2009 Lunch and Learn Program Kicks Off!

We had a great crowd at our first Lunch and Learn program this year. Our hosts, the Henderson Ranch, near Warsaw, provided grilled beef burgers for the more than 120 guests who came to visit. Leslie Grace (Henderson) greeted the crowd and introduced the entire family and all the ranch hands. Leslie shared the heritage of the ranch which now spans five generations. Focused on superior animal health and well-being along with grass and water management, the family is able to care for over 12,000 animals a year on the several thousand acre spread. They focus on bringing in young cattle and making sure they are healthy, are able to eat from feed bunks, and ready to move on to other pastures or feedlots. Additionally, the Hendersons have their own lab for detecting BVD, a disease that inflicts cattle. By detecting and treating only infected animals, they are able to minimize the use of antibiotics and improve overall herd health. Their lab is available to other beef producers as well!

MBIC provided detailed information about local cattle numbers, the Missouri beef industry in general, and tools available for siting livestock farms in Missouri.

Did I mention that the ranch headquarters is directly across the road from the local elementary school? The school principal joined us for lunch and declared that they were going to start bringing students over to see the lab and cattle and learn more about environmental protection. Those children are going to get a real treat as Leslie and the rest of the Henderson family teach them about the beef business!