Missouri Neighbors

A rare warm day in December is a welcome reprieve for anyone from the frigid grey clouds of winter. Yet, for a cattle rancher like Steve Parker warm weather is a blessing. Standing in the field overlooking part of his 1,200-acre farm in Aurora, Mo., there is no question how much Steve enjoys being a cattle rancher.

Sometimes, finding ways to market your beef is the best way to increase profits to an otherwise common beef cow/calf operation. This is what Amie’e King, daughter of Jane and Ken Prier of Eagle Rock, Mo., is working to achieve. “My dad is getting ready to retire, and I want my parents to be able to make more money from their herd by capitalizing on what they already do,” said Amie’e. “We grew up on grassfed beef, and it’s popular now with the organic craze, so why not make more money by getting certified to sell it as grassfed?”

Livestock agriculture has many niches. One of these is the smaller scale operations that provide supplementary retirement income and, as importantly, significant daily activity. Danny Frye, a two-year railroad retiree and current small-scale farmer said, “I am busy all of the time because there is always something to do. Farming keeps me constantly moving.” In response, Danny’s wife Lois, who is the Southwest City, Mo., court and city clerk quipped, “Yes, but sometimes he’s asleep when I leave for work and that’s just wrong.”

Lifetime Missourians and local cattle ranchers Danny and Teresa McCurry were used to the state’s predictably erratic weather. Like the old saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, stick around it’ll change in 20 minutes.” They still cringe, however, when recalling the devastation brought on by the not-so-distant drought of 2012.

With names like Southern Comfort and Bourbon on the Rocks, a new client of Stacy and Jerimiah Gan knows from the beginning that Blackberry Ridge Boers is a unique Boer goat undertaking that includes a good bit of fun as well as being a serious family-run livestock operation.

At age 18, Diana Gerdes completed her Trainer B license in Germany, her native land, as a riding instructor and horse trainer, equivalent to an FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) III level instructor in this country. Little did she know that training would serve her all of her life through a series of adventures and travel to various countries. Today, she and her husband, Wayne reside in Pulaski County, outside Crocker, Mo., where she operates Germania Stables and has for the past 10 years. Previously, her Germania Stables was located wherever Wayne, a retired military man now working privately for the U.S. government, was stationed. Her daughter, Caroline was married earlier this year and her son, 14-year-old Christopher still lives at home.

It is one of those days. The rain pounds the top of his truck, the sky looms dark and dreary and water gushes over the cement bridge he must cross to get to his cattle. Still Beau Davis’ spirits beam bright. People who know Beau will tell you that’s just the way he is, always moving forward with upbeat determination.

At the ripe old age of 9, Scott Bass already had the heart of a cattleman. He mowed yards and earned enough money to buy his first two calves from his grandpa for $100 each. Scott said, “The best thing you can do is teach a kid the value of a dollar.”

For most people the annual Route 66 Days in Strafford, Mo., conjures thoughts of antique cars and fried food. But for 17-year-old Shelby Burns, the festival reminds her of the genesis of her cattle business. Shelby remembers laying eyes on a Dexter calf named Danny Boy at the festival. “I just fell head over heels for him,” said Shelby. There was no turning back. Shelby, then 12-years-old, convinced her mother to buy a Dexter heifer named Rosie. Thus, Wild Rose Ranch in Strafford, Mo., bloomed.

After 27 years, Sharps Antique Tractor Works, Inc., has built an honest and dependable business manufacturing and selling thousands of John Deere 2-Cylinder parts.