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Mackey family business promotes cancer research

published: December 14th 2007
by: Martha Hollida Garrett

The Mackey family, Milsap, Texas has found a unique way to incorporate a business and family time, while also raising money for cancer research. The family makes and markets rope halters, with a portion of the proceeds going to fight cancer.

Mike and Jill Mackey, their children Tyler, Shea, Joel and Teegan started their small family business earlier this year, largely because of one ornery heifer.

“One of my heifers kept chewing through her halters and we had to buy quite a few just for her. At some point, dad said we were going to have to start making them ourselves, and my sister Shea and two little brothers were curious about how long that would take,” explains 14-year-old Tyler, who is involved in Beta club, football, track, basketball, band, cross country, as well as FFA and 4-H activities, livestock judging and shows steers and heifers.

Their dad, who manages Shrick Land and Cattle, a Chiangus and Simmental operation, ordered some rope and taught the kids how to make the standard rope halter for cattle.

Their curiosity was answered, but the kids found they enjoyed working together and making the halters.

Initially they made a few to use themselves and for their dad to use for Shrick’s show string. Then other family members and friends wanted some and the business evolved.

“On a good night, it takes us about five to ten minutes to make a halter,” according to Tyler, who says the family record is five dozen in one night—a night this summer when there was no homework.

Each member of the family has a role to play in the business. Dad, Tyler and Shea, who is 13-years-old, handle most of the weaving, clipping and melting of the ends, while mom cuts the lengths of rope. Nine-year-old Joel and seven-year-old Teegin bundle the halters together. Dad orders the rope, and mom handles the shipping end.

They have also expanded their product line as they now make halters for lambs and goats, too.

“At first, dad only ordered black rope, but now we have a rainbow of colors, including combination colors like black and yellow, green and white, black and green,” says Shea, adding that the bright pink is her favorite.

In addition, their goals have expanded, too as the family sees this as a way for the kids to have their own college fund. It has also provided a means for the kids to be part of something much bigger.

“Two of our grandparents each have cancer and we wanted to do something to help them. We are donating a portion of the proceeds from each halter to cancer research, so hopefully a cure can be found and other people won’t have to experience this disease,” says Shea, who also shows heifers and steers, plays volleyball, basketball, is active in 4-H, livestock judging and Beta Club.

“We take our halters with us when we go to shows and they are great conversation starters, also,” says Tyler, adding that they will have them at the upcoming Fort Worth Junior Show.

Mike and Jill both grew up in Iowa, showing cattle, and they have always been involved with cattle. They moved to Milsap to take the general manager position with Schrick Land and Cattle, about 14 months ago, after working for number of years in Kentucky on registered Angus outfits.

“We were excited to move to Texas as the opportunities for youth in

4-H and FFA are unlimited. The scholarship programs in this state through the stock shows and various organizations are not found elsewhere,” says Mike.

Tyler and Shea both show Simmental and Chiangus heifers on a national level. Tyler was the high point rookie at the 2007 Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah State Futurity and then went on to claim Reserve high point honors at the American Junior Simmental Classic in Louisville, Kentucky this summer. Shea was third at the state show and third at the National event. The competition at the state and national event included livestock and meats judging, herdsman and sire summary test, showmanship, sales talk and extemporaneous public speaking.

“The halters have become a great family project. It motivates us to find time to spend together in between other activities, after chores are done and of course after homework,” explains Jill.

The halters can be ordered on an individual basis or a half dozen or dozen(s) at a time, by calling mom, who also handles taking orders while the kids are in school at 859/583-0826.

SLS