Pint-size cattle a highlight of Smith's annual Farm Tour stop in WP

This micro-mini bull is about 2 years old, but smaller than the calves it is currently sharing a corral with. Its home is Silver Springs Ranch off of PP Highway southeast of West Plains, owned by Ruth Graber-Wilcox and Byron Wilcox. The bull is part of a cattle herd and a plan by the ranch to breed micro-mini cattle for sale as pets, in addition to its full-size cow-calf operation. Missouri 8th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith visited the ranch Monday afternoon, a stop on his yearly farm tour, in which he visits with constituents across the district. Graber-Wilcox said a long-term plan for the property is to dedicate acreage to create a ministerial retreat, inspired by a request from her son, a pastor in Los Angeles. To that end, Refinery Ranch, a nonprofit organization, was established. For more on Smith’s visit, watch the Quill this week.