Staying aHead of the Land

by McKenzie Davison

In the heart of Christian County sits Head Bros. Land and Cattle just outside of Blue Mound. Home to both crops and cattle, as the name suggests, the diversification of the family farm has proven beneficial to the longevity of the land. Due to their dedication to land stewardship, the Heads have and will continue to reap the benefits of the family farm for years to come.

Head Bros. Land and Cattle, originally known as the Dipper Family Farm, was established by Don and Charlotte Dipper in the 1970s. Since then, the farm has gone through its fourth change of hand.

“When my parents were ready to retire, Malcolm and I were given the opportunity to return to my family’s farm,” said Susan, daughter of Don and Charlotte. Susan and Malcom have given that same opportunity to the next generation in a way that benefits everyone involved.

The farm is now owned and operated by Susan and Malcolm Head, their two sons, Alex and his wife, Lena, and Rollin and his wife, Sasha, and their two kids, Regan and Maddox.

“We have to take care of the land, then it takes care of us,” proclaimed Alex, who is largely responsible for the grain side of Head Bros. Land and Cattle.

While the farm has remained in the family for generations and has continued to grow, it has adapted to the changing needs of the environment.

“As we expanded our cattle numbers, we came to the realization that we had to care for the pasture and grass just like we did the crops,” explained Malcolm.

The Heads have taken advantage of government programs available to help better the land and environment. With the help of financial and technical assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Services and the Illinois Conservation Districts, they have made improvements to conserve the soil, water and air on the Head farm.

“What is means to be to be an environmental steward is someone who not only loves the land, but takes care of the land,” explained Malcom. “As we learned to better care for the land, it not only helped the farm, but it challenged us to be better operators.”

They have also utilized the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP). The Head family has partnered with EQUIP to conserve their farm’s natural resources, ensuring a bright future for the operation. Some changes made to the farm include re-fencing all grassland, installing paddocks, installing stream crossings, fencing all crop ground, and utilizing the leftover corn stalks as a feed source while grazing. The voluntary program has aided in the conservation of the Head farm while also improving land productivity.

“I believe it’s a great honor that we’re being recognized. With what we’re doing on the farm, we don’t take any of this for granted and we only want to make it better,” explained Susan. “We consider ourselves stewards of the land and we take great pride in caring for it. Our family recognizes that there is only so much ground and so much goodness in the ground. We work hard to not overuse the land, so it is always viable.”

Alex, Lena, Regan, Sasha, Maddox & Rollin Head

The family plans to continue to expand their operation. For Head Bros. Land and Cattle, the farm’s growth is measured in several different ways.

“We are always looking for what may be the next opportunity and what fits our needs and resources,” Malcolm described.

As land prices continue to increase and pasture acres gradually dwindle in availability, they have shifted their growth focus to herd size. This decision has proven beneficial with today’s economic challenges.

“I think the outlook for the future of the cattle industry is challenging, but bright,” said Rollin, who is in charge of the Head’s cattle herd. “In my opinion, people will always want an animal-sourced protein. The biggest challenge moving forward will be educating consumers. As a producer, sometimes you need to think outside the box to figure out how to be profitable.”

While fertilizer prices continue to soar, the Head farm has taken full advantage of its manure management plan. On the Head farm sits a 65,360 feet long confinement building that is used year-round for both summer cow housing and spring calving. To the benefit of the whole farm, the barn is cleaned out at least twice a year. After cleaning, a manure sample is tested by a nutritionist to estimate the value of the manure.

“At one time, manure prices were calculated to be between $15,000-20,000 in fertilizer savings. When considering current and future fertilizer prices, a barn makes a lot of sense,” Rollin added.

The potential construction of another building will not only increase the farm’s fertilizer savings, but also relieve some pressure from the already limited pasture ground.

“The cattle operation is a full circle,” explains Alex. “A lot of the ground gets rye put on it that is chopped for feed, then we plant either beans or corn back into it, which is fed to the cattle. The manure from the cattle goes right back onto that ground so the nutrients never really leave the farm.”

Whether it is crops, cattle, cooking or cleaning - every member of the Head family retains a specific role on the farm. While everyone’s duties may vary depending on ability, they are essential to preserving the efficiency of this welloiled machine.

Food prep and delivery for the crew is Susan’s specialty. She’s in the process of collecting recipes for a farmwife cookbook containing fast and easy, field-ready meals. Her favorites are ground beef based meals that can be prepared ahead of time.

Additional duties range everywhere from 94-year-old Don Dipper’s trips to the vet, to seven-year-old Regan and four-year-old Maddox’s barn cleaning expertise.

“Regan and Maddox can get cleaned up as well as any other kid, but boy, they can sure get dirty and have a great time just doing daily chores,” Susan giggled. While each family member’s job on the farm may differ, at the end of the day, they all have a common goal. “We hope that what we are building is a strong operation for our grandkids to return to.”

Whether it is a long day in the barn for Regan, or the endless hours of tractor steering for Maddox, they both have learned the joys and discomforts of farming firsthand.

For Regan, the challenges of raising livestock pay off in the show ring. Her passion for livestock has grown exponentially after stepping into the showing at the 2021 Illinois State Fair Open Hereford show where she won Grand Champion Heifer.

“I look forward to our kids growing up in the Hereford breed and having an organization that they can be a part of,” explains Rollin. “To watch them grow up in this life is so rewarding.”

The family hopes to sustain the same values into the next generation of Head Bros. Land and Cattle, creating a sustainable future for farm and the environment.

Malcom & Maddox Head Don & Charlotte Dipper