ASHTABULA, Ohio — The Ashtabula County Cattlemen’s Association will hold the Fall Beef Tour Oct. 19 at Ferguson Cattle Co. The farm is located at 3160 Lenox-New Lyme Road in Lenox Township.
Each year, the Cattlemen’s Association picks a farm in northeast Ohio that has implemented some new management ideas.
Farm history John Ferguson purchased this long-time beef farm from the Bob Cotterman family in November, 2007. Ferguson Cattle Co. currently has 125 brood cows and has built a national reputation through the sales of high quality breed heifers, bulls and club calves.
This summer the farm had the grand champion Simmental Bull at the Ohio State Fair. This beef operation understands the benefits of using good genetics.
During the tour, participants will take a wagon tour of the farm to see how the 70 acres of paddocks are managed for rotational grazing, view a 20-acre all-purpose paddock, and see how automatic waterers & ponds have been strategically placed so that no cow has to walk more than 600 feet to get water.
Participants will also learn more about the manure storage barn, which was built through a federal program offered by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The farm also harvests more than 100 acres of alfalfa and mixed hay which is made into dry hay and baleage.
An all-beef hamburger and hotdog meal will be served at 1 p.m. All beef producers are invited to attend. No reservations are needed and the tour will be held rain or shine.
A complete program flyer and additional information can be obtained by accessing the Ashtabula County Extension website at http://ashtabula.osu.edu or by calling the Ashtabula County Extension office at 440-576-9008.
