Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Kogers take Southwest District honors

Reed and Becky Koger of Prescott, representing Nevada County as the 2008 Farm Family, have been named South West District Farm Family by a judging committee.

The contest, now in its 62nd year, is a way for communities to honor families who have devoted their lives to farming as a livelihood. Farming families are chosen on a county level by a committee of county farmers and business leaders. The Kogers were named by this years Nevada County committee.

Nevada County Agent Melissa Beck told Reed and Becky that she wasnt worried about their chances on the district level. She said she felt the Kogers had a good chance.

I think this really speaks to the diversity and success of their operation, Beck said.

The selection committee discusses various aspects of families who have been submitted for consideration. Most submissions come from committee members though nominations are accepted. Criteria considered by the local committee are farming operations, family activities and involvement with civic, farming, church and school groups and functions. The county selections are then turned over to a district committee and winners at the district level are then considered for the state honors.

While the idea is naturally to choose families who have a chance of being named to district level, the local committee also looks at those families who simply deserve the local recognition, regardless of how theyd stack up on a district or state level.

Reed and Becky Koger and their daughter, Devin, have some 100 beef cows, 150 stocker calves, two Del Mesa pullet farms and a 640-acre hay operation. The Kogers said they have never really considered any other way of life and built their home in southern Nevada County. Beckys first love is the familys two horses and Devins duties include taking care of the familys three dogs. Devin said she wants to do something agriculture related when she grows up and is considering veterinary science. An additional farmer is expected to join the family in December with the birth of the Kogers second child.

The Kogers arent the only recent farming family in the area to receive recognition. Jeff and Trish Milam were recently named Young Farmer and Rancher.

That really says something about agriculture in Nevada County, Beck said. Weve got a lot of successful farmers.

Bill and Marcia Rhodes were selected as the 2007 Nevada County Farm Family. Frank and Arvenia Davis of Calhoun County won the South West District nomination while Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County were chosen to represent the West Central District and then won state honors.