Neighbors

"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.

Monte and Ashley Shockley and Monte’s parents, Monte Sr. and Rita Shockley, run a registered Hereford Ranch and Shockley's Auto Sales, both in Poteau, Okla. Monte smiled and said,” We do well together. We both know our parts. We think alike, and on those rare occasions when we disagree, he wins.”

Kenny and Lora Crawford know beef cattle, especially the registered Angus and registered Salers they raise.

Ed Yancey had no idea when he attended graduate school at Kansas State University that he would be gaining more than just an education. Ed met his now wife, Janeal, and later they began Yancey Simmental Ranch in Huntsville, Ark. They have owned 22 acres in Madison County for seven years and keep about six to eight head there. Ed’s parents have 700 plus acres in Searcy County and they keep the rest of their herd on that ranch. All together they own about 35 head of Simmental, Red Angus, and Simmental/Angus cross cattle including six 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.”

Many farmers and ranchers depend upon sale barns to purchase and sell their livestock. At the center of that process is the auctioneer whose task is to present and sell each animal for the best price possible. The process is rapid and requires intense concentration from both the buyer and the auctioneer.