HUMBLE STOCK FARM
Shorthorns 54 Years of In North Carolina
by Shelby Diehm, ASA
The gravel crunched under the tires as the car came to a stop at Humble Stock Farm outside of Liberty, North Carolina, on the foggy morning. As we loaded into the farm truck, the sun began rising over the trees to draw the fog away. As we drove to the first pasture to see the herd of Shorthorn cattle, Bruce Humble began telling his Shorthorn story. He started a little unusually, his dad had a few milk cows, and he raised the calves for veal. His neighbor had a Shorthorn bull that would produce good veal when crossed with the milk cows. That was their introduction to the Shorthorn breed. Bruce worked for neighbors in tobacco and saved his own money at 11 years old to buy his first Shorthorn. His dad located a man 20 miles away in 18
a neighboring town who had a Shorthorn cow/calf pair. His father took him to see the pair and after reaching an agreement, they hauled them home in the back of an old pickup truck. This was the start of Bruce’s herd that has been growing for the past 54 years. Even though Bruce was
shorthorn country = january 2022
too far away to attend many youth events, he still has his certificate from joining the junior association in 1969. Bruce went to North Carolina State for a two-year agricultural program. He was required in this program to either work on the school farm or another farm. He helped a horned Hereford breeder for a few summers and then had the opportunity to rent the land from the breeder. He now continues to rent the land for his Shorthorn cattle. Although he never showed cattle and his herd is commercial oriented, he has sold a few calves for small shows in the area. He does not have a demand for show cattle like the Midwest, there are not many county fairs or shows in his area. He sells most of his cattle locally. He doesn’t have a big
