Swindler Farms: Attention To Details – Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow
“What makes the way we do business on our farm stand out is our attention to detail and our willingness to try new things,” shares Justin Swindler.
The Swindler Family has called Agri-Ready Designated Caldwell County home since the late 1800’s. Their farms included hogs and row crops until the 1990’s when the family shifted their focus to cattle. Today, Justin and his wife, Erika, and their sons, in partnership with his parents, Dale and Ruth Ann, operate Swindler Farms. The Swindlers have a commercial beef herd and small registered herds of Gelbvieh and Angus.
The Gelbvieh Value Proposition
“In 2015 our boys were getting big enough to start showing cattle. We were interested in a finding a breed community that was smaller and more unique,” Justin shares. “Gelbviehs are great moms. We love their growth and muscle. They complement the Angus breed so well. It allows us flexibility in breeding.”
Yesterday’s Details: Attention to Genetics
After bringing a few of the boys’ Gelbviehs home, the family’s commercial herd began to take on a Balancer influence and their seedstock herd began to make a natural transition that met their personal goals.
For seedstock, the Swindlers focus on the Gelbvieh breed. Their cross-breeding creates opportunities to serve cattlemen’s needs from Gelbvieh to Balancer to Angus genetics and any mix thereof. Swindler Farms markets registered females and bulls by private treaty from the farm.
What is a Balancer? “By definition a Balancer is a Gelbvieh crossed with either a Black or Red Angus,” Justin says.
Today’s Details: Attention to Progress
Justin is the general manager and CEO of the local Co-op, Consumers Oil and Supply, which was founded in Braymer in 1929. It supplies agricultural inputs, hobby needs like dog food, and services such as gas pumps and propane deliveries. Locals can get their car worked on or get new tires.
“Swindler Farms proactively tries new products such as herbicides, feeds, minerals, and veterinary supplements. We act as proving ground for a lot of innovative products that are being designed to help farmers be sustainable and more profitable. Before I promote products to other customers or neighbors, I am willing to try them out first.”
Rural Reality
“The Co-op is an advocacy opportunity. As people move further from the Kansas City area and settle in the county, every day someone is looking for expertise about their backyard chickens, building a pen for their horse, or how to hook up their propane,” says Justin. “We get the opportunity every day to interact with people about agriculture at the Co-op.”
Similarly, Erika teaches 5th grade at the local school where classes of 20 students only have a few that are connected to daily production agriculture. Erika tells stories about growing up on a commercial cattle and hog farm and shares about Swindler Farms to weave agriculture outreach into her classes.
Tomorrow’s Details: Attention to the Future
Justin and Erika’s sons, Gage, Dylan, Colt, and Duke take their daily farm responsibilities seriously.
Colt and Duke, 5th graders, take care of the chickens and feeder pigs. Dillon (sophomore) and Gage have some pig chores and tend to cattle. The boys sell eggs, chicken, and pork direct to the neighbors as part of their 4-H and FFA projects. They also sell a few beef show prospects.
More About the Swindlers
Justin serves as the president of the Braymer Livestock Show and serves on the Caldwell County Farm Bureau board. Erika leads the Pleasant Hill Hustlers 4-H Club. The family belongs to the Heart of America Gelbvieh Association; the boys are active in Junior Association membership. Justin and Erika are proud members of the I-35 Cattlemen’s Association, their local Missouri Cattlemen’s Association affiliate.
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, and University of Missouri Extension 4-H programs are partners of Missouri Farmers Care.
Agri-Ready Designated Caldwell County. Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $60.6 million in value-added products, $130.9 million in output, over 1,200 jobs, and adds $62.4 million to household incomes in Caldwell 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/.
What is a Co-Op? A Co-op (or cooperative) is a business or organization that serves common economic, social, or cultural needs of members. Key characteristics include member ownership, democratic control through voting, and a focus on needs, not just profit.
What is Missouri Farmers Care (MFC)? MFC 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 through coordinated communication, education and advocacy. Learn more at https://mofarmerscare.com/
