Family Tradition

The Dowells: Six generations of Western Illinois beef producers

The cows and their calves have ambled to the ridge on Larry and Barry Dowell’s farm near Stronghurst.  Standing or reclining contentedly under the canopy of oak, maple, Kentucky coffee trees and other hardwoods lining the ridge, they seek the shade from the early afternoon sun, as well as the hilltop breeze that discourages pesky insects.  The pasture is dressed in the lush emerald of early summer and blankets the bluff carved ages ago by the relentless Mississippi River, which has now retreated several miles to the west here in Henderson County.

With no visible reminders of modern life rudely encroaching on the serenity, the quiet and comforting scene seems timeless.  Instead of 2003, it could just as easily be 1840 when the Dowells’ ancestors first settled the farm.  For 160 years the Dowell family has been here and cattle have been a primary focus of their operation.

Pioneer beginnings

According to Larry, family tradition says his great-great-grandfather Ross was a wholesale grocer in Philadelphia when he purchased two 160-acre tracts in sparsely settled western Illinois.  “We’re not sure how he got to Chicago, but he came down the Illinois River to Peoria and then came the rest of the way on horseback to inspect the land,” reports Larry.

The family settled on the land and began farming.  His great-great-grandfather left 160 acres each to two sons, Larry continues.  At on point, one of the brothers sold his land to his brother and moved west, becoming one of the founders of Garden City, Kansas, he tells.  The remaining brother was Larry’s great-grandfather who passed along the farm to his son, Larry’s grandfather.

Larry’s mother was his grandparents’ only child.  She married and had three children, two sons and one daughter.  Then one day before Larry’s fifth birthday, his mother died, and he and his siblings were raised by their grandparents there on the farm.

Larry and his brother, Sid, worked with their grandfather on the family farm and eventually took over the operation.

Prior to returning to the family operation full-time, Larry went west and worked on a family member’s cattle operation.  One day, he relates, a high school friend called him and told Larry that the friend had received a football scholarship to Western Illinois University.  He wanted Larry to come and attend WIU and room with him. 

“Classes started the day after next,” Larry chuckles.  Well, Larry got on a train and made it back in time to enroll.  He attended WIU for two years and returned to the family farm in 1956, and soon after married wife Becky.

Continuing the line

Larry’s and Becky’s son, Barry, followed a somewhat similar course, working on the farm as he grew up.  He also attended Western Illinois University and received his agricultural business degree in 1987, returning to the farm.

After their grandfather’s death, Larry and Sid farmed in partnership from 1968 until 1985.  With Barry partially through college, they felt it would be easier from a management and transition standpoint to split the farm’s assets and no longer operate under the partnership structure.

A decade ago, Barry and Terri were married, and now the family also includes son Caleb, six, and daughter Abby, two.

Over the past several years, Barry has assumed more management responsibilities.  Both Larry and Sid retired about a year ago and Barry is managing the day-to-day operations.  He is farming Sid’s ground and is leasing his equipment.  He also purchased some land from Sid.

Today, the Dowells are operating slightly more than 900 acres of cropland and 340 acres of pasture.  Part of the latter, Larry and Sid cleared from timber, and the rolling hills are perfectly suited to raising cattle.  Of the cropland, they raise about 650 acres of corn, 200 acres of soybeans and about 60 acres of hay which is baled, ground and tub-fed to the feedlot cattle.

Their current cow-calf herd runs about 310 head, historically producing about 225 calves annually.  They feed out their calves and buy other feeders, marketing between 700 and 800 fed cattle a year.

Attention to detail

Barry and Larry both believe it takes top ingredients to produce a superior product.  It is a philosophy that permeates their operation – from pasture management to breeding genetics.

Larry says they spend as much or more attention on their pastures as they do on their cropland, including spring and fall fertilizing and an annual sewing of clover seed.

Buying the right type of bulls Barry feels has been one of the operation’s major successes.  “Our weaning weight is up and so is the number of cattle grading choice at slaughter,” he says.  The Dowells consistently strive to earn quality premiums from packers.

While they used to prefer Angus, Horned Hereford and Limousin bulls, today they primarily use Angus-Gelbvieh crossbred bulls.  “In today’s cattle market, you need a little continental blood,” Larry explains, referring to the Gelbvieh (pronounced gelp-fee) which originated in Bavaria.  Gelbvieh calves are widely recognized for excellence in growth, feedlot efficiency, muscling and marketability, while Gelbvieh females are known for milking ability, fertility and quiet temperament, according to breed information.

Barry says they utilized AI several years ago and are contemplating trying it again next year.  He also is experimenting with synchronizing the heifers to narrow the calving window, particularly since he is moving to calving twice a year.  This will be the first year for fall calving, which should start about September 1.

Making the transition

Barry says one of the challenges the family has faced with the operation is the recent transition from his father and uncle to him.  He says he knows in some families that one of the most difficult things to do is to just make the decision – and then stick to the plan.  That plan, he says, is critical and needs to be done well in advance.  Even in their situation, it has taken several years to accomplish the inter-generation transition.

Price volatility in the cattle market also has been a challenge, Barry relates.  That’s one of the reasons they focus on capturing the quality premiums.  Another strategy they are employing is the purchase of shares in the Iowa Quality Beef processing plant set to open in Tama, Iowa.  With plants closing all around the country, Barry says he believes having such shares in a processing plant is vital to ensuring continued access to the market.

While Barry is looking at eventual expansion, he is careful about not doing it at the expense of quality.  “I’m optimistic about the beef business.  If you produce good quality, you will do alright,” he reiterates.

Efficiency also will continue to play an important role.  “Our goal is to produce a cow on 9/10ths of an acre, with the other 1/10th producing the crops needed to support the cow,” Larry interjects.  He believes keeping good records is essential to be able to identify the sources of that efficiency – and profitability.

Long history with FCS

Larry Dowell started doing business with Farm Credit Services in the mid-1960s when he ran into a common problem at his local bank.  The operation’s credit needs exceeded the bank’s lending limits.  He’s been a FCS client ever since.

Barry says he actually became a FCS client 31 years ago at the ripe old age of nine, obtaining a loan as part of a 4-H livestock project.  The Dowells have used FCS operating and equipment loans, and recently added crop insurance, as well.

Shane Yard, from 1st FCS’ Monmouth office, is the Dowells’ financial professional and Deb Etheridge is their crop insurance specialist.

Larry and Barry say they like not only 1st FCS’ competitive interest rates, but also the convenience of doing business with the organization.  “We also appreciate the very polite, friendly, professional service,” Barry adds.

Asked what advice he might have for other producers with similar operations, Barry says, “Get good quality cows and bulls, but don’t overextend yourself to do it.”

“You have to know your farm,” adds Larry.  “What works on our farm might not work on yours.”