9 minute read
Coach like a Cowboy
Coach like a Cowboy
by Melissa McGee Buehler with Judy McGee
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photos courtesy Matthews Coach’s Corral
Edsel Matthews takes it from the court to the corral in Fair Grove, Missouri.
The great football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said, “The only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary.” Much like a coach strives to put together a team that can win a championship, so cattlemen strive to be great in their arenas as well. In the cattle business, whether purebred or commercial, producers are faced with a litany of trials and diversity in the quest to raise the ideal specimen. “Building an outstanding cowherd is much like putting together a successful basketball program. First, you look to see what the successful coaches are doing. Then, you develop a plan with quality individuals. Finally, you trade your bed for a candle and work really hard,” says Edsel Matthews.
The roots of Matthews Coach’s Corral (MCC) originate with Edsel’s great-grandfather, Charlie Matthews, who farmed 80 acres in Buffalo, Missouri. His father, Eddie Matthews, continued with the farm, even after accepting the men’s basketball coaching job at Missouri State University. Being a third-generation cattle producer, Edsel’s interest and involvement in raising cattle followed him through childhood, years of coaching and administration, and now into retirement.
After nearly four decades in coaching and athletic administration, it was not hard to choose the farm name, Matthews Coach’s Corral, which stems from Edsel’s long and successful career in athletics. Edsel was the head men’s basketball coach at Drury University, athletic director of Springfield Public Schools, and Athletic Director and Vice President of Athletics at Drury University. He was the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1978 and has been inducted into four halls of fame, including the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Edsel was also the first inductee into the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame.
Following a celebrated career in athletics, Edsel Matthews is focusing his efforts on his cowherd.
The Matthews’ operation is headquartered in the rolling hills of southwest Missouri, known as “The Ozarks”. In this part of the country, many of the farms are 100 acres or fewer, operated by people who work off the farm 40 hours a week. This contingent of farmers is managing herds of 50 or fewer momma cows. They are people who love a rural lifestyle and believe in supporting the cattle industry. This is also a part of the country that enjoys the benefits of four distinct seasons, giving cattle the opportunity to increase their adaptability to thrive in a variety of conditions.
Edsel celebrates with his team at Drury University in 1971.
Matthews Coach’s Corral have found their stride raising Angus, Sim-Angus, and Red Angus in the Ozarks.
The operation now spans five generations. Edsel’s wife, Becky, shares his devotion for raising quality cattle on their 80-acre farm in Fair Grove, Missouri. In recent years, their daughter Cheryl Kepes, her husband, Steve, and their daughters, Alexandria and Rebecca, have moved back to the Ozarks. The family is excited to be working together in the operation, and the granddaughters are enjoying all they are learning and the friendships they are making while showing their heifers of multiple breeds.
MCC has spent decades building their Power Plus Genetics herd, featuring show cattle, breeding stock, and herd bulls. The Matthews family operates a diverse cattle herd, with purebred and percentage Simmental, purebred Angus, and Red Angus cattle all represented. In the early stages of the operation, they had success in the Limousin breed as well. Limousin cattle were part of the business for more than a decade beginning in 1978. In the early 1990s, the family returned to Edsel’s childhood roots and began purchasing registered Angus cattle. The purebred Angus have proven to be a steadfast base in their program. Edsel commented, “When we started our Angus program in the early 1990s, we called our good friend, Bill Schermer, and asked him to help us select some Angus females. We are grateful for his guidance and for his diligence in finding cattle for us from some of the leading herds in the country. He has been a constant friend and consultant to our program.”
Edsel and Becky started with the Simmental breed in 1998 after attending the Ozark Fall Farmfest at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri. There, they met Aaron Owen with Owen Brothers Cattle Company (OBCC). They attended one of OBCC’s sales and purchased two half-blood Simmental cows. Edsel and Becky bred the percentage Simmental cows to purebred Simmental bulls to “breed up” their Simmental herd.
Edsel Matthews at his childhood home in Buffalo, MO with an Angus heifer.
MCC remains equally committed to the Angus and Simmental breeds. They have found diversity is key for their customer base. They appreciate the maternal nature and marketability of the Angus breed. In addition, they admire the structural soundness, rapid growth and productivity of the Simmental breed. The perfect blending of both breeds seems to work best in this unique production model. Whether it is a black, blazefaced SimAngus, or a red, blaze-faced Simmental/Red Angus cross, MCC customers appreciate the hybrid vigor of crossbred bulls.
The Matthews family (l-r) Edsel & Becky Matthews, Alexandria, Steve, Rebecca, and Cheryl Kepes.
