Years of experience have brought James Farms many accomplishments in the Maine-Anjou breed. James Farms was named breeder of the year in 1982 and has also won several National Championships. James Farms is owned and operated by Larry and the late Helen James. Larry grew up showing steers through 4-H and FFA, so it was no surprise when his two sons, Ronnie and Rick, began showing cattle. Soon came the decision to purchase some heifers to began in a cow herd for the two boys. They purchased four half-blood Maine-Anjou heifers. After realizing their incredible disposition, the spark for Maine-Anjou cattle in the James family started.
The year 1974 marked the beginning for the James family’s involvement in the Maine-Anjou breed; it’s when they began showing extensively. In 1976, they began entering bulls in the University of Missouri Performance Testing Station, winning the top rate-of-gain and feed efficiency awards. In 1979, Ronnie and Rick exhibited the grand champion and reserve grand champion heifers at the National Junior Show in Tulsa, OK. The Maine-Anjou breed has brought the James family great accomplishments within the show ring, in the commercial sector and most importantly within their family.
Larry started A.I.ing his commercial cowherd of Angus and Herefords to Simmental and Maine-Anjou bulls. He was very impressed with the calving ability and quality of the calves from the Maine-Anjou bulls Epinal, Capone, and Cunia. The decision to stick with Maine-Anjou genetics was an easy one after seeing first-hand what Maine-Anjou genetic were capable of.
“Over thirty years, a great love has grown for the breed. Some of the cattle actually develop a personality that grows on you. As long as I raise cattle, Maine-Anjou will be our breed. The fact that they are so docile is worth more than one can express,” says Larry.
He liked the breed for their great temperament and the fact that they offer great thickness with a beautiful, clean, stylish phenotype.
Larry has promoted the breed to the fullest by his dedication throughout the years showing, advertising, traveling to Maine-Anjou functions, and serving on the American Maine-Anjou Association Board of Directors for twelve years.
Larry appreciated the many good friends and breeders he has met and worked with over the years. Today, Larry especially likes to watch and observe his grandchildren and great grandchildren taking part in the operation.
Here are some of our foundation females:
As well as our heard bull RRRC Class:
James Farms 