Prime Genetics, Premium Cattle
A future in the agricultural field has been a life long dream, or better stated, a desire for Ted Koontz. Upon retirement from a career in the banking business, Ted, along with his wife Becky, now is enjoying the good life of farming. Entrepreneurs are the best way to describe the couple's diversified cattle and haying operation and the way the Koontz's approach their livelihood.
The Only Way to “Go-at” It
We’ve been married for 40 years but we don’t want to be old people,” laughed Mary Dakis of Happy Tails Farm near West Plains, Mo.
“The goats are helping to keep us young,” added Don. “They are a lot of work for us retired folks, but we love it.”
“The goats are helping to keep us young,” added Don. “They are a lot of work for us retired folks, but we love it.”
Making Costly Cows Work
Cattle are a good savings account” for Steve Peterson of Mtn. Grove. Although there are costs involved with production, the lifelong cattleman said that unlike with other investments, he can go to the sale barn and sell cattle once a week if need be. “I know that’s worth something,” he said.
Representing Federal Money
Warren Hoffman won an election without making any promises or even launching a campaign. Warren was elected to the board of the Farm Service Agency. The FSA in Lebanon, Mo., in Laclede County, also represents Camden and Pulaski Counties, and the board has one representative from each county. Living near Sleeper, Mo., Warren is the Laclede County representative. All members of the board are farmers and elected to three year terms.
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.