Alexandria and Rebecca Kepes with their Red Angus projects.
Alexandria and Rebecca Kepes with their Red Angus projects.
Recently, the Matthews and Kepes families added Red Angus to their herd. It started when they bred some of their red, purebred Simmental heifers to Red Angus bulls (Detour and Profit Builder). They decided to experiment with the cross because they were pleased with the performance and heterosis of their SimAngus cattle. The families found the Simmental/Red Angus calves to be popular and easy to market. MCC appreciates the Red Angus females for their maternal nature, easy-fleshing condition and excellent dispositions. The families plan to grow their Red Angus herd through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Transplant (ET) work. Alexandria and Rebecca are planning to show Red Angus at the local, state, and national levels. The girls love all calves but fell head-over-heels for the Red Angus babies!
Due to their limited amount of acreage and smaller herd size, the operation chooses to maximize their profits by focusing on raising registered cattle instead of commercial cattle. They currently manage a total of 30 to 35 momma cows on 80 acres, calving in spring and fall.
Edsel & Becky Matthews
MCC retains a core group of genetically proven cows and uses selective Artificial Insemination (AI) to produce quality animals for their herd and customers alike. The “must have” qualities required in all females that are part of the operation include structural soundness, possessing strong EPDs, and excellent phenotype.
One of the goals of the operation is to produce herd sires for commercial customers. Though MCC consigns a few bulls to select sales, most of the bulls are sold private treaty. Edsel commented, “We strive to raise quality bulls that will serve our customers well. A large portion of our bull calves are sold before weaning and delivered as yearlings to our repeat customers. It is our goal to produce bulls and replacement females that will help others in the livestock industry improve the genetics and overall quality of their herds.”
Cattle with proven genetics are often consigned to state association sales and a couple other select sales. The Matthews find that seedstock producers and commercial cattlemen are wanting to improve the maternal side of their herds, and in turn, purchase females from them.
The multi-breed cow base helps to position the cattle for sale to serve their diverse customer base. “We found it works for us to have a variety of quality bull and heifer calves for our customers. We started with quality Angus females and have used some of the progeny to grow our SimAngus base. In addition, we have developed a core of solid, purebred Simmental females to improve the genetics of our herd,” says Cheryl Kepes.
The MCC philosophy ensures they produce geneti cally proven livestock that will benefit their commercial and seedstock customers. They strive to raise bulls that will help their commercial producers raise calves that will bring top dollar at market. In addition, MCC chooses genetics that will help produce high-performing replacement females for their seedstock customers. Their philosophy also involves producing and selecting easy-doing cattle. “We have also focused on breeding our females to national champion bulls with the intent of producing calves that will be competitive in the show ring and excellent producers in the pasture,” Cheryl added.
MCC Angus donor, GOHR Savannah 4014, out of Silveiras Style 9303.
MCC considers EPDs an important factor in the selection of AI sires and replacement females. The primary focus on EPDs centers around an animal’s Calving Ease (CE), Birth Weight (BW), Weaning Weight (WW), Yearling Weight (YW) and Marbling. Though EPDs are a strong consideration, they are not the only factor. The family feels strongly about a “take a look” approach. They “look” at an animal’s structural correctness, phenotype, and mobility before making any purchasing decisions.
Newly weaned bull calves join the fall yearlings at the feed bunk at Matthews Coach’s Corral.
Newly weaned bull calves join the fall yearlings at the feed bunk at Matthews Coach’s Corral.
Some Angus sires that have been used in the breeding program to achieve the desired cow base include: Silveiras Style 9303, Jindra Double Vision, and AAR TEN X. The MCC Angus donor cow is sired by Silveiras Style 9303 also. Simmental sires include Mr. HOC Broker and W/C Executive Order. Currently, they AI their foundation females to national champion bulls.
- Edsel Matthews, Matthews Coach’s Corral
Being involved and serving in livestock organizations is an important part of being in the livestock industry. Both families are members of the state and national Angus, Simmental and Red Angus associations. Alexandria and Rebecca Kepes are members of the Missouri Junior Simmental Association and Missouri Junior Red Angus Association and active in their local 4-H club.
Edsel has been a member of the Ozark Empire Fair board for more than 40 years. He was recently awarded the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Heritage Award. Cheryl is a member of the Ozark Empire Fair Foundation board. MCC is a regular consignor to Missouri Angus and Simmental Association sales.
Like his coaching career, Edsel has found that working hard and providing a quality product to his cattle customers has brought success over the years. “We believe the strength of our cattle operation is due to its quality and diversity. We try to maximize all aspects of our operation by producing genetically proven, high-performance cattle,” Edsel explained.
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