By Randy Rice

The Sebastian County Farm Family of the Year was awarded to Big Branch Cooper Cattle, owned and operated by Brent and Tracy Cooper.

“ We market weaned and backgrounded calves at Oklahoma City National Stockyards weighing 800-850 pounds,” Brent began.“ We also sell beef

by the halves or quarters. A large portion of the cow herd is used as recipient cows to raise embryo calves for registered seed stock producers.”

Marketing the exceptional animals that they raise is just the beginning of their extraordinary contributions to the area ranchers. Big Ranch Cooper Cattle is also Arkansas’ leading provider of data-driven cattle genetics and artificial

insemination training and technology.

“ We’ re a beef and cattle operation,” Brent said.“ So, I have gotten into the genetics part of it. We do embryo transfer, we do artificial insemination and just being involved in creating what we hope is a genetically superior animal, making each generation better, that’ s just a great feeling.”

The Coopers have developed and run

classes so they can share the knowledge and techniques they have learned over the years to help other ranchers in the area.

“ We teach artificial insemination, which is a three-day class,” Brent said.“ And when the student leaves our class, they should be able to go home and actually artificially inseminate their own cow.”