Page 22 - MWC 10-5-2023s

At Home with The Midwest Cattleman · October 5, 2023 · P22

Hopewell Farms Angus

by Brenda Black

The old adage “Go big, or “We are lucky enough to Hopewell
go home” is an oxymoron have both of our sons in- Farms Angus
around a 5,000-acre crop and volved,” said Lynn who runs team, has
cattle operation near Paris, the office. worked for
Mo. It may better be stated, Bobby refers to his mom as more than a
“Go big and come home” to their public relations special- dozen years
Hopewell Farms Angus. ist. feeding cattle
Hopewell Farms Angus “We are very glad we get and keeping
ranks in the top five for the to work with both of our boys the beef and
most registered Angus beef and have their families liv- grain operation run-
cattle in Missouri. Annual- ing here. I don't know how I ning smoothly. Accord-
ly the Bob and Lynn Fodge could ask for much more.” ing to Lynn, “Trevor is
family, including their two Their first-born Bobby like family too.”
married sons Bobby and wife attended Murray State in Two daughters-in-
Patty, and Alec and his wife Kentucky and competed on law have found their
Annie, will sell around 125 the rodeo team in team rop- fit in the multi-gener-
breeding bulls private trea- ing, calf roping and cutting. ational farming enter-
ty. Another 300-plus bred His major in Animal Science prise. Neither of them
heifers and two groups of fed enhanced the love for cattle grew up on farms, but
steers are also marketed. The that he's had since he was they quickly adapted.
Fodges raise all of their re- just a toddler. Patty uses her major
placement females and may “If we had a herd manager, in Animal Science with
buy back commercial heifers he would fill that role,” Mom an Equine minor from
from their commercial cus- Lynn said. “Bobby would Murray State to aid in
tomers when buyer demands just as soon deal with all of raising all of the bottle calves, is the best future for our fam-
surpass supply. the day-to-day things like handling the registration ily, but it is what we do and it
Being big, according to managing grass and feeding of the herd and managing is who we are. If Bobby and
Lynn, presents a host of chal- the cattle and calving the fe- matings to the natural ser- Alec continue to want to be
lenges, including chopping males. He's excellent at it.” vice bulls they raise. Though farmers and cattlemen...and
75% of their corn crop into Younger brother Alec re- Annie teaches Literature and if Charlie and Beckett want
silage for feed, because the turned back to the farm with English at Paris High School to work that hard and be as
yields were so low this year. an Ag Systems Management and is an Adjunct Professor focused as one has to be, then
Or not being able to sell hay degree from the University of at Moberly Community Col- we want them to have every
to longtime customers and Missouri, Columbia. ”He has lege, she steps up to prepare opportunity.”
friends because of holding on taken over a lot of the row meals to take to the Fodge Perhaps a Hopewell future
to it to make it through the crop enterprise,” Lynn said. family men when they are will mean building a con-
coming winter. “He does all of the spraying working in the fields. finement feed lot or hosting
Bigger also has its advan- and crop scouting. I don't Each of the brothers are an annual sale at the farm.
tages – namely, a family to know how much money he father to a son. The almost- Lynn has no idea what will
share the burdens and pro- has saved us since taking three-year-old cousins were come, but she knows her sons
vide ample blessings. over those roles. Plus, he born five weeks apart. Grand- are good at looking outside
oversees the health ma Lynn and Patty are train- the box. Already, they have
of all of our baby ing them early for farm life, launched a joint venture for
calves when moved watching over little Charlie a bonded and licensed drone
out from the calving and Beckett in the farm of- application service.
barn.” fice between calls, emails and “They had to jump through
Trevor Cockrell, chores. all of the government hoops
the only non-relat- Lynn, a retired nurse, is to legally spray fungicides
ed member of the the first to admit that the and herbicides,” Lynn said.
life her fam- “After going through all of
ily has cho- that, I am pretty sure Alec
sen is not one will eventually be taking
of luxury or over my job to handle all of
certainty, but the crop paperwork.”
it is the life What about Bob? The lead-
they've built. ing man of Hopewell Farms
“With eco- Angus is a retired electri-
nomics being cian and resident mechanic
as they are in charge of equipment pur-
and the world chases and maintenance. As
situation as it the next generation takes on
is,” Lynn said, more and more responsibili-
“I am not ties, Bob is happy to serve as
sure that this overseer and let his sons step
up to meet their potential.