Charles R. Moreland, Harrisonville
Charles Moreland was born Sept. 4, 1933, in Henry County and married Marilyn Anderson July 21, 1957, in Garden City. The Morelands had four children – sons Jay and Mike and daughters Sherri and Brenda – and nine grandchildren.
Upon completing his high school education in 1950, Charles worked part time at a lumber yard and helped on the family farm. He was in the U.S. Army for two years – 1953 to 1955.
The Moreland family farm was established by Charles’ parents in 1946. After returning from his military service Charles became a partner with his father. They sold all their grade stock and built a herd of 40 registered Holsteins and started a Grade A operation.
In 1963 the operation was updated to a double-six bypass Surge milking parlor and was changed to eight-on-a-side in 1979.
Charles started using artificial insemination in 1960 when he became a technician for NOBA. As a technician he was on call for 10 years.
The father-son partnership was dissolved in 1966 when the father retired and a complete dispersal sale was held. Buyers from 10 states and Puerto Rico bought Moreland cows with the top cow selling for $1,650.
Following the sale Charles and wife Marilyn traveled the United States and Canada to start a new herd of 12 registered Holsteins and an operation with the new name of Char-Land. By 1970 the Morelands had a herd of 60 registered Holsteins. Charles retired in 1996 and sons Jay and Mike took over the farming operation renamed Moreland Farms.
Charles activities in the dairy arena are legendary. He was a member of the National Holstein Association for 42 years; was president of the Missouri Holstein Association twice and served as chairman for the Association’s state show and junior activities for several years; was District Holstein Association president; was Cass County DHIA treasurer for more than 10 years; served as dairy chairman of the county junior livestock show for more than 25 years; and judged many neighboring county dairy shows.
In addition, Charles was on the board of directors for Mid-America Dairymen for eight years and served as president and treasurer of the Kansas City Dairy Council. He also was on the KABA Select Sires board of directors.
Active in farm organizations and programs Charles was a 40-year Farm Bureau member; MFA member; president of the Cass County Extension Council; ASCS committeeman; and a member of Central Cooperative.
The Morelands were a Missouri State Fair Farm Family in 1971; received a MU State Farm Management Award in 1973; FFA Special Service Award in 1977; Chamber of Commerce Award in 1987; Cass County Special Leadership and Service Award in 1995; and Dairy Council Oscar in 1995.
As a youth Charles was a charter member of the Wal Center 4-H Club and the Harrisonville FFA Chapter. He was dairy leader for the local4-H club for 35 years. As a grandfather he took great pride in getting grandchildren to show dairy cattle, buying Ayrshires so they would have two breeds to show. And many youth dairy judging teams visited Char-Land to practice their skills.
Thousands of children toured the Moreland dairy farm and were treated with calf feeding, milking a cow, identifying grains, hay rides, hay tunnels, and cheese and cracker tasting. Char-Land also provided dairy animals for educational exhibits at the American Royal.
The Moreland cows were always available to advertising agencies and Hall Mark used a Moreland cow for its best-selling “Millie” cow card.
“Charles loved his cow and his Char-Land line,” says his wife Marilyn. “At the time of his death in 1996 the family farming operation included more than 1,400 acres and a milking herd of 180 cows. Charles’ cows worked for him in return.”