Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Kogers named Farm Family '08

Some farmers may wonder what it takes to be named a countys farm family of the year. The honor held no such mysteries for Reed Koger because his parents and grandparents have all been named to the list.

Reed and Becky and their daughter, Devin, live and work in southern Nevada County.

And, as is the case with many farming families, Reed said he never expected or planned to do anything different.

There had always been chicken houses and thats what I was raised doing, Reed said.

Though Becky has a job as a pharmacy technician she is currently a stay-at-home mom due to some health issues. She said she is also pleased to lead the life of a farming family.

I love it, she said. Im happy to see he loves it. Its a great place to live and raise a family.

The Kogers are expecting their second child in December.

Reed said their current home place, located near Bodcaw, was rough when he and Becky began to build their home on it.

It took a lot of work to get the farm going, he said.

The family is responsible for five houses located on two Del Mesa pullet farms for a total of some 100,000 pullets annually. They own or partner in additional operations that include about 100 head of cattle and 150 stocker calves along with hay production.

While Reed tends cattle and chicken houses, Becky turns to her own duties which include caring for their two horses. Mojo, orphaned and raised by the Kogers on milk pellets. Becky says Mojo is really a pet.

He thinks hes a big dog, she said.

The dogs are Devins responsibility, though Reed points out that only one was really supposed to belong to the Kogers.

Toby lived down there, Devin said, pointing toward a neighbors house. But he came up here and stayed.

Sadies origins are a little less clear. As Devin said, Sadie just came.

Devin, wholl be in fifth grade at Hope when school starts back, said theres many things she likes about summer, including the fact that she can sleep late.

And I like to swim, she said.

The Kogers are members of Union Baptist Church, the Nevada County Cattlemens Association, Nevada County Farm Bureau and Young Farmer and Rancher, Nevada County Soil Conservation Service Board and Arkansas Farm Bureau.