South Forty Farms History
Why Boer Goats?
Tom and I started out with a few goats to help keep the weeds down. Then, we read about Boer Goats, which are known for muscling and meat. We purchased the first females and then turned the goat business over to our sons, Brad and Travis. We are proud of the way the boys have turned a few goats into a prospering business. They run somewhere between 200-400 head of goats.
Why Limousin Cows?
In 1991, we bought two bottle calves. This started our great adventure of raising cattle. We bought our first limousin heifers in 1993 after reading up on the breed. The lean meat and heavy muscling of the limousin breed interested us. We now have 15 acres of ground where we keep our show cattle and the cows that are about to calve. We rent pasture in the summer and winter the herd at Travis and Jennifer’s place – the other South Forty. We try to keep our herd between 20-30 head. We believe in quality cattle. We strive for easy calving, docile, structurally sound good performing cattle.
Why South Forty Farms?
“My Dad, Wesley Keiser, inherited a 100x150 foot lot just outside of the city limits from his father, William Keiser. Dad called it the South Forty. In 1973, Tom and I bought this lot for $1.00 and love and affection. When we were needing a farm name—South Forty Farms was a given.”
Why FARMS?
In honor of their Grandfather Wesley, our sons have kept the South Forty name for their farms as well. Five years ago, Travis and his wife Jennifer purchased 94 acres of ground in Butler, IL. They have one son Wesley . They have a mix of commercial, registered, percentage and fullblood does at their place and then winter the limousin cows. The third South Forty is in Fieldon, Il. Two years ago, Brad and his wife Brenda purchased about 10 acres of ground and have 20-30 head of goats concentrating their efforts on fullbloods goats. They have three children, Mitch, Macy and Brooke.
