Dan Shepherd

Dan and Jan Shepherd

Shepherd Farms, Inc. 1580 CR 2010 Clifton Hill, MO 65244 Phone: 660-261-4567 800-327-0211

DAN & JANET SHEPHERD SHEPHERD FARMS 1580 County Rd. 2010 Clifton Hill, MO 64244 PH: 660-261-4567 FAX: 660-261-4422

Dan Shepherd of Shepherd Farms began the afternoon's activities of the Missouri Bison Conference with a farm review and slide presentation of the oldest and largest bison farm in Missouri.
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Together with hired help, Dan and his family work year round.But Dan also stressed, "Hire what you don't do the best, and you can do the rest."

In 1970, Dan and his father attended the Custer State Park sale and purchased 56 bison.Today, 165 animals are a part of this 3,000-acre farm's operation.Dan said raising bison for a profit takes a commitment, and heart."It takes heart, and you have to put your heart into it," and Dan suggested that usually you allow eight years to build up your herd before you start to show a profit from your efforts.

Dan explained that his bison operation was a cow/calf business because he was in the meat business, and he slaughters year round.He also stressed that you find your niche and use it.For Dan, his niche is in the processing and packing of meat.."If you can afford to raise bison for a hobby, fine, but the marketing of bison products, especially bison meat, is where the money and profits are to be made."

Dan offered a few of the following tips:

Don't keep an old bull around.

"Old bulls cause problems," and he pointed out that none of his bulls are over four years old.

Dan also dehorns all his buffalo, but this is a personal decision.
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The enterprising Dan Shepherd also has an on sight gift shop.Dan's wife, Jan, keeps the books and operates the store, which is open seven days a week.Although the retail end of the business is demanding, Dan says he enjoys working in the store, and finds it a challenge when potential customers come into his store to ‘just look around.' He wants them to leave his store with less money than they came in with.He believes, "People want to be sold, or they wouldn't be there."

Visitors to the Shepherd Farm's gift shop have a wide selection to choose from including pecans, peaches, sweet corn, pumpkins, and of course bison meats and products.If he can raise it, he can sell it, or in some cases give it away.One year he decided to raise pumpkins, but of course everyone else was also raising them, and it was a bumper crop that year.While neighboring farmers selling their pumpkins, Dan was giving his away.Of course his neighbors were wondering, what is that crazy Dan Shepherd up to now?

Crazy like a fox, Dan Shepherd was giving a free pumpkin to all the kids, but while the kids were picking out their pumpkin, their parents were in the store shopping and walking out with $30 or $40 dollars worth of items.Like his father's advice: "Do what nobody else is doing and you stand to make a lot."

And Shepherd Farms does just that.Not only is the bison operation a thriving business, Shepherd Farms is also in the pecan business, and the world's largest supplier of gamma grass seed which they have been selling worldwide for 20 years.Dan Shepherd's business philosophy works.He has found many successful niches, and is truly a Jack of many trades.And one of those trades is a bison rancher on his 3,000-acre farm in Northeastern Missouri.

Dan Shepherd of Shepherd Farms, Clifton Hill, Mo., manages one of the state's most established pecan and wheat alley cropping practice examples, in addition to raising buffalo for processing into lean, high-quality meats and jerky.
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Dan Shepherd of Clifton Hill, Mo., has utilized a successful alley cropping practice for several years, producing pecans for retail sale with wheat planted in the alleyways. integrated farming practices and agritourism elements, Shepherd Farms is a popular group tour destination and offers an educational experience showcasing the benefits of agroforestry and farm diversity.

"Alley cropping is ideal for achieving both our production and conservation benefits," said Shepherd.

Dan Shepherd of Shepherd Farms, Clifton Hill, Mo., manages one of the state's most established pecan and wheat alley cropping practice examples, in addition to raising buffalo for processing into lean, high-quality meats and jerky.
...
Dan Shepherd of Clifton Hill, Mo., has utilized a successful alley cropping practice for several years, producing pecans for retail sale with wheat planted in the alleyways.
...
"Alley cropping is ideal for achieving both our production and conservation benefits," said Shepherd.