Preferred Meats Farmer Network.
Our FARMERS

 

Rob Stokes -Circle "O" Ranch

interview by John Paul Khoury,CCC

Having been on the ground floor of helping Bill Niman start both his beef and goat programs you might say Rob Stokes knows what he's doing when it comes to raising animals the right way, and one taste of their product will put all doubt aside. Rob and his wife Michelle, along with their daughters, are a straight up grass roots farming family with a good bit of education and applied knowledge behind them. Rob tells us their story.

When did you start in the industry?
I grew up on a small ranch in the central sierra foothills of California.  Both my parents had a strong work ethic, great family values and taught us how to be resourceful.  Both parents worked off the ranch at day jobs my father had a strong interest in the livestock business and my mother's family had been in the row crop business in the Southeast US until moving to the central valley of CA. in the 1930’s.

 

 

What drew you to the industry, and why you became a farmer?
As a young kid a close family friend would give me and my sister bummer lambs from their flock.  Making them healthy and helping them survive gave me the opportunity to start a small flock of my own. As the flock grew my interest in other livestock enterprises expanded.  Exhibiting market and breeding animals at county fairs and other livestock exhibits gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the livestock industry.  Vocational agriculture programs like the 4H and FFA gave me the confidence and leadership skills to expand my horizons.  After high school I attended Modesto JC then transferred to CSU Chico to pursue a degree in Animal Science Beef Production.  Science based education plus hands on practical applications of this science gave me the experience and confidence to address and solve everyday production agriculture issues. 

 

 

Why Boer Goats?
In 2002 my wife and I purchased a small ranch in eastern Oregon while managing the beef operations for a natural meat company.  We were based out of Idaho but the ranch was only a short drive over the state line. The land had been cultivated for row crop production for many years using conventional farming practices.  We decided to do away with the cultivation and grow grass.  Unfortunately not all of the vegetation species were popular with cattle and we soon decided a poly culture would benefit this land.  We felt that these undesirable species of weeds had value. 2005 was the year of the goat. Our background and jobs in niche meat production and high quality meat made us look for the Angus of the goat breed. Unfortunately every breed has faults, so finding the ideal goat breed for our environment has been trial and era.  We have chosen the Boer breed that originally came to the US in the early 1990’s from South Africa. This breed has put meat quality characteristics into the commercial goat of this country.  Our herd is mostly made up of the Boer influenced breeding  stock but we also have to address the maternal side of our herd with some Spanish influence and just recently with a good husbandry grant from the Animal Welfare Approved program introduced the Savanna breed into our herd.  This breed came from South Africa also and will give us better carcass quality conformation, reproduction efficiency and hardiness.

 

 

Did you have formal AG education?
California State University Chico, majoring in Animals Science.  Not only did I receive a great education in the science of animal production but as a student I had the opportunity to work on the college farm and apply what I learned in the lab out on the farm everyday on the livestock units.

 

 

What makes a great piece of goat?
Genetics, combined with happy healthy animals that are able to express their natural behaviors daily.  Animals that are able to balance their nutritional needs for growth by grazing a poly culture of vegetation.

 

 

Farming highlights:

 

• Purchasing our own ranch in 2002
• 2005 and 2008 birth of our daughters that are on our ranch with us       
  everyday.
• Building and running the Niman Ranch beef program from 1994 until 2007 and then started ranching independently for ourselves in 2007.

 

 

Why should I put your product on my menu? 
We feed our family the meat we produce everyday, it is flavorful and raised right. Our product is safe, it doesn’t have antibiotics or growth stimulants. We hold ourselves to the highest standard of animal husbandry ( our ranch is audited yearly by the Animal Welfare Approved program and certified) and we control the whole production cycle of these animals from conception to consumption. Goat is the most widely consumed meat in the world.  It is one of the healthiest meats available for people to eat and it is high in protein and iron and low in fat / cholesterol.

 

 

What influenced you the most in your career? 
A combination of my parents and sisters supporting me in my decisions and goals. My high school agriculture instructor and college agriculture professors helping and giving me the opportunities to broaden my education experience. But, most of all my wife who is my partner and best friend- without her I wouldn’t be where I am today.

 

 

If you could keep only 3 books on the subject, what would they be?

 

• Farmer Almanac
• Goat Rancher
• Capital Press

 

 

Favorite farmhouse gadget: 
Welder- I use this tool all over our ranch.  I like to reinvent or look outside the box.  This tool allows me to build what I can't afford to buy or find on the shelf.

 

 

Most memorable dining experience: 
Sitting down with friends and family during the summer BBQ season and enjoying a meal of food that we have raised on our land.

 

 

If you were not a farmer, what would you be?
I can’t think of another life that I would do outside of farming/ranching.  Our lives depend on food and water.  I just happen to like producing quality food for people that are unable.

 

 

Food indulgence:
Quality food rather than quantity. 

 

 

To order Stokes Family Circle "O" Goats call 510.632-4065 or call your rep directly

 

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