By Patti Wilson, Contributing Editor
On any given day, Barbie Mickey can be found chasing cattle and kids, and juggling a sizeable bookkeeping job to boot.
She and her husband, Clint, are co-owners of Cornwell Inc. Auction Service. Each has a real estate license, and Clint carries a broker’s license as well. Barbie mostly operates out of their home office, managing advertising, doing bookwork and keeping their website updated. The business entails farm ground and residential properties, machinery, firearms, farm toys and coins.
The couple has four children – Brennyn, 12, Brylee, 10, Crayton, 7, and Corbin, 5. The two girls are deep into showing livestock; they’ve had a great year in 2024. The boys are, well, being boys and providing entertainment.
In addition to the auction service, the Mickeys maintain a 150-head cow herd and put up hay.
From October to March, the family winters 1,000 cows for two ranches. A Valentine, Neb., client has been with them for eight years, while a second herd from Buffalo, Wyo., was added two years ago. Access to good cornstalks is instrumental for success. Barbie says they prefer harvested seed corn fields with cover crops, and turnips or radishes work best. Conventional cornstalks are also used. She says they are 11 years into the business and maintain a good relationship with their clients.
Close ties with VanNewkirk Herefords has helped the family locate and procure their Wyoming client, giving them a sizeable number of wintered cows. Barbie is out with the stock daily, watering, checking and maintaining fences. She says she is “content with 1,000 head.”
The kids are instrumental in helping with the family cattle business.
Barbie enjoys basically any outside activity. Yard work, cow work, walking and being with the kids is all good. Luckily, she is also an accomplished cook; anyone in her extended family will testify.
That’s a lot of hats for one person to wear, and Barbie Mickey wears them all with style.
