Neighbors

Once she became a mother, Amy Sauerwein’s goals changed and led her to a rural way of life PINEVILLE, MO. - What happens when a...

A rather common sight on the outskirts of Miami, Okla., is a herd of goats charging out of a pasture into the front and side yards of Richard and Cherrie Fry's. No dog is outside to round up the goats and bring them back to the pasture. All that can be seen is a couple standing near the charging goats with long, flexible fiberglass poles in their hands. The goats soon stop and start munching on grass in the side yard. The couple then walks among them, petting them, talking to them and gently herding them to different parts of the yard. The goats never stray near the busy road in front.

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.

Singne Arthur refers to herself as a blessed woman. The mother of five mostly grown sons and a new wife, she and her husband, Gary Arthur run Peaceful Valley Ranch, an Angus and quarter horse operation in central eastern Laclede County.

On the to-do list of Gary and Melissa Holland of Gentry, Ark., is checking records to determine if their farm is already a century farm. Gary’s grandfather bought the house and 20 acres around 100 years ago. The house has been home to five generations of Hollands and is currently the residence of Gary’s son and family with Gary living in his own home on the original plot.

Former ranchers, originally from Arizona, Margo Chilcott and her husband, Brian, came to the Ozarks seven years ago and fell in love with a place, a 100-acre valley outside West Plains, Mo., in rural Howell County. Both currently work in real estate in southern Missouri.

For Dave and Pam White, the farm is their place to be in life, but they didn’t always know it. 

Caden Burden said the cattle industry ‘gets into your blood’ LINCOLN, ARK. - The family farm is an essential part of agriculture in the United...

"We will probably be raising goats from now on, as the third generation is close to being ready to start showing goats,” said Lori Peterson of Show Me Boers in Newton County, Mo. She is talking about her 5-year-old granddaughter, who loves to come and help with the chores.

Brad and Joanna Carter’s registered Angus and Boer Goats may be a small-time operation, but that doesn’t stop them from taking specific steps towards improving their breeding programs.
“We AI our cattle, but we’re not brave enough to AI our goats,” Joanna laughed. The Carters have had goats for five years, and cattle for longer than that. When they moved to their current location, in Dadeville, Mo., Brad said their fields were covered with serecia lespedeza. “The cattle wouldn’t eat it, that and all our brush. So we got goats to take care of it,” he recalled.