Western Skies Herefords
Just a story about a family and a dream...
Agriculture is a way of life. It's not just a job, it's not a just a paycheck. Tim grew up with dirt running through his veins. He is a farmer, though and though. They raised potatoes, sugar beets, hogs, and a variety of other crops. While he didn't have a family farm to go back to, he did go and get his degree in agricultural economics and then a masters in crop science. From there he took on jobs that led to him becoming an agronomist which then led to him getting hired as a farm manager for RDO Farms at their Winnemucca, Nevada location. They no longer have that farm but Tim now works as a director at Threemile Canyon Farms, a RDO farm too, in Oregon utilizing his skill as a seed producer.
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Elizabeth grew up on the west side of Washington state on the Kitsap Peninsula and always dreamed of a life in agriculture. She wasn't able to have livestock although she did have a short stint with rabbits. When she went to college at the University of Idaho, she chose a safe degree in elementary education. Before kids entered their family, Elizabeth spent a few years teaching 3rd, 4th, and 7th grade. Once Tim's job took him to Winnemucca, the rural way of life became a reality for Elizabeth. What started with chickens (they are a gateway animal!),then led to ducks, pigs, bottle calves, and bottle lambs. It was definitely a learning curve but it felt like the right life. It fit.
In that time, they added five children to their family in just six years. They are farm kids by nature and the life just fits with them also. Elizabeth began homeschooling their 5 kids which put her degree to work again but really wanted to find a path in agriculture. Always pushing for something more is a trait that drives both Tim and Elizabeth and is evident in their children as well. When there was some changes in the farm that led Tim to seek employment in Idaho, they were able to buy some land and they wanted to make the most of the land. Elizabeth knew she wanted to raise cattle. The opportunity came up to purchase 6 registered Hereford heifers from some of the best stock they could find and they took the leap to raising registered Herefords.
It was a great choice and Herefords became a fast love for the family. Over the next couple of years the vision they started with changed slightly but the dream was as strong as ever. Not only did they want to raise the best possible Hereford cattle but they also want to leave a legacy for their children to have if they chose that path. It turns out that their kids love agriculture as much as they do and are equally invested into growing the best possible herd they can.
When we started raising registered Herefords, our kids also started showing cattle. They love to work hard to show off the best animals they can help raise. They love calving them out in the spring, they love picking their next project, and they love getting in the show ring. After a couple years in the cattle show ring the three youngest branched off and started showing some sheep too. I firmly believe showing both has made them better showmen and showing animals at all, has made them better humans. My oldest loves ranching and cattle and the western way of life. He dreams of the cattle he can produce on the meats side of the industry. My second born is his father's son and loves a tractor seat as opposed to the show ring.
We can't wait to continue meeting new people and building a Hereford family. We love to meet new people, make friends all over the country and world, and raise Hereford cattle to produce excellent seedstock for other herds around the country.