When traveling through northwestern Montana, at some point you may find yourself on Highway 93. Continue north, past Flathead Lake and through the city of Kalispell, and you will come upon a family homestead nestled between Whitefish and Kalispell. The Morris homestead has been there since the 1960s. Dave Morris’ grandfather (also named Dave Morris) bought the original 240 acres in 1963. At that time, the property had one house, a barn, about 60 cow-calf pairs, 20 horses, hay, grain and pasture. Now, however, the 240 acres are split among five Morris family members, including Dave Morris and his wife Wendy.
Dave and Wendy own 70 acres of the family homestead. They have horses, hay, and pasture just like his grandfather did, but their livestock situation is a little different. Dave always had a desire to raise cows on the farm like his grandpa, but due to the size of his place he needed to be more strategic. While visiting Wendy’s relatives in South Dakota, he came upon the idea of miniature cows. Could it be possible to raise cattle even though he didn’t have the original 240 acres?
The answer was yes, but he knew he may have to think outside the box to be successful, which is exactly what he did when he started raising Miniature Herefords.
Miniature Herefords are descendants of the original, full-sized Hereford cattle that were brought to North America in 1831. Herefords, along with numerous other breeds of beef cattle, are noted for efficiency as foragers – turning grass into beef. They mature early and are easy calvers and good milkers, which is important for raising calves. They are excellent mothers, known for a high rate of reproduction, and they are very hardy. They adapt well to any environment, from extreme cold to high humidity, to dry deserts, and they’re known for a docile nature. In addition, because of a strong genetic base that has been established over the past several decades, the physical characteristics of offspring are very predictable.
Below are a few facts about Miniature Herefords:
When asked about their farm, Wendy Morris excitedly replied, “It became so clear. Once we really thought about our acreage size, the smaller-framed cattle were the perfect answer. Less pasture ground required per animal allows us to split our 70 acres into four separate pastures, giving us the opportunity to rotate our cattle for better pasture management. And, our smaller hayfield actually supplies most of the hay needed for our cattle and horses. It’s a win-win for everyone!”
As many families are being challenged to do, the Morris’ had to think outside the box when considering their desire to ranch and farm. Their land was handed down to Dave and Wendy, but in a smaller package than the original homestead. Because of their ingenuity and willingness to be creative, the Morris family is able to continue living their dream. As a bonus, Dave and Wendy’s children and grandchildren are also active in raising Miniature Herefords. In fact, with a visit to the Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell, you may get to see them firsthand.