Lavelle Rumfeldt, Clever, MO
Lavelle Rumfeldt, R-Ayr Farms, Clever, is a progressive Ayrshire breeder and for years he has led the way in advancing that breed in Missouri.
Lavelle was born April 30, 1926 at Hartville, MO. His parents were Clay and Essie Rumfeldt. He attend grade and high school in Hartville, graduating in 1944. While in school, he was active in 4-H and FFA with registered Jerseys. Upon graduation from high school he spent several years in the U.S. Navy.
In 1946 he and Betty Spurlock, Mountain Grove were married. They have three children; Mrs. Judy Dittmar, Ozark; Mrs. Kathy Baer, Nixa, and Jeff Rumfeldt, Bolivar. They also have seven grandchildren. The next 18 years were spent in the auto parts business in Kansas and Oklahoma but Lavelle and Betty looked forward to returning to the Ozarks and getting into the dairy business. They made the move in 1965. Their son Jeff had developed a strong interest in cattle. Lavelle and Jeff bought their first Ayrshires in 1977 and started the present herd. There were very few Ayrshires in Missouri so most of their cattle came from Oklahoma and Kansas.
Jeff and Lavelle led the way to get an Ayrshire show started at the Ozark Empire Fair in 1978-79 and later at the Missouri State Fair. Getting the Ayrshire cattle before the public has created considerable interest and this year (1989) 130 head were exhibited at Springfield. In 1979 Lavelle bought Jeff’s cattle and continued to build the herd. He bought additional cattle out-of-state and started using A.I. from the best bulls available. He knew the show ring was important in promotion so he encouraged his grandchildren Shawna Estep and “Dusty” Dittmar to exhibit the cattle.
The Rumfeldt cattle have fared well in the show ring. This year a Jr. yearling R-Ayr Marys Flashy was Jr. Champion at the Missouri State Fair and eight other fairs. The cow R-Ayr Marys Johnny Forrester was third in the All American Contest in 1986. The herd continues to improve in production. In 1979 the average was about 8,000 pounds of milk but by culling low producers, DHI testing, the use of superior bulls and good management, in 1989 the average is 14,814 pounds milk, 514 pounds fat. In 1987 a Jr. 3 yr. old held the state record with 14,040 pounds milk, 504 pounds fat in 304 days. A two-year old R-Ayr Sages Jip produced 17,300 pounds milk, 605 pounds of fat to become the top Jr. 2 yr. old producer in the nation.
Lavelle has a strong interest in youth activities. He has encouraged young folks to have Ayrshire projects in 4-H and FFA. His granddaughter Shawna Estep was the 1984 National Ayrshire youth and she was awarded a Dairy Shrine Scholarship in 1986. Both Missouri firsts for Ayrshires.
Lavelle is past president of the Missouri Ayrshire Breeders Association; member of the Ozark FFA Alumni Association; Sale chairman for the Mid-States (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma) Ayrshire Organization, and a Trustee of the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Foundation. For the past five years, R-Ayr Farms has provided the Ayrshires for the FFA Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the American Royal, K.C., MO.
By virtues of his success in building a herd and as a dairy leader, Lavelle becomes the recipient of the first Ayrshire award bestowed by the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors.