4-H youth get chance to experience life on cattle ranch

Children participating in Butler County’s 4-H program through the University of Missouri Extension had a chance to see a real working cattle ranch up close this week, part of a series of tours designed to explore different career paths.

“We are getting kids involved with different activities, and this month, we have an agriculture tour. We’ve been to a soybean farm, a pumpkin farm and now a cattle farm,” said 4-H Youth Associate Kim Allison. “Today, we’re going to learn about cows and how you get started.”

On Thursday, a half dozen youngsters learned about the workings of a cattle farm when they toured KL3 Farms, a black Angus operation owned by Michael Lance and his dad, Mark Lance.

Michael Lance explains the differences in the cows at KL3 Farms during a tour for children in the local 4-H club.

Michael Lance not only showed the children several cows, but also how he feeds them and takes care of them on a daily basis.

“I showed them the different types of cows and how we work them, treat them, feed them and how we take care of them. I also explained how we try to make money and just the day-to-day aspects of the cattle business,” Lance said.

Laughs could be heard as the all-girl tour group dipped hands into a feed bucket and petted Nellie, a friendly horse, while squeals were the order when they watched the cattle do their business right where they stood.

Brinley Allison, 7, pets Nellie the horse while others look on.

“The grossest part was seeing them use the restroom,” said Addison Fuller, 10.

Fuller had never been to a cattle farm and described the experience as “cool.”

“Not a lot of people get to come out every day and see cows, and I’ve never seen cows up close. It was exciting,” Fuller said.

Cattle farmer Michael Lance explains to 4-H club members how cows are loaded into a chute during a tour of his farm Thursday evening.

Fuller said she was surprised at how the cows are split up and stay in different fenced areas, depending on age, sex and other factors.

“I thought they’d all be in one spot,” she said.

Sydney Turner, also 10, said the tour was fun, and she would do it again.

Sydney Turner, 10, shows a handful of cattle feed.

“I liked to look at the cows, and my favorite was petting the horse,” Turner said.

“It was pretty awesome. I liked it a lot,” said Brinley Allison, 7, who lives on a farm and is familiar with cattle.

Her younger sister, Braylon Allison, 3, said she had fun as well, and the horses were her favorite thing.

Michael Lance explains the different ways he feeds cattle throughout the year

For him, Lance said, the tour was about providing a new experience for the children.

“A lot of people aren’t raised around a farm, and this gives them a different avenue or option … something that might spark their interest, and they will remember later on,” Lance said.

Walking along a gravel lane from one field to another, Interim 4-H Specialist for Butler County, Kristi Baker, said “4-H offers the kids the opportunity to get hands-on experience with real-world activities.

“By allowing them to get out here and experience this, then maybe they can determine they want to be a cattle farmer in the future.”

John Fuller, an extension human development and family science specialist and Addison’s dad, agreed.

“We really want these kids to get out and experience different careers, so this is a chance to really experience and maybe find something they’re really interested in doing,” Fuller said.

“We’re trying to do a whole bunch of different career paths they can check out,” he added.

Addison Fuller said she could see herself as a cattle farmer in the future.

“Maybe,” she said. “I don’t really know yet.”

“Maybe not,” said Turner. “But, I’d like to go see some.”

Butler County 4-H, Allison said, has more programs in the works, including classes on cooking, sewing and bee keeping, along with visits to first responders. The annual 4-H horse camp also is scheduled for Oct. 24.

More information is available by calling the extension office at 573-686-0864.