Mike Harbour: Turning Passion into a Livestock Legacy

Written by Katherine Burke

Roots in the Show Rings

Mike Harbour's life has always been influenced by the show industry. Growing up in Southern New Mexico, he followed and learned from his father, an agricultural science teacher, from one show to the next. Here, Harbour learned lessons of hard work, responsibility, and livestock care. These early experiences created his deep love for the show industry and lit a spark that has carried him through his career and to the rancher and mentor he is today.

Harbour grew up showing lambs, hogs, and cattle, eventually earning a livestock judging scholarship to South Plains College. After eight and a half years as a county extension agent, he and his wife decided to take a gamble and make raising livestock their livelihood. The 300-acre ranch Harbour bought didn't come with a backup plan, but it came with determination. "I always wanted to raise livestock for a living," he said, "so it was time [to take a chance]."

Building Harbour Livestock

On this ranch in Gatesville, Texas, Harbour built Harbour Livestock from the ground up. He expanded his business to raise goats in addition to sheep, helping pioneer the market goat industry in the U.S. through founding the Junior Meat Goat Show Circuit. His influence even reached major events such as introducing a goat show in the Summer Spectacular, one of Texas' biggest shows, and the famous San Angelo Stock Show, where goat shows became a national staple.

While his livestock has found success nationwide, Harbour remains focused on the people. He feels passionate about the industry because he wants to share everything he has learned over the years with young people and parents who are starting new.

Investing in the Next Generation

He teared up while recalling clinics where he teaches these beginners the skills, patience, and work ethic needed to succeed. "It's an expensive industry... and it takes a while to learn," Harbour said. "One thing we all have in common as successful families is effort. It takes a ton of effort to win."

That desire to educate and give back is what led him to Weaver Livestock, where he partners on clinics and product development for sheep and goats. A Valley Vet customer since childhood, Harbour still relies on their products today, consistently repurchasing Saskatoon's Gold Colostrum. He remembers traveling on the road with his parents to hog shows and stopping by Valley Vet when they still ran it out of the clinic. "I was at [Valley Vet] before it was a store," he laughed.

In 2021, Harbour's son, Trey, won the Houston Market Goat Show, exhibiting the Grand Champion Goat named Doug. Harbour proudly recalls this memory as his "favorite memory in the industry." "He earned it," he said while wiping his eyes.

For Harbour, his son's victory was more than a win in the show. Proof that hard work, perseverance, and passion pay off served as a reminder of the love he has for the industry and teaching younger generations.

Whether for horse, livestock or pet, Valley Vet Supply is your one-stop shop for trusted care. Explore more of our show & grooming supplies category at ValleyVet.com.