Cope Grass Farm in Missouri: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Cope Grass Farm in Truxton, Missouri, was founded in 1990 by Harry Cope to rotationally graze beef cattle, sheep and hogs. It received the 2023 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award and is one of seven Missouri farms certified under Audubon's Bird Friendly Beef program.
| Location | Truxton, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990, by Harry Cope |
| Sectors | Beef cattle; sheep; hogs; direct beef sales; woodland |
| Scale | 350 acres of native pasture and 500 acres of woodland, per Sand County Foundation |
| Why it is elite | 2023 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award; Audubon Bird Friendly Beef certification |
| Ownership | Family; Harry Cope with his daughter Sabrina Cope, partner and marketing director |
| Official website | Sand County Foundation Leopold Conservation Award page for Cope Grass Farm |
History of Cope Grass Farm
Sand County Foundation says Harry Cope founded the farm in 1990 to rotationally graze beef cattle, sheep and hogs. Over time he planted 350 acres of pasture with native grasses and wildflowers, which help pastures stay green in drought.
His daughter, Sabrina Cope, is a partner and the marketing director. The Copes rent farmland from other landowners, and Harry works with them to show how conservation benefits their land. He also advises young and beginning farmers on grazing, has hosted field days and sits on the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council board.
What Cope Grass Farm Grows and Raises
The farm is built around grazing. Cattle graze standing milo and cover crops in winter, which reduces hay production labor and equipment costs. The farm also grows barley microgreens in trays as a supplemental cattle feed, and uses terraces, grassed waterways and no-till plus cover crops such as sunflowers, turnips, buckwheat, oats and barley.
About 500 acres of woodland add another layer. Pigs graze the woods on acorns in the fall with nose rings to protect the forest floor, and a certified forester thinned trees to improve timber stands and wildlife and bat habitat. An Audubon audit recorded more than 100 bird species, and bird species rose 30 percent in three years.
How Cope Grass Farm Makes Money
Direct beef sales
Sand County Foundation says the Copes sell beef directly to consumers after beef margins narrowed. Sabrina leads marketing.
Bird Friendly Beef
Certification under Audubon's Bird Friendly Beef program gives the farm a conservation story to support its beef marketing.
Sheep, hogs and timber
The farm's multi-species grazing and managed woodland diversify products and land use beyond cattle alone.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Cope Grass Farm
First lesson: when commodity margins narrow, go direct. The Copes responded by selling beef straight to consumers and putting a family member in charge of marketing.
Second lesson: let habitat double as a brand. Native grass, pollinators and bird counts are conservation results that also back a certification. Third, stretch grazing seasons: winter grazing of standing milo and cover crops cuts hay labor and equipment costs.
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How to Contact Cope Grass Farm
Website: https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-award-program/cope-grass-farm
No official website was found for this operation, so the link above is the best verified public page about it. Confirm any visit or purchase with the operation directly.
Cope Grass Farm Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Sand County Foundation: Cope Grass Farm - Award page describing grazing, habitat and direct sales
- Sand County Foundation: 2023 award news - Announcement of the 2023 Missouri Leopold winner
- Corteva: Missouri producers prioritize pastures - Article on Missouri pasture management
- USDA NASS 2022 Census of Agriculture: Missouri - Missouri farm counts, acreage, sales and operator data
- USDA FSA Missouri State Office - Farm loans, conservation and disaster programs in Missouri
Cope Grass Farm FAQ
Where is Cope Grass Farm?
It is in Truxton, Missouri.
What does it raise?
Beef cattle, sheep and hogs on rotational grazing, with managed woodland.
What recognition has it received?
It won the 2023 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award and is Audubon Bird Friendly Beef certified.
Does the farm sell directly?
Sand County Foundation says the Copes sell beef directly to consumers. Confirm products with the farm.
Cope Grass Farm shows how a grazing-first Missouri family can turn habitat and direct sales into a durable business. For the wider state picture, see the Missouri farms guide on this site.