Missouri Neighbors

Randy and Jane Miller of Miller Bison in Bruner, Mo., have had a longtime love of the once prominent symbol of the American West. Growing up in the Kansas cattle business, Randy had some exposure to bison and was interested in the huge, majestic animals. In 1995 the Millers purchased their first bison – 20 head of heifers from the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Sale in South Dakota. And so a learning journey began. “The more we had them, the more they grew on us,” Randy said. At the time Randy and Jane entered the bison industry, there was a limited amount of information available to bison breeders – so nearly everything was an experiment. The Millers stuck with the ups and downs of the market and eventually found a niche selling bison meat to chefs in Colorado. “We brought a quality and consistent product,” said Randy. Consistency proved to be the key in the bison meat business and today, Miller Bison sells an estimate of 1,000 head of processed bison annually.

Linda Collins, now Linda Faber, grew up in Rolla, Mo., along with her 11 brothers and sisters and moved to Australia, on her own at age 17. “We were a yours, mine and ours sort of family,” she laughed. “I always liked horses but it simply wasn’t something we could afford in such a big family. It wasn’t until I was at the Discipleship Center during my two years in Australia that I got to ride. I quickly figured out, oh, this could be addicting. Back in America, in the years that followed, I worked at a lady’s ranch and at another stable in St. James, Mo., as a volunteer. I wanted to be sure I had what it took to do the work involved with horses every day. I listened to everyone. I also worked at a family camp in Arkansas and then later, while going to college in Moberly, Mo., at Central Christian College getting a degree in Christian education, I worked at an AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) barns with one of their top trainers and judges. Three months turned into three years as I also went to shows with them.

A math teacher at Marshfield High School, Robert Smith has been teaching for six years. This is his second year at Marshfield. Before that he taught for four years at Buffalo. Prior to teaching he managed cattle farms.

"She was such an easy ride, so I thought I'd specialize in Missouri Fox Trotter horses.” This is what Ervin Hill said about the first Missouri Fox Trotter that he bought and rode. Ervin, who had primarily rode traditional trotting horses, was impressed with the smoothness in the stride of the gaited horse. “It's different than a trot of a Quarter Horse, the Fox Trotter always has at least one hoof on the ground,” explained Ervin, “they are very sure footed, and have an incredible sense of foot placement.” Ervin also went on to explain that Missouri Fox Trotter horses were bred and developed to handle the terrain of the Ozarks. The Fox Trotter is primarily a cross of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Morgan and American Saddlebred.

Jared Frieze of rural Polk County is a man who knows his business and even at his young age, has a pretty clear idea of where he’s going next. A 2013 graduate of Marion C. Early High School of Morrisville, Mo., Jared raises 80 White Dorper sheep on 30 acres at his family’s home.

David and Carolyn Carrier, like five generations before them, farm the rich, dark soil on the Muddy Creek Angus Farm, just outside of Lockwood, Mo., in southwestern Dade County. The Carriers raise and breed registered, purebred Black Angus cattle, and in 2009 were given the distinguished honor of being named, “Top 20 Missouri Angus Breeders” by the American Angus Association. Their herd was started in 1947 by David’s father. They are a cow/calf operation and also sell replacement heifers and breeding bulls.

For some farmers there is nothing prettier than a herd of Herefords grazing in the pasture. Tom Luthy III is one of those farmers. Tom owns a 200-acre farm in Laclede County; LIII Farms. He said, "We farm a total of about 350 acres." That includes his father's farm.

To say that Bill Mousadakos and his father-in-law, Lazos Makridis enjoy the best of both worlds is no understatement. Not only do both operate restaurants in the Rolla, Mo., area while running a farming operation on the side, they also raise Katahdin sheep and Black Angus cattle. Born in Greece, Lazos and his wife, Ellie, live a long way from their original Greek roots but Bill and his wife, Christina, both were born in the United States. All, along with Bill and Christina’s children, Vasili age 3 and Mari age 6, speak fluent Greek.

Dan Corman’s association with Charolais cattle began when he was 5 years old. “In the fall of 1958, I traveled with mom and dad, C.R. and Joanna, to Chillicothe, Mo., where we purchased a 7/8 Charolais bull,” Dan recalled. “Dad wanted to increase the frame size of our basic commercial cow herd.”

Where can you find a good quality forage that is drought tolerable, protein rich, good to wean calves on, grows thick and can be baled every 30 days during the growing season? Taney County farmer Rob Dalton’s alfalfa field, that’s where. Rob has always been a longtime fan of alfalfa. “I don’t know where you’d find a better quality feed,” he said. With quality in mind, Rob and his wife, Anita, have been working closely with their area extension office in order to develop a good, solid alfalfa program that fits their area and their needs.