Hannah Jane Schuh Media - How To Work With Cattle and Someone You Love Without to Shoot Them

Deana Imhoff bottle-feeds her latest baby calf, Beau, before taking off his homemade pool-noodle splints on April 5, 2025. Beau was born with contracted tendons in his back legs that left him unable to even stand, but the splints have helped him improve enough to walk up to Deana for his bottle. He's lived in Deana's garage all five days of his life to avoid the rainy weather outside as he gets stronger. Deana's grandson, Luka, named the calf after Mary's donkey in the Bible.

How To Work With Cattle and Someone You Love Without Wanting to Shoot Them

At 6 a.m. Deana Imhoff is already wide-awake, dressed, and driving around her property in nearly pitch-black conditions. She’s already read through her morning scripture and might even have a fresh cup of black coffee in her hand. If one of her three dogs, Buck, is lucky, he’s in the seat next to her. If not, he’s sprinting at her side, racing her to their next stop.

To Deana, this is the life. She’s found peace in the chaos, expanding her agriculture business into not only selling meat and produce but teaching workshops and hosting women’s retreats.

Faith, family and farm comes first. Still, it takes mental resilience to live this lifestyle with her family-- a lesson she brings up often in her lessons regardless of subject. The Lord has gotten her through a divorce, single-motherhood, a second marriage and more cans of grape jelly than she could imagine, and she has no plans to give up now.

This project is ongoing.

Deana Imhoff washes water buckets in her kitchen on Oct. 10, 2024. Deana prefers to keep the lights off to keep the electricity bill low, which isn’t a problem thanks to the many open windows around her house.

Deana Imhoff lays out chicken feet that will later be dehydrated and packaged as dog treats on Oct. 10, 2024. It’s important to Deana that nothing goes to waste, and reusing and recycling has become a key part of her practice.

Deana Imhoff unlocks one of her farm buildings at her family farm on Oct. 10, 2024. Deana’s morning chores usually kick-off around 6 a.m.— later than normal now that her husband, Danny Joe, works later shifts with FedEx Freight. Although her three daughters used to help before moving out, it is mostly Deana who runs the farm by herself.

Deana Imhoff jokingly scolds her dog Buck for running through hose water while wrapping up her daily chores on Oct. 10, 2024 in Bunceton, Mo. Buck is very used to Deana's morning routine, and will often be waiting in “his seat” of the ranger when Imhoff first starts in the morning.

Tractor toys are left outside Deana Imhoff's house after her grandson is done playing with them on Feb. 23, 2025.

While stopping at a local church for a bathroom break, Deana Imhoff (left) poses next to a painted portrait of Jesus with her family during the yearly family hay ride on Oct. 19, 2024. The family’s kids have made a habit of going through the church’s shed to dig out the portrait and take pictures every year. “Looking back at those pictures, it’s crazy to watch how these kids have grown up,” Imhoff said.

Deana Imhoff waters carrots and beets at her garden on Oct. 10, 2024. Last fall Deana had to run 3000 feet of water lines throughout the farm after a drought dried up their water sources, costing them $2500. Deana was especially frustrated that the government was supposed to help pay for 75% of the cost, but ended up only paying 4%.

Deana Imhoff checks on her heifers on Feb. 9, 2025. The heifers were recently artificially inseminated by Deana, and soon will be moved to a pen closer to the house as they begin calving.

Cartons of fresh eggs, cleaning supplies and syringes for drawing cows' blood clutters the desk of Deana Imhoff's storage building on Feb. 23, 2025.

Deana Imhoff, right, watches in admiration as her daughter Gracie draws blood from one of her heifers' neck on Feb. 23, 2025. Of Deana's three daughters, Gracie is the only one still in school, and the only one pursing a career in a field adjacent to Deana's-- veterinary science. The blood drawn from the heifers will be sent to a lab to confirm whether or not they are pregnant within four days.

Deana Imhoff takes a moment to breathe while her milk-machine milks her favorite cow, Lucy, which she has raised since 3 days old on Oct. 10, 2024. “That was the hardest part of the transition to the machine,” said Deana. “There’s just a closeness [while hand milking.] You’re resting your head on them, it’s just a real meditation, prayer time.”

Deana Imhoff takes off her work boots after finishing her outdoor chores on Oct. 10, 2024. Deana moved efficiently, wrapping up the milking of her cows, feeding her chickens, watering her garden, walking her dogs and more in two hours, leaving plenty of time to work on canning jelly, cutting off nails of chicken feet and administrative tasks.