Farm News:
 Keith Harold a study in Success and Perseverance
Keith Harold is a farmer in the Essex area who appreciates not only what it takes to be a good, successful producer but also what it takes to handle the rough roads along the way.
Keith's folks, Ruel and Kathleen Harold moved to the Essex area from Hastings in the early 60's. After graduating from Essex H.S. in 1968, Keith says he got his "degree" in Vietnam where he fought for his country for a year before coming back home to farm. His wife, Paula, works for Great Western Bank. The couple have three children and four grandchildren. His brother-in-law, Dick Smith, was instrumental in getting Keith back into farming after returning from overseas. During the farm crisis of the early 80's, Keith worked at the packing plant in Oakland to make ends meet until the operation could get back on its feet, which it did. Keith is loving the way his crops look in 2009, grateful for the excellent weather we've had so far. He enjoys time with his family and grandkids who love taking their grandpa out to the new 6 acre pond Keith had built just a few years ago. Keith is also an active member of the Montgomery County Fairboard, reminding folks the fair in Red Oak is just around the corner, starting July 14th. You may not see the beautifully restored 1966 Farmall 806 (photo left) at the fair, but chances are you'll see Keith there, enjoying his friends and family who've always been there for him over the years.
 Beesons Busy in Montgomery County
Ryan and Beth Beeson of rural Red Oak, Iowa know how to spin a lot of plates, so to speak. Not that they work at the circus, but they are involved in many activities in Montgomery County. The Beesons, along with their 3-year-old son, Tyler, live in a beautifully restored country farm house on a meticulously groomed and maintained farm Southwest of town. Ryan farms part-time with his parents, Alan and Cindy Beeson, while also working full-time for Davis-Taylor Insurance of Red Oak. Beth, a Maryville, Missouri native, works at A&M Green Power in Red Oak. Her parents are Jim and Phyllis Schimming of Maryville. She has one brother and two sisters. The two met while attending college at Northwest Missouri State University. Like so many people in KMAland, Ryan's family farm tradition runs deep; if Tyler eventually farms he'll be the 6th generation of Beesons to farm in that area of the county. The Beesons no-till their corn and soybean ground while Ryan and Alan co-own an Angus-cross cow/calf herd. 4H has meant a lot to Ryan and his family, including his sister, Sarah, over the years and that has transcended into a general love of the local county fair as well, where at the ripe old age of 30, Ryan presides as the President of the Montgomery County Fair Board. He reminds folks the fair starts July 15th in Red Oak. Ryan and Beth invite you to come on out to the fair and enjoy a slice of the good life; and while you're there shake the hands of the some of the busiest and happiest young people in Montgomery County, Ryan and Beth Beeson.
 Brunings Celebrate Dairy Month
When Bernard and Cecilia Bruning decided to move to Stanton, Iowa from the Boys Town area of Omaha to run a Holstein Dairy Farm in 1963, they may not have thought milk would still be flowing and the operation would still be moving forward 46 years later. But it is. Bernard and Cecilia, now in their 80s's, still oversee an operation now led by two of their sons, Kenny (left in photo) and Dave. (right in photo) Kenny and Carleen Bruning have three children; Amy, Kelly and Kevin while Dave and Elitha Bruning have four children; Joshua, Rachel, Luke and Celia. They milk around 80 cows twice a day while farming around 630 acres consisting mostly of corn, a lot of which comes back to the cows in the form of forage and feed. The Brunings chop around 60 acres of the corn and pick the rest as ear corn. They also cut about 85 acres of hay ground. Milk prices have fluctuated greatly, as profits are ½ of what they were last year. Even though raising their own feed helps, protein and mineral prices have remained high. Their cow's milk eventually ends up at Roberts Dairy in Omaha. As for the hours and dedication it takes to maintain the Bruning Dairy Farm of Stanton, Kenny says, "They don't take a day off and neither do we." So the next time you sip some Roberts milk you'll know it may have come from a Dairy farm near Stanton, and you can tip your glass to Kenny and Dave Bruning and their families in celebration of their dedication, hard work and June Dairy Month.
 McEnaneys Love it on the Farm
When Delbert and Carol Sue McEnaney moved out to the country from town years ago, they wondered if they'd like it. They don't wonder any more. They love it. Delbert grew up around Westboro, Missouri and worked in the construction trade for many years in the Shenandoah area, building many well-known businesses and private residences. He still has family that farms in the Show-Me State. Carol Sue works with her brothers, Tom and Bob Madsen at Madsen International in Shenandoah where she does the books. Carol Sue's parents, Joe and Ruby Madsen, started the business in 1964. Delbert, who is one of ten children, is the son of the late Cyril and Cecelia McEnaney. Together Delbert and Carol Sue have four children and six grandchildren. Delbert, who is now retired from the construction trade, does all the farming along with Carol Sue on their place south of Shenandoah. They raise corn, soybeans and hay and have some terrific pastureland that their Angus cow-calf herd enjoys. So far, this year's crops on the McEnaney farm look great. Carol Sue also enjoys crocheting and counted cross stitch, along with decorating their fine home Delbert built. The McEnaneys may call their place a "hobby farm", but there's still plenty of passion and love devoted to every square inch of land they work and care for every day.
 Best of Both Worlds for Clarks
Eldon and Pat Clark of rural Henderson, Iowa get the best of two worlds, as they live part of the year in California and part in Southwest Iowa. Pat has deep Malvern ties. Her parents were Charles Raine and Rheba Wederquist. During the war years, Pat's family moved to California and there they remained until Pat's father came back to the area later, remarried and purchased some land south of Henderson, where Pat and Eldon now reside. As landowners, they love their productive farm near the West Nishnabotna River and are pleased with their tenant, Rod Frank, whose family has farmed the ground for many years. The Clark's live in their historic 1875 home along with a few rescue shelter dogs they take good care of. Eldon is a KMA "Skywatcher", while Pat enjoys spending quality time in town with other women learning embroidering and quilting. With the Clarks, it looks like you can have the best of at least two worlds!
 Brooks Farm a True Family Operation
When Curtis and Craig Brooks, the sons of Chuck and Claudia Brooks of Farragut, Iowa, said they wanted to come back to the family farm, Chuck and Claudia (middle in photo)and a host of others helped make it happen. The Brooks, recipients of the 2009 Farm Family of the Year award via the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry's Ag Committee, are a six-generation farm family, with a corn/soybean row crop rotation and a 40 head cow/calf herd. The help comes from great landlords and family members who are willing to give young farmers like Curtis (far right) and Craig (far left) a chance to farm more ground, and ambitious sons who are developing other niches within the operation. Curtis is running his own spraying business while Craig is doing some bulldozing work along with working with Chuck in the day-to-day business of the farm. Chuck's wife, Claudia, works at Miller-Shearer-Lashier & Co PC CPA in Shenandoah, Curtis' wife, Leslie, (2nd from right) works at the FSA office in Sidney, while Craig's wife, Lesley, (lower left) works for Wallin Plumbing and Heating. The Brooks are big supporters of 4H and the positive things 4H does for young people, and as you come over the hill toward the Brooks farm, you'll notice they've restored a huge early 20th century barn, saving it for future generations of Brooks to enjoy in the years ahead.
 Lundgrens Proud of Family and Swedish History
They may not speak Swedish but that doesn't mean the Swedish heritage doesn't run thick through their veins. We're talking about Delaine and LaVose Lundgren of the rural Essex/Clarinda area. Both are of Swedish descent and are proud of that fact. A parcel of the Lundgren's land goes back 130 years when their Swedish ancestors settled the area. Delaine and LaVose raised two sons, the late Jeff Lundgren of Essex and Jerry Lundgren who lives with his family in Omaha. The Lundgrens have six grandchildren and are looking forward to their first great-grandchild this year. For the most part they've "retired" and now cash rent their farm to the Curtis Meier family. So far the 2009 crops are looking good. Delaine has been active over the years on the Essex telephone board along with the REC while both have been very involved with the Essex Covenant Church. The Lundgrens have enjoyed traveling over the years as well, enjoying such destinations as Egypt and Israel and are looking forward to taking in more sights in the future.
FARM NEWS:
CHICAGO (AP) _ Agriculture futures were mixed Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for September delivery lost 5.25 cents to $5.355 a bushel, while September corn rose 2 cents to $3.565 a bushel and July oats jumped 10.75 cents to $2.255 a bushel. Soybeans for August delivery surged 41.25 cents to $11.605 a bushel.
Meanwhile, beef and pork futures traded higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. August live cattle edged up 0.5 cent to 85.75 cents a pound; August feeder cattle rose 0.95 cent to $1.0377 a pound; July lean hogs advanced 0.58 cent to 59.25 cents a pound; and August pork bellies inched up 0.32 cent to 56.02 cents a pound.
Burlington Jct. Kiwanis Club will hold their 31th annual Tractor and Truck Pull on Friday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Park. Twelve classes of tractors and pickups will pull following Northwest Missouri Tractor & Pickup Pullers rules. Gate admission $10.00 with under 12 free. All proceeds used for Kiwanis community events. For information call 660-725-4601.
The Adams County Extension will sponsor a Youth Fishing Contest at Lake Icaria in Corning on July 4th between 10 am and Noon. For more information, please call 641-322-3184.
Optimist Club of Maryville will sponsor their annual Fishing Contest at the City Boat Ramp Shelter on Saturday, July 4 beginning at 9:15am with registration at 9. Anyone between ages 1 & 15 may participate and must bring their own fishing gear. This event is free.
Fremont County Soil & Water Conservation District will meet at the USDA Building in Sidney on Tuesday, July 7 at 7pm. For more information please call 712-374-2014, ext. 3. Anyone interested is invited to attend.
The Adams County Hunter Education Course will be held on Thursday, July 23rd , Friday, July 24th at the Okey Vernon Bank Basement between 6 and 9 pm and on Saturday, July 25th at the Corning Gun Club between 8 and 11 am. For more information or to register, please call 641-322-3111.
Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association Ag Committee is collecting donations for a Shenandoah sponsored Livestock sign that displays champion and reserve champions at the Page County Fair. For more information, please call the chamber at 712-246-3455.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts wants to remind all landowners that they can sign up for state cost share funds at any time of the year.
Dollars are available to assist with care of your well. The DNR provides these funds to assist with well testing, closure, & reconstruction. Water test kits and applications are available at your County Public Health Offices.
© Associated Press and KMA Radio. For individual information purposes only.
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