In addition to the cattle, the Blakley family own and operate Creekside Plants & Produce as well as Blakley Family Farms Meat in Oologah, Okla. your own operations, as society evolves, so has your the livestock kids in the community. He and a group marketing strategy. In the early 2000’s, the Blakley of 8 other volunteers serve on the senior fairboard and family saw an opportunity at the Cherry Street they’re responsible for drumming up support for their Farmer’s Market in Tulsa. Blakley Family Farms offer local youth. Along with serving on this committee, quality beef for a quality price to their customers. Lyle has sat on various boards for the Oklahoma Since their involvement in this predominately urban Maine-Anjou and Club Calf Associations throughout setting, they became charter members and fill a the years. seat on the market’s committee alongside several No strangers to heritage and tradition, the Blakleys urbanites, including doctors and lawyers. hold a certain fondness for the opportunity to raise In addition to their retail beef market, the family the next generation of their family in the cattle also operates Creekside Plants and Produce where industry. They’re grateful that the sense of pride and they grow and harvest anywhere from three to five integrity that they’re able to offer to their children acres of produce annually. was the same opportunity First and foremost, to Creekside Plants and Produce in which they were afforded. offers hand-picked produce harbor a healthy respect The positive things that are in the peak of their season. available are things that for the beef industry, its’ cannot be taught, but are Other offerings for their loyal customers include eggs, pork people and its’ consumers rather instilled by the lifestyle and lamb. Essentially, they’re responsibility, respect and and secondly, to be good –integrity, a one-stop-shop for many of to name a few. Not stewards of the land and to mention the work ethic and their clients who prefer to purchase their goods from leadership learned by example. good caretakers of someone that they know. All of the Blakleys try to bring their livestock. It’s common that some of up the next generation with a the busiest people are some of few things in mind. Lyle and the best types to have on committees. Why? Because Lyndsey agree that, “The basis of our business is to they come into contact with a lot of other folks. A promote the entire beef industry.” First and foremost, prime example of this is how the Rogers County to harbor a healthy respect for the beef industry, its’ Junior Fair premium sale grossed over $200,000 last people and its’ consumers and secondly, to be good year. Lyle serves on the board that got this done for stewards of the land and good caretakers of their livestock. MAY/JUNE/ JULY 2016 37