Where It Began
My
passion for cattle started at an early age while growing up on the
family farm (Thieman Land & Cattle Company) located outside of Lamar
Missouri. The family farm was a cow-calf operation
that maintained 150-175 adult beef cows on an annual basis. My parents
still live there today while my dad continues to oversee the day to day field operations of Hat Creek.
I was blessed to have spent my childhood on the farm learning the ropes
from my dad (Jerry) and in turn, teaching him forgiveness and patience.
Whether it was mending a water gap in the summertime heat or carrying a
newborn calf to shelter during a winter storm, I grew to love every
aspect of it. The ways of the farm life had become a part of who I was
and something that I never wanted to leave...
The first year of college was far from easy for me. I owe a lot of
thanks to the Johnson family farm (IJ-M), and many others, for helping
me get through those first semesters. The Johnson family provided myself
and their grandson, Jon, with an opportunity that very few people ever
receive that had significant impact both on us, as well as the family
farm. Throughout our college years we gained firsthand experience with
building and helping manage a beef cattle operation. We assisted with
the implementation of grazing programs, constructed countless miles of
fence, fabricated multiple corrals and focused on overall herd health
improvement and production.
A few years after graduating college I received a call from my dad
asking if I would be interested in purchasing a small group of cattle
from one of their neighbors. After a handful of discussions and weighing
the pros and cons, I made the purchase and had mentally prepared myself
to go broke in the cattle business. The group consisted of 17 animals,
all of which were longhorns. Over the next couple of years our small herd
continued to increase in numbers. Soon afterwards, I purchased some
acreage and I enjoyed high cattle prices that were forgiving to everyone
in the beef industry, including myself. As all things do in life, the
high cattle prices came to an end. It was then that I realized I’d been
privileged to sell cattle at historical highs when everyone was a “smart
cattleman” and now had to develop a business model to stay in the
cattle industry.