Page 22 - MWC 10-6-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · October 6, 2022 · P22

Crooked Creek Angus is Royal Loyal to the Breed

By Brenda Black
Changing of the guard and Dixie James raised high
can apply to any situation in quality, fast gaining, calv-
which an individual or group ing-ease Angus. Garrett grew
charged with a task in an orga- up watching their success,
nization is replaced by anoth- while the Jameses watched
er. Typically, there is far more Wood grow up. They noted
involved in the transition than their young neighbor's high
simply putting out the old and school and college football tal-
bringing in the new. Crooked ent, and respected the way he
Creek Angus is a regal exam- worked hard, not only on the
ple of guard swapping done football field, but, on the farm
well in the beef cattle king- alongside his parents Lowell
dom. Garrett Wood and his and Monica Wood as well. The
family stepped up to the noble Wood family raised hogs, ran
challenge of reigning over the 150 commercial Red Angus
long established and highly and Simmental cross cows, years of experience from the On the other hand, nobody
regarded Jamesland Farms and managed row crops on Jameses, served up on a sil- wants a giant 2,000 lb. cow
of Burlington Junction, Mo., their diversified operation. ver platter. Wood also ac- that eats you out of house and
in 2014. With a vow to guard “A few years after I had quired the valuable scroll of home.” Wood shifted his focus
the old and introduce the new, begun renting Jamesland customers and their history to find the balance somewhere
they have carried out their du- Farm' row crop acres,” Wood with Jamesland. He combed between too small and too
ties for now eight years and said, “Wayne and Dixie offered through the data, ascertain- big, while still weaning heavy.
nine production sales, with my wife and I a chance to pur- ing who had bought what and Other changes formulated
skill and loyalty, and a vision chase their herd. We felt like it when, then he established from customer feedback that
for the future. was a great way to expand and a base off of which he felt he he employed, proved success-
All the world watched as grow our farming operation. could catapult his program. ful right from the beginning.
Prince Charles assumed the The Jameses had seen the way His methods gave him time to Along with high praise for the
throne, following the passing that my family raised cattle make acquaintances and help genetics, a recurring theme
of Her Royal Highness, Queen and felt confident we would be those customers get comfort- surfaced from the customers'
Elizabeth II. King Charles III a good fit for them as well.” able doing business with him. answers on the survey, which
was officially proclaimed king Though the Jameses want- A customer survey created by gave Wood a decent idea about
on the Saturday following the ed to sell the whole herd at Wood served as a surprisingly what to keep in place, and
Queen's death. But, he'd been once, Wood suggested some- helpful tool to learn what cus- going forward, what to tune up
preparing for years for his ma- thing different. tomers liked, and their expec- or change.
jestic duties. “I proposed that we do a tations for the future. “Our customers loved the
Young farmer Wood didn't slower transition over a six “Every producer has his bloodlines so much that they
have nearly as much time to month period and that we do own way of doing things,” wanted them to last longer,”
get ready for his ascending the first sale as half and half Wood said. “In the Midwest Wood said. “I needed to curb
role, but he did have the wis- partners,” he said, “I wanted area, the herd needs to be in- the way the bulls grew. I had to
dom to pursue a once-in-a-life- the chance to put this face of credibly fescue tolerant. That get them to grow a little slow-
time opportunity gradually. mine with the James family was something we needed er and not feed so much corn,
Wood already rented crop and to meet their customers, to push, but another thing I in order to make them handle
land from the Jamesland not just have them tell their learned quickly is that people better and last longer.”
Farms, an Angus seedstock customers, 'We sold the herd, in our area don't want a small In the fescue based system
operation located only a few here's the new guy. Good luck.'” framed animal. There's plenty at Crooked Creek Angus, the
miles down the road. Wayne Wood's parents had Red of pasture and feed available. cattle are expected to raise a
Angus for the Most customers are going to great calf and rebreed on for-
better part of 40 creep. So, while Wayne and ages available. When feed is
years, so Gar- Dixie were helpful, some introduced, Wood wants to
rett knew how things I just had to learn the employ the same ingredients
to take calves hard way.” his customers use to make the
to town at the Early on, Wood bred to a cattle completely adaptable.
right weight. few sires known for their mod- “Our calves are allowed ac-
“But I didn't erate size, after reading up cess to creep feed at around
have a clue on conversion and weight per four months of age,” he said.
about market- acre verses weight per animal. “We use a co-mix creep feed
ing a purebred “That was not well received from Agriland FS, Inc. in Bur-
herd,” Wood by my customers,” Wood said. lington Junction. I don't want
said, “or creat- “The cattle looked good, but a specialty feed that gets a
ing a catalog they were too moderate. Sure, faulty 50 extra pounds. Our
or managing a they have their place. That's bulls could easily reach a high-
production sale the beautiful thing about this er weight, but this way we can
and all that industry. Different regions give our customers realistic
goes with that.” have different needs. Those weight expectation out of each
With the smaller bulls had a great place bull's genetics. And by grow-
purchase of in the breed, but not in our re- ing them slower, they will last
the herd, came gion. a long time in our customers'
herds.”