GHA SPOTLIGHT:

Welcome to JWR Land and Cattle Co.

Wesley Rakestraw, his wife Sharon, and their three children John, Josh, and Jake live on a beautiful farm in Rockmart, Georgia. Their breathtaking home is set off the road and is right in front of a stunning pool and pond. The barn is behind the house, located on a hill overlooking the surrounding pastures. A black fence encloses the pastures, house, and barn. There are two farms that cattle actually roam. The main farm in Rockmart contains 920 acres, and the original farm in Dallas encompasses 124 acres. Both the farms are three miles out of their respective towns and about 12 miles apart.

The J. Wesley Rakestraw Family - Josh, Sharon, Wesley, John, Jake ( in front)

Wesley was born and raised in Hiram (Paulding County) and has lived there his entire life until last year moving to Rockmart. He and Sharon were married in 1981. They were blessed with twin boys in 1982. A couple of years later he started a construction company – Raker Construction. It has grown extensively and continues to be a very prosperous business for the Rakestraw family.

In 1986, Wesley bought the first part of the farm in Dallas (12 acres, which kept growing) and his first Herefords from Thomas and Betty Aiken. He purchased six cows and one bull. He said that he had always thought the couple had attractive cattle and liked their temperament – calm. The Aikens and John Bleaky were huge influences in the cattle industry on Rakestraw. Growing up, Wesley’s family never had cattle nor were involved in agriculture; but his uncle had a “milk” cow that he sold after he caught Wesley riding it and claimed it stopped milking after the incident.

Nowadays, there are many more cows in the Rakestraw herd. Most of the herd is comprised of Victor cattle. Rakestraw is using bulls like Boomer and Keynote sons to enhance the growth in the herd. He has an extensive list of donor cows and many embryos. Wesley has been ultrasounding his cattle now for about eight years and has been pleased with the results.

Many of you have met this wonderful, fun-loving family who will be hosting Field Day and a sale for the first time in 2003. The farm employs Van and Jeannene Powell, who do the everyday care of the cattle, and Mike Jernigan, who advises breeding decisions. I encourage everyone to attend Field Day on June 20 and 21 to see this magnificent farm. I can assure you that the hospitality will be amazing and an event no one will soon forget.

A view of the sales barn - site of the 2003 Georgia Hereford Field Day

RT DCC 20X Key Master 125L was Reserve Intermediate Champion Bull at the National, owned by DeShazer Cattle Co. Abe and Ike Redden, and JWR Land and Cattle Co.