Name: Alan Mahan
In The Country: On the farming side Alan said he backgrounds heifer calves. He purchases heifer calves, mostly private treaty, and puts them through a culling process to produce an efficient cow herd. “Growing an efficient cow herd takes time to develop. You don’t just wake up one day and have all of the factors in place to make it work,” Alan said.
In Town:
Alan owns Mahan Construction. He is a general building contractor. His company specializes in all types of wood-based projects – 70 percent commercial and 30 percent residential. Currently Alan's company is assisting in the rebuilding of some areas in Van Buren county that were hardest hit by the tornado on May 2. "We're working on three projects right now, trying to get some of these people back in their homes," Alan said.
Family: Wife, Angela, and two children – Zack who is 14 and Maggie who is nine years old.
How do you farm and work full time?
"I don’t have an answer for that other than start on the most important and work backwards. I find myself at the line calling audibles every day and at the end of the day, you just hope you have done enough. When I make improvements I try to make them for long term. I want good fences, I don’t want to chase cows. I want a good corral because you have to work cattle and I don’t want anyone helping me to get hurt. I have a Border Collie dog, Molly, she makes my life easier.”
What would be your No. 1 farming improvement?
“My number one improvement with the farm so far would have to be the improvement of my pasture, the balance of legumes with my cool season and summer forages. I would like to decrease my needs for commercial fertilizer. I am also experimenting with pasturing goats for weed control and eliminating spray cost.”
By OFN Staff
