Ron Owen
Ron Owen has been in the dairy industry his whole life. As a young boy, he began milking with his parents. In 1956, he won a Jersey heifer from the Springfield Kiwanis Club, which he raised as his own. When she calved, he gave back the first heifer calf to the Kiwanis Club so they could continue giving to others. This experience later inspired Ron to exhibit similar generosity. Ron graduated from Republic High School in 1961, then in 1962, he and his wife, Sandra, moved to their own land, and he began farming on his own. For the first seven years, he worked at Producers Creamery while also milking and building up his herd.
Ron was taught artificial insemination (AI) breeding by a friend and went to work for ABS as an AI technician for about 12 years, in addition to working at Producers Creamery. After leaving ABS he went to work for Select Sires for about 12 years and averaged breeding approximately 3,000 cows per year.
Ron championed the Jersey breed through the early use of AI and has always striven for excellence in breeding. Over the years, he has produced many local, state and national show winners, and has bred approximately 15 Excellent Jersey cows in his own herd. Ron has also been a great advocate for the Jersey breed while working with his dairy cooperative, providing farm tours for people from the U.S. and abroad.
Ron is a well-known dairy cattle judge, having judged the Open and Junior Jersey Shows at the Ozark Empire Fair, the National Junior Shorthorn Show, the State Junior Jersey Show at the Missouri State Fair, and multiple other state fairs in the Midwest. When judging, Ron has always had a helpful attitude with the children. He doesn’t just go in the ring and judge, he talks to the children and teaches them while judging, so the next time they show, they will do just that much better.
Ron’s passion for youth, the Jersey breed and the dairy industry are evident in his selfless actions and generosity. One of the most notable and honorable things Ron does is support and help the youth of the dairy industry. A few years ago, Ron made the decision to give back the same way that he received his start, by giving a deserving child a heifer. He allows the youth to take care of and show the calf for two years and then takes them back once they calve in exchange for new calves to take care of and invest in.
One of the youth Ron has supported is 13-year-old Addison Tharp. Addison is from Republic, Mo., and is a member of the Lucky-11 4-H club. In her letter of support for Ron’s nomination she wrote, “Ronald has helped me greatly in the past year by giving me the opportunity to raise and show his dairy calves. He has given me many tips on how to show and care for dairy animals, including tips on how to be a good showman and have good showmanship. Ronald has also taught me about proper feed and amounts to meet my calf’s needs. He has also given me many supplies, like leather show halters that I needed for showing and has made sure that I was giving my calf the right vaccinations, tattoos, and care needed for upcoming shows. With Ronald’s help, I have been able to learn a lot and be successful in the showring with many animals. He has also helped expand my knowledge of the dairy industry and how it impacts so many people and families.”
After 60 years, Ron is still in the dairy business. His herd is the only registered Jersey herd remaining in Greene County. Ron’s wife passed away several years ago. He has one son, Rodney, who works for Kraft, three granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.