SHOW NOTES

INTRODUCING ABBY BURRIS! 

Our guest today is working with her dad on growing her own cattle business as well as preserving the environment.  Abby Burris has started her own herd of Angus cattle and has been able to grow it to 80 head already on the grasslands of Oklahoma.  She is actively engaged in both embryo and semen sales while she grows her reputation as a cattle breeder.

Business for Abby is not all just about dollars and cents.  There was a piece of land that her parents purchased to farm that she and her dad were out taking a look at.  They noticed that it was flooding due to a recent rain, and it seemed to really be attracting a lot of waterfowl and other wildlife.

A bit of research revealed that the piece of farm ground had been a wetland but not since the 1950’s.  Abby and her father discussed the issue and decided to return the land to its original state.  They decided not to cultivate the land, and it is now a wetland again.  It is supporting waterfowl, adding to wildlife habitat in their area and is a great spot for hunting.

This holistic look at being stewards of the land is just what Abby’s generation of farmers and ranchers needs.  It was great to hear her story and see how her values were reflected not just in business but in her management of the land.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Beef Production And Wildlife Management

HIGH SCHOOL: Harrah High School; Harrah, Oklahoma

MASCOT: Panthers

FFA ADVISOR: Tonya Middleton

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ABBY BURRIS:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Harrah High School Website:

Abby’s FFA Advisor’s Email Address:  tbrown@harrahschools.com

Harrah High School Telephone Number:  405-347-2100

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE’s)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA – One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start – pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

• Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
• Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
• Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

 Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:

Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters