Hey y’all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from C3 Cattle Co. The Cantrell family is rejoicing in the chance to catch up on lost time from me being away in college, spend time with loved ones only in town for the holiday season and I think mom and dad are rejoicing that I’m here to help with chores… I am not sharing the same excitement! So far this week we’ve had calves born, 80 degree weather, lots of home cooked meals and of course Christmas. This years Christmas was one unlike any other, not in a bad way – just a new way. With Parker, bubba, now playing the role of husband that meant I woke up alone on the morning of the 25th with no one to share laughter of awkwardly opening presents you already knew were under the tree and share the normalcy of traditions with. Treasured traditions like watching the polar express, waking up to biscuits & gravy and sausage balls on Christmas day, and of course the tradition of feeding calves after opening presents. Though this transition has its downfalls, this meant I slept in until 8:00am (does this mean I’m maturing), had breakfast and coffee with ma&pa, shared quality time with my grandparents and did my quiet time before even being reminded I could open some gifts. Having the chance to celebrate Christmas in this way has truly reminded me the reason for the season, Jesus. It sounds silly since we hear this saying so consistently in the holiday season but it’s true! We serve a good God, the creator of the universe, and Jesus’ birth is truly something to proclaim. Going into the new year I plan to keep pursuing this relationship with The Lord with the same intense fire I currently posses while growing and maturing through each day that passes. 2022 will be a year with new calves, education from those around me (plus OSU which my parents still pay for LOL), intense travel, necessary spiritual growth and a whole lot of love.

I am soaking in the goodness of Christmas time and the coming of 2022, I hope you too are doing the same. May God continue to bless you, your farm and those you love. Best wishes from C3.

-Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, I am home for the holidays! I wrapped up another semester at Oklahoma State, packed my bags and headed North to C3 Cattle Co. Since my return my family has been so gracious to leave me dishes to do, water troughs to fill, cats to feed and even heat tags to be checked. Needless to say, they keep me busy.

We are in the breeding season right now so each morning I have been taking note of the cattle coming into heat after pulling CDRS. With the weather fluctuating so harshly we have been putting out a few bales of hay each night but if i’m lucky (and dad is in a trusting mood) I just use the deweze on the truck. Dad was in a very trusting mood yesterday sending me to Kansas to get two ton of feed on the flatbed. But don’t worry, he didn’t send me alone. My 90yo uncle, Darrell, accompanied me for moral support. Though life in Collinsville has its moments of busy, it also has moments of pure peace. Just the other night sitting by the fire place with a Christmas movie on the TV, catching up, I was reminded just how blessed I am to have a great place to come home to. A place that when not filled with chaos, is an environment that is rich in love and abundant in theological/political/educational conversations. Parents who care for me so deeply that they cook my favorite meals after a hard days work.

In this season at home I look forward to soaking up time with mom and dad and soaking up time on the funny farm. I pray the holiday season provides you with many good memories, laughter with your loved ones and the best home-cooked meals.

– Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, happy finals week! This semester has been nothing short of crazy but so fulfilling. If you know me, you know I have my foot in a lot of things on campus to say the least. From sorority life, to homecoming, student alumni ambassadors, the college of agriculture executive team, a few clubs plus running for National FFA Office – sleep was treasured when it came. One thing that was always on my calendar each week with no leadership role attached was “Aspen Coffee Co.” Whether it’s the one at Fountain Square, Perkins Road, Duck or Main, I spend a good chunk of my life at the wobbly wooden tables of this sweet coffee shop, why you ask? Consistency. Each day that I wake up and pack my bag with a bible, journal, book to read, laptop and tummy ready for a hot Irish Cream latte with honey because of the consistency I find and the joy I get from listening to a podcast or doing homework at my favorite table by the window. Have you ever heard of putting a sugar packet under the leg of an unstable table? One day someone asked “what is your sugar packet?” mildly perplexed by what this means I reflected that this is questioning, what am I adding to my daily life to make it stable? Is my sugar packet the friendships I am in, is it the leadership roles I work through, or is it God? Tough spot of identification. I know.

For any college kids going through finals this week and wrapping up the end of their semester, I hope your sugar packet is Jesus. Your grades aren’t going to Heaven (thankfully) and the late nights you’re staying up to study while skipping dinner isn’t what’s best for you in the long run. I guess that makes me a hypocrite for speaking that into existence so when I take my own advice I’ll keep you updated, lol. For real though. Go to Aspen, sit at a wobbly table while drinking a hot cup of joe and reflect on your sugar packet! If you’re a teacher ready to get rid of students, a farmer in desperate need of family time, a stay at home mom or my barista, this week and every week I pray you are finding that missing piece of your life in The Lord.

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-Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, here is an update from how The Lord absolutely blessed me a few months ago. If you know me you know I love agriculture, the color orange, education, and Oklahoma State University. At the age of 13 I remember sitting at an OSU football game in late fall when a group called Mortar Board recognized the Top Ten Freshman. Though I had minimal information of what that was, I knew one day I wanted that to be me. Years passed and each fall I would sit mesmerized at the football games looking at the smiling students in orange business clothes on the field throwing their best go pokes to the camera. Fast forward to October when this dream became my reality.

Top Ten Freshman is a process that includes an application and interview which narrows from the student body to Top Twenty Freshman and finally, Top Ten. To announce each cut that occurs a member of Mortar Board comes to your class in a suit and tie to announce the recipients and hand them a white rose in front of your peers. Picture it, I am wearing my favorite Lululemon shorts and sorority t-shirt, typing away on my computer when a man in dapper refinery calls my name. Shocked identifying I made the first cut I hustled to the front of the room then squeezed my flower for the whole hour of class that followed. Silly right? Continuing through the interview process I had zero expectations to make the top ten, I was already pleased enough so when the day came I knew the roses would be coming back to class I didn’t even raise my eyes when the representative from Mortar Board walked in the room. But, once more to my shock, my name was called and tears flowed from my eyes knowing The Lord had been at work in this moment.

To many, this is simply a title that sits on a resume and nothing more. But to me, this symbolizes years of admiration of hard-working students, the memories I created of freshman year with all the growth that occurred and the reminder that God blesses me continually. Don’t be fooled, I live an incredible life and my freshman year was nothing short of outstanding, however, there were still days that flat out stunk. Many late nights finishing papers or starting a last minute homework assignments, friendships that change as a result to distance and plenty of identification for who I wanted to be as a college girl. Freshman year is the first time you’re truly away from home, when the flat tire on your car needs to be aired up or you’re sick of fast food it is easy to get discouraged. Standing on the field, now my turn in orange business clothes, it made each of those moments worth it and I hope at least one little girl in the crowd identified this is a goal she too wants to achieve, maybe 5-10 years from now she will stand in the same spot. As always, Go Pokes!

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-Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, Happy Thanksgiving from C3 Cattle! This week having both parents home from work has given us the chance to haul gravel, move hay, work cows, read a book or two and even put up the Christmas decor… yes we put up decorations before Thanksgiving (with dads permission of course). Regardless, we are soaking up quality time with the family and with the cows today and hope you do the same. Happy Holidays from the Cantrell Crew.

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-Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, C3 Cattle Co. is in a season of growth. As you have probably seen, Parker got married, I am off at college, dad is loving his role as a superintendent, and mom is doing what she does best, taking care of everything in between. Calves are popping out like crazy, C3 bought a dairy cow to assist with the bottle babies – her name is Ruby and we love her, we have two new barn cats who drive momma chelle wild, the chickens still lay more eggs than we can eat, basically, if you can think of it its probably happening on the funny farm.

On a more serious note, we are in a season of growth purely by the grace of God. For me in general, The Lord is teaching me a lot about self identification. Most of my adult life I have found my identity in the roles I participate in. From FFA positions, leadership opportunities on campus, the relationships I was in and even how hard I worked at school or on the farm. It is easy as a leader to get caught up in valuing yourself only based on relative things like “success” which is measured solely on an exterior level. Being in a growing season, hence the title of this blog, I am growing to try to identify who I am outside of what I do. Which is clearly easier said than done, but I know for a fact God put me in this season for a purpose and that would be selfish of me to rush the why behind that purpose. A few days back a friend told me, “He (God) is turning your mess into your message,” and man did that sting. The reality of this statement hits me each day as a reminder that my story is being continuously shaped. Though I have no set plan of what’s next for this journey of identifying the real KC, I do have plans to keep loving on Hereford cattle, tending to my family, growing academically, and rooting myself in Christ.

Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my shelter and my shield, I hope in your word.” The time is now to find my identity in His shelter and His shield, maybe for you it too is that time. Though the things of this world will fade, the fulfillment, knowledge, presence, and love of God could never. As life continues to change and grow I hope you know you have a friend and encourager in me and in The Lord.

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-Agvocate in Action, KC.

Hey y’all, I just wrapped up the coolest experience of my life! In May of 2021 at the completion of my State FFA Officer term I was slated to be Oklahoma’s National FFA Officer Candidate. After stepping into this role it meant I spent much time preparing for the extensive process that occurs at the National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. This process looks like a series of interviews, speeches, workshop facilitation segments, a virtual round and more, all to determine the six members who have the once and a lifetime chance to represent FFA on the national level. I arrived in Indianapolis to start this experience on Oct. 22 where I then completed “Phase One” of interviews and an extemporaneous speech for the weekend before cuts are made to separate finalists from the non-advancing candidates. On the night of Oct. 25 I received a letter that contained the bolded word “Congratulations,” amongst other sentences that in that moment were a blur, overall meaning I was moving onto Phase Two to keep competing in the process. For the next few days I had the chance to keep showing off my skill, create relationships with fellow candidates, explore the city of Indianapolis, and even go on stage to announce my candidacy. All of this led to the final session of convention, session seven, with the announcement of the newly elected team. Though it has already been a week, I still remember that vivid feeling of the loud music vibrating through my body, the bright strobe lights, and the nervous jitters. I also remember the feeling of not hearing your name called and the feeling in the bottom of your stomach when you don’t reach one of your dreams. I say this not for pity, I say this because serving as a national officer candidate is an honor and it was a growing experience. When I was an eighth grader I heard the term “YOGOWYPI,” say that five times fast, silly right? It stands for “You only get out what you put in.” I put in my whole heart to the FFA and in return the FFA has provided me with opportunities, friendships, and memories that could never be forgotten. Though I will never forget the feeling of standing in the front row of the floor seating with thousands of blue and gold jackets behind me and a handful of people waiting for my name to be called, I too could never forget all that I gained from the process. Knowledge about myself and the agricultural industry, late nights with friends running around the Indiana Convention Center, coloring books and lots of Panera soup, plus a whole lot of support that created an incredible week.

If you too are going through a season like mine of growth, heartbreak, and self identification, I encourage you to draw near to Galatians 6:9. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

-Agvocate in Action, KC

Hey y’all, long time no see! Since my, Karstyn, senior year I have been on the go non-stop. I graduated from Skiatook High School in the heat of COVID-19 and started my freshman year at Oklahoma State University, Go Pokes, double majoring in agricultural education and agricultural communications. I then had the incredible chance to serve the Oklahoma FFA as a State Officer where I traveled the state of Oklahoma meeting with members and business and industry professionals. Steve and Michelle, mom and dad, have been busy at work with dad taking a new role as a superintendent at Caney Valley Public Schools and mom working hard with golf coaching and the joy of teaching eighth grade students. Parker graduated from OSU with an Animal Science degree, entered the work force, then married the most incredible woman, Baylee. It is easy to see, we have had our hands full. I look forward to getting back in touch with the blogging world and hope to keep advocating for agriculture with my passions of talking and teaching.

– Agvocate in Action, KC

If you are interested in purchasing Hormone Free/Fed Antibiotic Free, Grass Fed, 90:10 ground beef email Michelle at michelle@c3cattle.com to get your order processed. All beef is USDA inspected!

In order to find success, no matter the category in life, one thing I have learned is that you must keep trying. When it comes to breeding cattle, I am glad we did. In the spring of 2019 I had the sweetest Hereford Heifer. I hauled her from show to show and never let go of the halter. When it came time to breed I couldn’t help but feel excited to know that in nine months I could be a grandma to another Hereford baby, however my plan wasn’t going accordingly said my dad as we had trouble getting her stuck and safe with calf. Months passed and dad said she was still open but I knew if we A.I.’ed her one more time it would work, and I was right! New Years is something to celebrate, but the birth of a calf from a well loved momma; that is something special. I am more than thrilled to start out 2020 as it is now my graduation year, a year of last speech contests and FFA banquets, a year of moving away from home to start college, but also a year with a new born Hereford heifer. Happy New Year from the C3 Crew!

-Agvoacte in Action, KC