Prime Genetics, Premium Cattle
A future in the agricultural field has been a life long dream, or better stated, a desire for Ted Koontz. Upon retirement from a career in the banking business, Ted, along with his wife Becky, now is enjoying the good life of farming. Entrepreneurs are the best way to describe the couple's diversified cattle and haying operation and the way the Koontz's approach their livelihood.
The Only Way to “Go-at” It
We’ve been married for 40 years but we don’t want to be old people,” laughed Mary Dakis of Happy Tails Farm near West Plains, Mo.
“The goats are helping to keep us young,” added Don. “They are a lot of work for us retired folks, but we love it.”
“The goats are helping to keep us young,” added Don. “They are a lot of work for us retired folks, but we love it.”
Making Costly Cows Work
Cattle are a good savings account” for Steve Peterson of Mtn. Grove. Although there are costs involved with production, the lifelong cattleman said that unlike with other investments, he can go to the sale barn and sell cattle once a week if need be. “I know that’s worth something,” he said.
Representing Federal Money
Warren Hoffman won an election without making any promises or even launching a campaign. Warren was elected to the board of the Farm Service Agency. The FSA in Lebanon, Mo., in Laclede County, also represents Camden and Pulaski Counties, and the board has one representative from each county. Living near Sleeper, Mo., Warren is the Laclede County representative. All members of the board are farmers and elected to three year terms.
Charolais and Children Farming
In American society today a rising concern for farmers is the increasing numbers of agriculture illiterate youth. Young people don’t know where their food comes from. Many don’t know the first thing about production agriculture and unfortunately these kids miss out on the lessons of responsibility, patience and hard work learned on the farm.
A Jody of all Trades
Southwest area rodeos have something to spike all five senses, but the main announcer usually gets most attention. And if you've been to many rodeos around these parts, it's likely that voice has once been Jody Lawson. “No one gets to see me much. I’m usually up in the skybox,” said Jody. Over the past several years, Jody has announced at 70 to 80 percent of the family rodeos in southwest Missouri.
We’ve Lived Through it Before
A river doesn’t run through Roger Duff’s Newton/Lawrence county farm, but history certainly does.
Cutting and Quarter Horses
Joe and Karen Prock have tried many breeds of horses, and they can tell you their reasoning for their choices
Transfers for Breed Improvement
Marty and Cheryl Brown use embryo transfer to make their registered herd expansion a faster process
Expansion Is His Best Way
Freddie Martin has spent a lifetime watching the cycles of agriculture; and he's still growing his dairy herd today
