THE LIEBHART FAMILY: THE RED (ANGUS) THREAD
Scott and Stacy Liebhart, in partnership with their sons Landon and Easton, operate ELS Livestock near Maryville in Agri-Ready Designated Nodaway County. The operation includes registered seedstock, show stock, background finishing, and direct-to-consumer sales. The Liebharts believe Red Angus genetics are an important thread woven into the tapestry of superior beef genetics that provide the best product for their customers and consumers.
Designing By Data
“We believe in developing a variety of genetics to meet the needs of our customers,” Stacy shares.
Scott and Stacy responded to customer demand for improved genetics, not by breed or by color, but through data to back up the performance expected from seedstock beef. Composite cattle are the result of strategic crossbreeding. Instead of purebred claims, the marketing edge of ELS is composite bulls bred with Red Angus and/or Salers influence and the registration to document the cross. All ELS seedstock are registered, giving customers the assurance of the genetics supporting their investment. ELS Livestock is home to about 150 head of registered beef, with 50 Red Angus among the herd.
Choosing Red Angus
The Liebharts produce beef by type.
“Red Angus fit the type of cattle that we want to raise. I believe that red breeds are on the rise,” Scott reflects. “We’ll probably never be able to out compete the marketing of other breeds, but our cattle grade just as well.”
“We’re proud to share that one of our bull buyers tops the market with his calves each year and those calves aren’t black. The beef production chain sees the value of composite cattle,” Stacy shares.
ELS Evolution
ELS Livestock was born from Scott and Stacy’s partnership with her parents, David and Janelle Frueh, who built Silver Spur Salers. Growth in the operation allowed Scott and Stacy to differentiate their own herd and business, although the two operations continue to work in lockstep just as many multi-generational family farms.
Apart from seedstock production, all other beef at ELS is raised on the farm to be marketed on the rail. They also sell a lot of butcher beef direct to consumers from the farm and by the cut. Stacy believes that hitting every niche is important for profitability in the beef business.
Creating Community
Stacy is the all-shifts manager at the Maryville Veterinary Clinic where she has worked for 26 years. Scott works for ABS Global, a bovine genetics and cattle breeding technologies company, doing custom artificial insemination.
“My AI customers are bull buyers. AI customers are clinic customers. Clinic customers are bull buyers. We enjoy a tight knit, over-lapping cattle community from business that extends from the clinic,” Scott says.
Keeping Tradition Alive
“It really is for our kids. We hope our kids can enjoy the same lifestyle we’ve had. We want to pass that down to them and hope to share it with some grandkids someday,” Stacy shares.
Scott and Stacy are both lifetime cattle producers.
“Producing cattle is all I’ve ever known. Every dime I earn is directly related to cattle. When I get to see green grass covered in cattle and calves I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Scott says.
More About the Liebhart Family
Landon (20) attends Oklahoma State University in Stillwater majoring in animal science. Easton (15) just completed his freshman year of high school. ELS and the Liebhart family are members of the Missouri Red Angus Association and the Red Angus Association of America. Stacy helped found the Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association, a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association affiliate. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association is a partner of Missouri Farmers Care.
Agri-Ready Designated Nodaway County
Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $90.3 million in value-added products, $226.4 million in output, almost 2,000 jobs, and adds $36.1 million to household incomes in Agri-Ready Nodaway County according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
What is Agri-Ready County Designation?
Agri-Ready County Designation is a voluntary program that recognizes counties committed to supporting and growing their agricultural industry. To qualify, a county must agree to support agricultural stewardship, growth, and economic interests. The designation helps counties promote themselves as agricultural hubs, attracting and supporting agribusiness. More information can be found at https://mofarmerscare.com/agri-ready-county-designation/.
What is Missouri Farmers Care?
Missouri Farmers Care unites the state’s agricultural community to support the men and women who provide the food and jobs that sustain Missouri. With the partnership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and 45 other member organizations, MFC works to ensure all Missourians understand the truth about modern agriculture, food production, and the farm families behind it. https://mofarmerscare.com/