Missouri Valley Farms
The principals in the operation of Missouri Valley Farms, a purebred Holstein operation near Easton, are a father and two sons and their wives. They are father and mother, Harry and Helen Cornelius, sons Dallas and Cary and their wives Debby and Sharon.
Their story began in 1948 when Harry and Helen married and started a Grade A dairy with 30 grade Holsteins in a flat barn. In 1960 Harry and Helen bought 240 acres, built a single four by-pass milking parlor and expanded their herd to 60 cows.
Harry and Helen had three children – Janice, Dallas, and Cary.
Janice received an R.N. diploma from Research Hospital in Kansas City and went on to the University of Missouri where she met Phil Howerton. They married and returned to Phil’s family hog farm near Chilhowee.
Dallas received a degree in dairy husbandry from MU in 1973. While at MU he met Debby Powell, a nursing student whom he married in 1975. They returned to Easton and joined the family dairy operation moving into a house on a nearby farm that Dallas’ parents owned.
At that time the family converted the single four by-pass milking parlor to a double three with prep stalls. Dallas learned AI and he and Debby began selecting and buying registered Holstein heifers and calves expanding the herd to 180 Holsteins – half registered and half grade.
Cary received an MU agriculture degree in 1977 and returned to the family farm. He also learned AI and assumed his share of responsibilities. He uses his knowledge of field crops to increase yield and forage quality.
In 1978, Harry, Dallas, and Cary formed a partnership – Missouri Valley Farms. In September 1978 they dispersed their grade herd and continued with 200 grade and registered heifers due to calve in the next two months. Helen and Debby cared for the calves. Helen also kept the financial records and Debby took care of cattle registrations.
In 1981 Dallas and Cary bought 160 acres from realtor Hattie Kirtley who introduced Cary to her daughter Sharon. They were married in August.
Cary and Dallas bought their dad’s interest in cattle and machinery in 1992. Now, Sharon uses her accounting degree to keep the financial records and Debby does the Holstein registrations electronically.
Since the family dispersed their grade herd in 1978 they have sold registered Holsteins in several states. These sales are an important income supplement.
The family’s rolling herd average peaked in 2002 at 23,917 pounds of milk, 904 pounds of fat, and 752 pounds of protein on 223 cows. They feed a total mixed ration using alfalfa balage and corn silage as their forage base.
Twenty years ago their Holstein consultant advised them to set production criteria and to use bulls with a production level two points plus or higher on type. They have used Holstein association’s mating system based on the consultant’s or the classifier’s evaluation of the cows. This has allowed Dallas and Cary to breed high producing cows with udders and feet and legs to last.
The partners have consigned one or more animals to Missouri and surrounding state sales nearly every year for the past 20 years. Their approach is to consign animals they would like to keep. They have never regretted showing this kind of consideration for the buyer.
The Cornelius family has grown. Between 1980 and 1995, Dallas and Debby had Betsy, Lance, Heidi, Zac, and Holly. Between 1983 and 1992 Cary and Sharon had Amy, Brett, and Cody. The Cornelius children have all learned the benefits of responsibility and hard work through daily chores as well as fitting and showing cattle and helping with hay and silage harvest.
A list of the farm’s goals for the future include the following.
- Maintain a rolling herd average of 25,000 pounds of milk, 1,000 pounds of fat, and 850 pounds of protein.
- Sell an average of 75 animals – male and female – per year.
- Harvest half of their alfalfa at 25% protein with a feed value of plus 200.
- Raise outside heifers to use extra forage.
- Continue to stay within compliance of DNR regulations.
- Keep Missouri’s Class I utilization.
- Stay closely involved in their children’s formal and informal education.
- Follow Biblical principles in their business operation and the conduct of their families’ personal lives.