Lawrence County cattle farmer: Designing a legacy of beef production

Nathan Isakson is continuing a proud family tradition on his family’s generational farm near Lawrenceburg in Agri- Ready Designated Lawrence County. Specializing in Angus beef cattle, Nathan aims to produce consistent, high-quality beef that meets consumer demands. His wife, Taylor, plays a vital role in their beef business, and together they prioritize a strong family dynamic on the farm. Their 3-year-old daughter, Korbett Paige, gets in on the action, counting cows from the safety of their side-by-side. Like many farmers, the Isaksons sometimes grapple with what some refer to as “work-life balance.”

As Nathan observes, “Agriculture doesn’t sleep.” Nathan and Taylor are implementing processes and marketing strategies designed to help their farm thrive while maintaining their family tradition now and in the future. Making a Living and Making a Life on the Farm

“Average beef producers have about 40 head of cattle. The truth is that many of these farmers and ranchers must have some sort of off-farm job to make ends meet. Our processes help us choose animals that are lower input and easy keepers,” Nathan explained.

Nathan and Taylor started using artificial insemination (AI) to breed their cattle in 2019. The process allows him to synchronize breeding schedules and plan for calving. Nathan’s impeccable record keeping begins with this breeding process, tracking each cow’s calving ease, and captures information on calving and growth patterns over the year. By selecting females that gain weight efficiently, Nathan reduces input costs and workload—an essential factor for their family.

Their processes and organized approach to record-keeping allows them to manage stress and boost success, even while they juggle their professional responsibilities. This is Nathan’s eleventh year as the agricultural education instructor and FFA Advisor for the Ash Grove FFA Chapter. Taylor is an Assistant Vice-President and Lender for Freedom Bank. She is also wrapping up her experience as a member of the 2024 Cattlemen’s Leadership Cohort, sponsored by Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

Direct to Consumer Opportunities
Every beef animal born on Nathan’s farm has a purpose. “We want consumers to know that all beef available at the grocery store is safe and wholesome, but direct to consumer marketing gives us the opportunity to give purpose to cattle that don’t meet our herd’s benchmarks,” he said. Nathan’s thorough record-keeping allows him to assess the costs associated with raising each animal. Cattle that are less efficient are moved to his feedlot, allowing them to be marketed as beef. “We save the input cost of further developing a female that doesn’t fit our mold. We capitalize on the value of the beef in that animal by offering them direct to consumer as butcher beef,” Nathan said. “Being choosy about the animals we raise makes our operation sustainable, environmentally and financially.”

Nathan and Taylor market their beef and build customer trust through their farm Facebook page, Isakson Cattle
Company. Notably, #Agri-Ready Designated Lawrence County is ranked number one in cattle and calf production in the state of Missouri according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture conducted by the USDA NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service).

Showing Up to Advocate
On top of working and farming, Nathan is an engaged advocate for the agricultural industry. “The world is run by those who show up. As farmers, we have to show up,” he stresses. “We bring value back home to the farm when we show up.”

Nathan has served on the Lawrence County Farm Bureau Board since 2019 and is an active leader of the Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, an affiliate of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. These organizations are partners of Missouri Farmers Care. Nathan and his wife regularly attend the Missouri

Cattlemen’s Association Convention, the Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference, and meetings held by their local Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association where they network with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights from experts.

“We don’t know everything. And we can glean new information and understanding by getting the opportunity to interact with experts. We gain professionally and personally from spending time around like-minded people,” Nathan shared.

Reaching Out Through Advocacy
Nathan is an avid participant in ‘Cowboys at the Capitol’, weekly advocacy visits organized by the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to connect Missouri beef producers with lawmakers. “I look forward to engaging with those that don’t share my views. I want to know what their view is and how and why they came to those conclusions. I often find that we have the same concerns which gives me a chance to share agriculture’s values,” Nathan said. “It is important to build connections with people that are making decisions about policies that affect agriculture and the rural way of life. Many of them are removed from the farm so they don’t get the opportunity to see the love and passion we have for our product, animals, land or our industry.”

Recognized for Leadership
In recognition of their leadership, Nathan and Taylor were honored as the Lawrence County Farm Family of the Year, a recognition cooperatively bestowed by Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Missouri State Fair and Commission, MU Extension and Engagement, and the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. The Isaksons were also selected as ‘Farm Family of the Year’ by the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and were recognized during the organization’s Thunder Days event, an honor co-presented by the Missouri Beef Industry Council.

Agri-Ready Designated Lawrence County
Lawrence County is one of 73 Agri-Ready Designated Counties in Missouri that are embracing agricultural opportunity, literacy, and economic development. The Agri-Ready County Designation program connects counties with Missouri Farmers Care to encourage and protect agriculture and secure it as a thriving component in our state’s economic future. Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s farming and agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which our communities depend.