Brothers Paul Gifford (pictured at left with his wife Sharon) and Robert Gifford (pictured at right with his granddaughter Josie) face mobility issues, but continue their cattle operations. Submitted Photo.
Brothers face similar obstacles, but continue their lives on their farms
WAYNESVILLE, MO. – From the many kinds of hard work involved to the hard economic, farming is difficult. Farming from a wheelchair makes it even more difficult but don’t tell that to brothers, Paul and Robert Gifford.
Paul and his wife Sharon of rural Pulaski County outside Waynesville, and Robert and his son, Sam and his grandson, Evan of Texas County, near Licking, all raise Angus cattle, despite some physical limitations.
Paul and Sharon live on the Gifford family’s ancestral farm, now 320 acres.
“Grandma and Grandpa, Chester and Laura, known by all as Wilsie, moved here from Iowa and bought 80 acres in 1936. My mom and dad, Elmer and Velma Gifford, bought it from my grandmother in 1952. Robert and I grew up here and today, with 80 acres nearby that we rent from our daughter, Dr. Shawna Gifford of Rolla, and 130 that belongs to my brother, we can drive cows all the way to Highway 17,” Paul laughed.
Paul and Sharon have 100 cows, with 85 being spring calving, as well as 15 heifers.
In 2015, Paul was diagnosed with a tumor on his spinal cord at the base of his brain. The surgery to remove it did not go as well as all had hoped, and the result months in hospitals in St. Louis and Springfield.
He continues to improve, having progressed to the point he can walk a very short distance.
“I started out just walking a few steps and now I can walk from the bedroom and around the kitchen table, which I do several times a day. I can walk into church and that is a real blessing,” he added.
The Giffords are grateful for all the help they have received from the Faith Baptist Church at Waynesville. From wheelchair ramps built at various doors into and around their house to youth and others who have come to chop firewood after storms dropped several trees on their property to deer hunters who have enjoyed their sport and then returned to build shelving, mix and grind cattle feed.
“Just all the prayers have been so appreciated,” Paul said.
Paul’s brother, Robert owns Agri-Enterprises, a farm equipment sales and repair business in Licking, along with his son, Sam and his grandson, Evan. Three years ago, while unloading square bales, Robert fell from a flatbed truck. He injured his spine in such a way that he was originally paralyzed from the chest down. With hard work and therapy, he has now regained much of the use of his arms.
In addition to the business, Robert is the pastor of Pioneer Baptist Church in Birch Tree, Mo., and formerly the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Licking. Before his injury, he was running 300 black cows, primarily Angus, on 400 acres. He has recently sold much of the acreage and cows and now has 40 cows on 150 acres.
“This kind of injury absolutely shuts off so many things,” Robert shared. “From fixing fence where the rough terrain makes it difficult to get around and maintaining equipment because it’s hard to get close enough in a wheelchair to reach where you need to. Paul has gotten a track wheelchair, which makes it easier to get around in the fields but even opening and shutting gates can be a problem because you can’t do it quick enough to keep the cows from getting out,” he chuckled.
“Still, I have to say, Paul has been my greatest encouragement,” Robert said. “He told me there are the ones who give up and the ones who don’t. We both give the credit to God who keeps us going. Paul told me, you have to be thankful for what you have and what you can do and keep focused on that, not on what you can’t do. He has stayed so positive and without a doubt, has helped me more than any other human being. He’s been such a trail blazer but I’m not far behind him.”
AgrAbility, a program based at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Lincoln University of Jefferson City has been a great help to both brothers, directing them programs like Voc-Rehab that can help and make other resources available. That has included financial assistance including purchasing equipment like motorized wheelchairs and adapting other equipment or buildings to accommodate their specialized needs.
Sharon Gifford admitted she was nearly panicked as to what they would do about the farm and its tremendous load.
“Previously, Paul drove on occasion for MoDot during snowstorms, baled hay for others, drove a dump truck for a local concrete company or drove for a propane company for extra money, but our mainstay was the farm. So many have come forward to help us and we are so thankful.”
Sharon drives a side-by-side UTV with a feeder on the back to drop feed in the field for their cows.
“I was doing it with buckets at first, but there was the fear that if I got hurt, we would really be in trouble so this was the next step,” she said.
Paul’s new goal is to improve enough to get back on his tractor.
“There are so many things he could do when he is back on that tractor,” Sharon concluded.
“These motorized wheelchairs never work exactly the way they are supposed to and they are only good for about five years before they wear out,” Paul said with a laugh. “Once you get off a hard surface, you have to really be careful not to turn the whole thing over.”
The brothers are appreciative of the great support they have received from various family and community members. They continue to work on treatments and therapies to improve their condition and both follow Paul’s mantra, “you never give up.”
Both Paul and Robert Gifford added they would be more than willing to speak with anyone who needs help and encouragement in learning to farm from a wheelchair.
