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.
Cowboy Up!
As the echo of thunderous applause faded, Jared Standridge walked away from the 2008 International Finals Rodeo with a championship title in the team-roping Header and Heeler category. Jared is on the road near 200 days a year, making the rodeo circuit. “I have hired hands who take care of things while I’m gone,” he said. “And they help me when I’m home working the place.”
From Pastime to Profit
Involvement in agriculture didn't fall that far from the Alstadt's tree. John Alstadt's grandfather worked for the USDA. “My grandfather in Texas had an Angus herd my whole life. That’s why we chose Angus. My brother and I grew up showing cattle, but we had no real experience with the business and day-to-day aspects of farming," he said.
Efficient Show Cattle
Bill Hamm and his wife, Sarah, grew up about 11 miles from each other on farms east of Fayetteville, Ark. They really did not know each other growing up, but a common interest would bring them together. Bill’s dad, Wayne Hamm, had commercial cattle in the 70s and bought his first registered Polled Hereford heifer in 1973. By 1976, the Hamm family only owned Polled Herefords.
Ozarks Roots-Open Range To Computer Age
Ransy Cotter, pictured below with his wife Roxie, recalls the major events of the farming ages
Black, White and Red All Over
Gene McBride sees the value in a diversified operation so he offers Black Angus, Red Angus and Charolais
Hybrid Vigor on Hoof
Utilizing a variety of breeds to promote the hybrid vigor he desires, Don Grayham develops a goat he's certain of
Learning the Diet of a Pig
A multi-generational interest in the pig business may be novel for northwest Arkansas, but for the Belts, it's life
