The woman behind the chute

MAZEPPA — McKell Lemmerman has been working with livestock since before her feet touched the truck bed floor. Lemmerman; her three brothers, Tyler, Coleton and Mason; and her sister, Jenee, were raised on the family’s Simmental-Angus farm just outside of town by their parents, Larry and Loni.

Lemmerman’s lifelong experiences have evolved into Bear Valley Livestock Services, a business she founded in 2021 to provide livestock handling and herd health services to farmers throughout the region.

While Lemmerman was growing up, she spent her childhood helping with cattle, competing in ranch rodeos and riding along with her father in his work truck whenever she had the chance.

“I grew up working around cattle since I was in kindergarten,” Lemmerman said. “I would ride along with my dad, who worked for Anderson Veterinary Service, whenever I didn’t have school.”

Lemmerman said that she remembers very early on being slightly intimidated by the cattle, and for that reason, she chose to spend most of her time with the family’s horses. Riding since the age of 3, she competed in family rodeos and county fair rodeos, spending much of her youth focused on horsemanship.

“One day, the switch just flipped, and I fell in love with cattle, too,” Lemmerman said. “But my first obsession was definitely horses.”

Over time, Lemmerman said she came to see greater opportunities in cattle production and began building a herd of her own. At around the same time, she launched Bear Valley Livestock Services.

“My only regret is waiting this long to start,” Lemmerman said. “At 26, I feel late to the game. I could have had a farm and a good-sized herd had I not waited so long to discover my true calling.”

Lemmerman’s business offers dehorning, castrating, vaccinating, implanting, day work and a variety of other livestock services. Equipped with a traveling chute, she is willing to go the distance to help farmers, no matter how big or small the job, she said. Whether she is hired for her technical knowledge or simply as an extra set of hands, Lemmerman said much of the value she brings comes from a lifetime spent working with livestock.

“I love the aspect of agriculture,” Lemmerman said. “I wish more people knew more about it or would at least dip their toes in it to understand what we do and what we put up with on a daily basis.”

Currently, Lemmerman maintains a herd of 15 Simmental-Angus beef cows which she raises as cow-calf pairs, and she also owns a breeding bull. She will sell the calves in the fall and retain a few heifers each year to grow the herd.

“If they’re cute and friendly, they’ll fit in my herd,” Lemmerman said. “They are a horrible obsession of mine. With beef prices right now, it’s amazing for producers, but at the same time, for people like me trying to buy in, it makes it very hard.”

Following in her father’s footsteps, Lemmerman began working at Anderson Veterinary Services in Zumbrota at 15 years old. During that time, she gained extensive experience, which helped shape her path to entrepreneurship. She also observed challenges amongst veterinarians and producers, such as heavy workloads and long wait times, fueling her decision to help out in her own way.

“That is when I made the choice to go out on my own,” Lemmerman said. “I make it a priority to be there for each farmer. There have been times in the fall when I’ve done five jobs in a day because that’s when the farmers needed it done.”

Working independently, Lemmerman can provide basic livestock services while working around producers’ schedules. Often, she will give referrals to trusted veterinarians if more than her services are needed.

“The farmer’s best interest always comes first,” Lemmerman said. “If they need a veterinarian, I tell them like it is. … Many of those veterinarians are the mentors who helped shape my career.”

Like many professionals, there are things that weigh on Lemmerman’s mind. For instance, when visiting unfamiliar farms, Lemmerman said she can only hope the facility is safe and adequately equipped for handling cattle.

“Even if it’s a 90-degree day, below zero or the cattle aren’t cooperating, … I approach each job with a commitment, so I am still going to get the job done,” Lemmerman said. “I like this business because I get to connect with farmers one on one, completely independently, and I love that aspect.”

Lemmerman plans to continue to grow her business and has built a following through her writing and social media presence. As a columnist for Mainstreet Messenger, a publication based in Dennison, Lemmerman shares her stories and perspectives from within the agriculture industry. Her social media content on Facebook and TikTok has reached beyond southeast Minnesota.

“I’ve had out-of-state people reach out to me after seeing my videos,” Lemmerman said. “I just feel like a little person down in southeast Minnesota, so for people to want to come and learn more about what I do is pretty amazing.”

As Bear Valley Livestock Services continues to grow, Lemmerman remains focused on expanding her operation, serving local producers and building a future in the industry she loves. Currently a student at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, Lemmerman plans to graduate from the radiology program in December.

“Agriculture remains at the heart of my long-term goals, but I also want that stability piece,” Lemmerman said. “After school, my plan is to focus on growing and promoting myself. Not everyone is confident that, as a female, I can get the job done, so I want to keep proving to others and myself that I can.”