Livestock specialist eager to meet farmers

Anita M. Ellis is the new livestock specialist and Callaway County program director at the University of Missouri Extension. While she uses her motorcycle to get around, she still keeps a horse at home with her mother in Hannibal. (Jenny Gray/FULTON SUN)
Anita M. Ellis is the new livestock specialist and Callaway County program director at the University of Missouri Extension. While she uses her motorcycle to get around, she still keeps a horse at home with her mother in Hannibal. (Jenny Gray/FULTON SUN)

With a few starts and stops, livestock specialist Anita M. Ellis has found the right path in her new job.

Since May, she's worked out of the Callaway County office of the University of Missouri Extension as the county's program director. She is also the livestock specialist for Callaway, Cole, Osage, Maries and Miller counties.

"I'm really interested in providing plenty of beef cattle and horse programs," Ellis said. "I want to have, maybe monthly, coffee shop talks. I want to get involved with the community."

Ellis, 26, grew up in the Hannibal area on small properties with animals.

"We had horses," she said. "I'm definitely a horse and cattle person, and we have a dog. I like trail riding with my mom. I've been riding since I was little."

After Ellis graduated from high school in 2010, she went to Truman State University in Kirksville.

"I got a degree in ag science and graduated in 2014," she said. "I got involved with cattle at Truman. They have a fantastic ag program there. It's very affordable and small class sizes."

Ellis, however, had different career goals when she started.

"The original plan was vet school," she said. "I joined the pre-vet club, and it was really good. I have a huge respect for (vet school), but it was very demanding. It seemed very daunting, and it wasn't for me."

Animals still drew her interest. Ellis continued with Truman's ag program and became a teaching assistant. She said she thought about becoming a teacher but eventually realized that wasn't her passion, either.

"So I went to Texas A&M for graduate school and got a master's degree in physiology of reproduction," Ellis said. "I worked with Brahman cattle there, and it was a great experience."

Ellis has pictures of the breed of cattle hanging on her office wall. Known by their distinctive appearance, including a humpy shoulder, Brahman cattle were first imported from India. They aren't generally found in Missouri; they can handle the heat, but not the cold.

While at Truman State, she met her husband, Michael, who was studying criminal justice. They live in the Columbia area and he works for Veteran's United home loans.

Her job keeps her busy paying visits to area farms.

"My favorite thing to do is to go out on farm visits and meet face-to-face with producers and actually help them," she said. "And it's really cool to get their stories."

Despite her years of experience with animals, Ellis said she's always adding to her knowledge base.

"As a livestock specialist, I try to be as well-rounded as I can even though I specialize in beef cattle."

It's not really about knowing everything about every animal, she added.

"It's more like, 'We know a guy - we have a goat guy or we have a poultry guy,'" she said.

Forage is another interest.

"We are planning to have a hay school," Ellis said.

Helping farmers understand more about replenishing their herds is also of interest to Ellis.

"There's something fascinating about reproduction," she added. "I'm a huge supporter of Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program - helping producers add value to their heifers and implementing good breeding practices."

The program focuses on improving production efficiency and includes a marketing component. Regional sales are offered throughout the year.

According to Ellis, the way to establish trust is to always be available to help farmers get questions answered.

"I always return phone calls and emails and stay in contact so I can be a resource," she said.

Services provided by University of Missouri Extension are mostly free.

"I get asked all the time, 'What do I owe you?' and I say, 'Nothing,'" Ellis added. "I'm already getting paid."

On Sept. 21, the Callaway Extension Center, 5803 County Road 302, Fulton, will host a Science on Wheels outreach program. The graduate student in charge of this event is Arianna Soldati, who will be joined by other graduate students to give overviews of their research and how it affects local residents. Topics will include soil science, water quality and more. The program will start at 6 p.m.

To reach Ellis, call 573-642-0755.