Freman and Connie Elam of Bear Creek Boers
LEBANON, MO. – Freman and Connie Elam are familiar faces if you have ever been around the Boer goat barns at Ozark Empire Fair, the Missouri State Fair, FarmFest or the ABGA National Show. Their farm is located in Laclede County Missouri just North of Lebanon. They have a 100% Fullblood Boer Goat herd focused on the best genetics they can buy. Although they do not consider themselves producers of “show goats” the Elam’s enjoy traveling to a few shows each year and seeing old friends and making new ones.
A closed herd since 2008, with the exception of new herd sires, Freman and Connie have focused on producing goats that provide an excellent rate of gain that will help commercial meat goat producers get a marketable kid weighing 60-80lbs at 3-4 months of age. They like bucks that have muscle, big bone and that Boer goat breed character. The Elam’s focus on natural cover in their breeding program and do not utilize AI or ET.
Connie laughs when she remembers the story of how Freman was first introduced to goats.
“Freman got his first goats when he was a teenager, by swapping a go-cart for 4 Toggenburg goats. He does not remember “all” the details of how long he kept them, but the part that is clear is he thought it would be cool to drag main in his 1951 Ford with the goats hanging out the window. (Girl Magnets)!! Then he went to Tates café for one of those greasy burger and fries and when returning to his car they had chewed up his upholstery and of course pooped all over. THUS, they found a new home.”
In 1974, the Elam’s new baby boy Kevin was spitting up his formula and Freman’s Dad said, “Well, get you a goat.” So they got a goat. She was NOT a fancy, sweet and tame milk goat, but, she gave milk and of course Kevin did great on her milk.
Jumping ahead to the late 80’s early 90’s and Freman was tired of brush hogging and he remembered his Uncle Robby clearing his property with goats, thus more goats started appearing on the Elam’s 120 acres. They were nothing fancy, Pygmies, Toggenburgs, Nubians, Saanens some Spanish, just goats all mixed up. Boer Goats entered the USA in 1993 and in 1997 Freman and Connie realized that when taking goats to the sale barns if they had a white body with a red head, the prices were better!! So, they introduced a percentage Boer Buck.
Their goat adventure began to get serious in 2000. When attending the 2000 Missouri State Fair they asked the Judge Norman Kohl where they could go find some really good Boer Goats. He of course invited them to his production sale in Texas that was held on Labor Day every year.
The Elam’s traveled to Eldorado, Texas on Labor Day Weekend 2000 and Bear Creek Boers was born. They purchased a Doe from Norman Kohl (N & K Ranch), 2 more Does from Powell/Holman(Sharon Holman and Claire Powell) and a Buck from Sunny Acres. Their search for top genetics continued for several more years as back then Labor Day Sales were popular, and most were in Texas. Popular genetics that were added to their foundation herd were goats from EGGS (John and Jackie Edwards); FSE (Lynn and Jim Farmer), DSM (Don Smith); 7A+ (Cathy Keblineger). Eventually they traveled to Iowa and purchased a Buck and Doe from Art Killian. Bear Creek’s doe herd has been closed since 2008 and they now only bring in herd sires. The most recent was in August 2024, a buck named KMSL ROR1 Smoke Show from Red Oak Ranch (Sammy Lerena) and in July 2025, a buck named 2RSG P33 Sandman from Sherry Reynolds in Kansas.
Freman and Connie love to show goats and call it “their Country Club” and they have never missed attending an ABGA National Show since 2001 until 2024, and that was due to Freman’s knee replacement. Then, similar story for the Ozark Empire Fair and Missouri State Fair, they have not missed one “yet” since 2001. They claim to NOT be professional, although first time showing in 2005 at the ABGA National show in Louisville, KY and using beginners’ luck, their 3-6 month old Doe place 6th and the 6-9 month old doe made the cut. Then the following year their 3–6-month-old Buck placed 6th when the National Show was in West Monroe, LA. Way back then, ABGA was using judges from South Africa. Yes, they did get a Buck Ennobled, Bear Creek BC G1068 Dream Maker *Ennobled* although they gave all the credit to his purchaser (Boot Jack Boers) that did the hard work of “professionally” showing his kids.
An ‘Ennobled’ Boer Goat must meet certain criteria before they can be listed as ‘Ennobled’ according to the ABGA standards. Goats must past a visual inspection by at least 2 ABGA approved inspectors. Most times this inspection is done at an AGBA sanctioned show by approved ABGA judges. Points are also awarded to the individual animal based off placings at shows and by progeny placings at shows. Not only does ‘Ennoblement’ take in consideration the individual animal but uses the progeny to determine if an animal is worthy of that title. It is an honor to have a goat make it to ‘Ennoblement’.
Bear Creek Boers was very involved in the early formative years of the Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association. Early founding members included Debbie Sanders; Mary Sherwood, Julie Mabrey and Barbara Holaday. Freman was President in 2009, and both Freman and Connie were always on the board of directors. The Association was later divided into 3 Divisions; SW; SE and North. This group was involved with getting the show wethers admitted into the Sale of Champions at the MO State Fair and supplying goat meat to the Sale of Champions Dinner. Freman and Connie were also very committed to promoting a production sale so the SW Division members would have a place to market their goats. This sale was held in Springfield, Missouri each September from 2009 thru 2018.
Freman and Connie LOVE the Boer Goat, that it is docile, has personality, great maternal instincts, fast growing and the sky is the limit on how this next generation of young kids can improve it. If you happen to come across Bear Creek Boers at an event, be sure to stop by and visit as they love to ‘talk goat’.
