Today’s Female Farmer is Jaci Jo Hickey! Jaci Jo reached out to me on Facebook after listening to my interview on the Ranching Brunette Podcast. She shared a post of hers from her Facebook page. I LOVED IT. It was like she had read my mind and shared my thoughts as her own. As soon as I read it, I asked her if I could feature her on my blog. I’m so excited to introduce you to Jaci Jo!
•Sara Beth

Please briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Jaci Jo Hickey. My husband (Travis) and I are young ranchers right on the Oklahoma/Texas line. We raise cattle from the sale barn that my husband’s family owns in Elk City, OK. We started with three heifers and a dream, we have since bought 160 acres, 20 pairs, and an LLC- Mustachio Cattle Co. For years my husband and I drove by a beautiful, abandoned farm. I finally decided we had to buy it, I could no longer watch it go to waste. We moved in last year and started turning it into a cattle ranch. Now we have plenty of room for my fainting goats, 3 cow dogs (Bonnie, Fancy, and Ringo), 4 bottle calves, cows and calves. Thankfully Travis and I were raised right smack dab in the middle of cattle country. We were both raised on ranches and have owned cattle all of our lives. When we need help or have questions, we luckily have plenty of people to call. I am very thankful for good friends, close neighbors, and fabulous family members. We are truly blessed.

What type of farm do you have?

We raise cattle on this 160 acres. I asked my husband if I could buy bottle calves this summer. Surprisingly, he said yes! I currently own 4 bottle babies, but that number is subject to change by the second. I love bottle calves and I am always looking for more. Our yard is ginormous, plenty of room for all of my bottle babies that roam all over our ranch. We have a huge barn for farming equipment, but all we own right now is a 4-wheeler. My hopes are to buy a skid-steer or tractor soon, I really think this would help with some of the heavy lifting and ranch needs. My favorite thing about this beautiful farm-turned-ranch is the fruit trees, nut trees, vines, and bushes. The people that lived here before us had apple trees, black walnut trees, pear trees, grape vines, and plum bushes. They lived off the land, I truly admire that way of life. Travis and I never met them, so it’s always a guessing game of what the tree will produce, whether it will produce anything or not, or if the fruit/nut is okay to eat or not. Thankfully we have Facebook and Google. I have canned and learned a lot from this beautiful country.

How long have you been farming?

Travis and I were raised rodeoing and running cattle. My older brother and Travis’s older brother rodeoed together and we were raised as family friends for the most part. Travis is 6 years older than I am, he remembers when I took my first steps! HAHA My family raised a few cattle but mostly roped. We have always owned roping cattle and horses. I learned how to ride a horse before I learned how to walk. My mom, dad, siblings, aunts, and uncles all rode horses and worked on the ranch.

Do you have an off-farm job?

I do! I am currently a preschool teacher at a small school in Western Oklahoma. I have a degree in Special Education, a Masters in School Psychometry, and currently working towards an Educated Specialist degree in School Psychology. I am a gal that is always willing and wanting to learn something new. I love teaching, learning, and reading! I often bring my bottle calves up to the school for the kiddos to see, pet, and feed. It is so cool teaching littles about ranching, farming, and raising cattle. Sometimes they even teach me a little something-something. Many of the kids in our small town live on cattle ranches, family farms, or large cattle operations.

Please share with us one of the biggest struggles you have with farming.

My biggest struggle thus far has been breaking off on our own. It was expensive, but the best decision we ever made. Travis and I wanted more for our small family than just living on the family ranch sticking to the same ole plan. We had a vision, a plan, and an FSA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers loan. Even though this was the biggest struggle, it has been the most humble reward I have ever given myself. It’s an amazing feeling to wake up every morning knowing you own something that is doing BIG AMAZING things for men and women all around the world. We are putting beef on our tables and on yours! How cool is that? It’s a big reminder that the struggle has been well worth it.

What is something about your farm life that you think would surprise most people?

I am a severe asthmatic! I was raised inside the house while the men gathered and worked cattle and practiced roping. This made me a bad-ass cook! My grandma taught me many recipes that cowboys love! Now I cook for many of the cattle brandings and workings. I absolutely love it and its much better on my lungs.

Can you share one of your long-term goals for your farm?

My long term goal is to start a heifer calving operation with my husband. It is so cool seeing a heifer become a momma cow for the first time. The bond between a mother and a baby, the curiousness they both display, and the good laughs we get when the baby tries to stand. I love baby calves, they make my heart swell.

If you had the chance to tell one thing to someone without any first hand knowledge of the farming industry, what would it be?

GET OUT THERE AND DO IT! Call on the abandoned farm/ranch, whats the worst thing they can say? No? Get out there and do the damn thing! Nobody, nobody, nobody is going to work harder for your dreams and goals than you are. If you want something, start taking the steps NOW to achieve it.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about agriculture?

That we all started with help from family. I wrote a blog about this recently. A young man shared a hateful comment about people getting started with daddy’s help. That wasn’t exactly the case for us. Yes, our family helped any way they could, but our cattle and land were bought with FSA loans that Travis and I are paying off.

What is something you are deeply passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about learning, researching, and reading new information. I love educating myself and learning fun facts! I spend my time listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

What podcasts and social media accounts do you think everyone should check out?

I love, love, love The Ranching Brunette podcast! (See The Ranching Brunette, Loagan’s, Female Farmer Friday post here) She interviews some amazing ranching women and I learn something new every time I listen. I also love listening to The Midwest Farm Wives. I know a lot about being a rancher’s wife, but I don’t know very much about being a farmer’s wife. These gals have taught me so much! I love watching their Instagram stories, as well! On Instagram I have shifted my focus to women in Ag. I follow Laura Lynette Shop, The Grateful Farm Wife, Farm Wife Guru, Brown Cow Soap, and of course Five Marys Farms. These are great gals who are teaching me oh so much!

If people want to follow your farm journey, where can they find you?

My Facebook pages are: Mustachio Cattle Co and/or Jaci Jo Hickey. My Instagram page is: @jaci_jo and I just launched our website Mustachio Cattle Co