About Dallas County, MO

Goat Meat - the other Red Meat?

Last month, Time Magazine ran a "Top 10 of  Everything" segment, including "Top 10 Food Trends." I wasn't surprised, but you may be, to learn that goat meat made the list at #7.

Goat meat is rapidly becoming popular in all areas of the United States. Goat meat has a low fat content, compared to beef and pork and a high protein count. When cooked property, goat is very tender and tasteful.

“Goat production for meat and milk continue to be the fastest expanding segment of Missouri’s livestock sector” according to Gene Danekas,
Director of USDA-Missouri Agricultural Statistics.

In 2006, a USDA survey placed Missouri in the Top 10 among states producing goats. Updated results are scheduled to be released the first week of February 2009. I expect Missouri to be in the top 5.

So Why goats and Why Missouri?

1. Missouri terrain is goat friendly. Goats will not only graze in a pasture, but they will help clean up most brushy areas. The terrain is easy to fence to keep the herd where they need to be.
2. Smaller statue: goats are less intimidating than a cow or bull; they are smaller and thus easier to handle and they are more calm than most other livestock.
3. Friendly disposition: goats are for the most part, kid friendly. Goats mix easily with cattle and some other livestock.
4. A variety of products: Not only can the meat be processed and sold, but there is a market for the milk (to drink, for lotion, for soap) and a market for some kinds of hair. (Angora goats produce Mohair)
5. Goats and goat products can easily be shipped from St. Louis or Kansas City

If you've been toying with the idea of a small farm, raising livestock and getting back to a more basic lifestyle, Missouri offers you that opportunity. You may just find that goats are the perfect match for you. And, you just may find yourself promoting Goat as the other red meat!

You'll find recipes for goat HERE.

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Debbie DiFonzo, is the Broker/Owner of United Country VIP Realty, located in Lebanon MO and Marshfield MO. She specilizes in rural properties in Marshfield, Conway, Phillipsburg, Lebanon, Long Lane, and Buffalo Missouri.  

To view Debbie's listings, and search two local MLS systems, visit:
UCtheOzarks.com
FindYourFreedomMissouri.com

If you're thinking of selling your Webster, Laclede, or Dallas County property, contact Debbie at: Debbie@ucvip.com

Copyright © 2009 By Debbie DiFonzo, All Rights Reserved. The information provided herein is obtained from multiple sources and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Thanks to my good friend Don Rogers, I was tagged for the bookworm MeMe a few weeks ago. However, a few sick kids, work, my own case of the flu and the Thanksgiving holiday put my MeMe on the back burner. Tonight, it's a little chilly here in Missouri and I debated: read my latest book or play work on the computer. Ah, the MeMe will allow me to do both, at least for a little while!

The task at hand:

1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open the book to page 56
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the intellectual one. Pick the Closest.
6. Do not use the Bible

I read something every night before bed. Sometimes a "foo foo" book, sometimes business related, sometimes I only make a magazine article if I'm tired. I had picked up this book a few months back. I dug picked it out of my reading stack last week after writing a post on the Law of Attraction and the Media.

My current read: Sacred Secrets: Finding Your Way to Joy, Peace and Prosperity

From page 56, the fifth sentence, and a few more:

This book is made up of 35 essays from various writers, teachers, and ministers. It is designed to take the blockbuster bestseller, The Secret, one step further.

For your own copy of Sacred Secrets, visit UnityOnline.org

Long Lane, MO is a rural town located in South Central Missouri, in Dallas County. You'll find Long Lane almost 12 miles east of Buffalo, MO and 12 miles west of Lebanon, MO along Hwy 32. To say Long Lane is a small town is probably an understatement - the "city limit" sign doesn't list a population nor does "Long Lane" show up on the US Census Bureau map! Locals estimate the population to be around 90 people.

Travel along Hwy 32 into Long Lane, and you'll find the local post office. (Long Lane, MO does have it's own zip code: 65590)

Then you'll come across the fire department, an all volunteer unit. My husband, Ray, is the secretary of the Long Lane FD - a job they say he'll hold for life! The department relies heavily on local dues and state/federal grants.

Past the fire department you'll find the general store and Miss Daisy - a life long Long Lane resident! And before you leave town you'll see the tire repair shop on your left along with the sign pointing to the Long Lane Fair Grounds off to your right.

It's here at the "fair grounds" backing to the local school, that you'll find a rich 27 year tradition. Families from near and far come to Long Lane, MO on the Fourth of July - The Long Lane Lions Club plays host to a BBQ, live music and one of the largest fireworks displays you'll find in South Central Missouri.

Our family first stumbled upon Long Lane fireworks while in the area house hunting. We had looked at a home that holiday weekend and the owners were kind enough to recommend Long Lane. We've been attending ever since - I do believe this was year number eleven! We've only lived in the area a little over eight years.

Sitting with family and friends, I tried to get a grasp on just home many people had invaded Long Lane this 4th. I am guessing on the low side, Long Lane played host to over 750 people this 4th of July night! The children played at the playgrounds, the adults sang along to the music. Laughter rang over the land.

A hush fell over the crowd only to be replaced by ooo's and ahhh's - the town of Long Lane held us captive for 45 minutes with their light show. A show to put others to shame!

So thank you, Long Lane Missouri, for bringing together families and friends; for reminding us of tradition and how good it feels to be free!

Earlier this week, I received a fax copy of my Active Rain profile. On the profile, a local gentleman had typed me a quick note, asking me to list a rental home he had in a neighboring town.

I called Mr. L and we set up a day and time to meet. As we chatted, Mr. L mentioned he had a Illinois broker's license and had practiced real estate since the early 1950's. He also mentioned he practiced real estate in Lisle, Illinois.

Turns out, Mr. L practiced in the next town over from where I grew up and in the town I went to high school and college in. We know many of the same people and Mr. L knows a few of my relatives.

Mr. L has owned property in Missouri for many, many years. He spent many years going back and forth from Illinois to Missouri. We're both here now and Active Rain brought us together.

It's a small world after all!

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Contact Debbie DiFonzo, Broker, United Country VIP Realty, at 417-468-5900 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Marshfield, Conway, Phillipsburg, Lebanon, Long Lane, or Buffalo, Missouri.

To view all our listings and auctions, visit: http://www.uctheozarks.com/

Contact Debbie at: Debbie@ucvip.com

Copyright © 2008 By Debbie DiFonzo, All Rights Reserved. The information provided herein is obtained from multiple sources and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.