bull 2006-2008 at the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show; and took reserve champion and champion bull at the 2007 Tulsa State Fair. Any Limousin raised on the farm is "show potential," said Hillary.
"We know our animals. If you put your animals first, it shows," Dan said.
