Sally Angell: A leading lady, for agriculture and her family

by Shannon Yokley, posted Dec. 9, 2011

As the youngest of five siblings growing up in Defiance, Mo., a rural area near St. Louis, Sally Angell’s roots are planted deep in agriculture.

“Growing up we raised a few pigs and Charolais cattle,” Angell said. “We learned how to work hard and we always pulled our own weight of the work.”

Angell’s knowledge of hard work has never left. She attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a degree in animal science. She combined her love for hard work and agriculture. Angell owns 125 head of registered Charolais cattle and loves being involved in the cattle industry.

“Since I raised Charolais as a child, I was always inspired to keep them around,” Angell said.

She resides in Centralia with her four daughters: Sierra (20), Savannah (18), Selestia (14) and Schyler (8.)

She stays active in the industry she loves. Angell is a member of the Missouri Beef Industry Council Board member, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and Boone County Farm Bureau. She also has her Masters of Beef Advocacy Certificate. Angell is also a member of Professional Beef Genetics (PBG) and generates a good part of her income for her production by selling bulls with PBG.

“Sally is very inspirational in the amounts of things she can get accomplished with all the irons she has in the fire,” said Chuck Miller, a member of PBG. “Sally has been the only PBG member, until recently, to raise and sell Charolais cattle. This hasn't been an easy task and her operation has some economic lumps. Yet, she has maintained her focus and kept on raising good, useful cattle. Then recently she has experienced a much higher demand for her bulls. Sally has been on the Beef Industry Council for a few years and her everyday experiences have made her a valuable member of PBG.”

Within the Missouri Beef Industry Council, Angell has combined with the Missouri Farmers Care Coalition to work with various chefs and food instructors to educate them about how beef is raised on a farm. She even has worked with St. Louis food professionals to connect them to beef producers giving them the “pasture to plate” advantage for customers.
Angell knows how important it is to stay involved in agriculture and the cattle industry.

“I think it is important to stay involved and stay connected with current issues to keep others who are not from a farm involved and educated,” Angell said. “We need to show that farmers and ranchers truly care about their product and answer any questions that consumers may have.”

Angell wouldn’t trade her operation for the world.

“My favorite part of being a cattlewoman is being outdoors and working with the livestock to make sure I produce safe and nutritious food for my family to eat,” Angell said. “I also enjoy selling bulls to other commercial producers and enjoy seeing their cash crop and operations become successful.”

Being involved with agriculture isn’t the easiest job. With current prices and economic challenges it is hard to make a profit as a producer.

“The rising cost of inputs is my biggest challenge, although cattle are at an all-time high. Corn, gas and fertilizer are my biggest expenditures,” Angell said. “Creating a profit is definitely challenging at times.”

Although tough times are always a posing threat, Angell has found a way to still stay productive and focused. Having four young minds to mold, Angell is raising her children in a manner that resembles her own childhood.

“I spent most of my childhood riding around in a pick-up truck feeding cattle with my mom. What could have been a very boring chore, my mom somehow made fun for my sisters and me,” said Sierra, her oldest daughter. “I remember that she would feed the cattle and we would play in the barns or just run around outside. After we finished, she'd always take us to the pool. What a wonderful way to grow up, no summer school for me.”

Angell educates her daughters about agriculture and has passed her passions down to them.

“When I was in middle school we'd go out to recess, I would always see someone in my family drive by in a pick up truck. I was always very envious of their freedom,” Sierra said. “When it came time for me to job shadow as a sophomore, I took my chance to ride around and be free for a day. I spent the day feeding cattle with my mom, just like I did when I was a kid. Hopefully, I'll be doing the same thing a few years after I graduate, only instead of feeding my mom's or dad's cattle, I'll be feeding my own.”

Working at Angell’s Western Wear is a great fit for Sally, not only because it has been a family run business for 42 years, but also because it allows her to have a flexible schedule. The flexibility allows her to run a successful cattle operation and be a dedicated mother of four.

“One thing that makes my mom a special lady is her ability to 'wear many hats,'" Sierra said. "Most days of the week, she gets up early and feeds us. After getting everyone to school, she goes across town to feed her cattle. At this point, she's wearing old Carhartt coveralls. A few hours later, you'll find her at Angell's Western Wear dressed to the nines helping people find new work boots or dress shirts.”

Angell is not only a leader in the cattle industry, but is also a leader locally by being a great mom and successful businesswoman.

“People around town say that Sally Angell can outwork most men,” Sierra said. “I just love that about her.”

{back to homepage}