Al Mesko
In Town: For more than 40 years, Al Mesko has been putting people and cars together. “I sold my first new truck in 1967,” Al stated. Today, Al’s at Denny Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Rolla, where he is a sales consultant. Al has been with the agency for 11 years. As a car salesman he is most appreciative of the warmer weather “because it makes it easier for people to come out and look.”
In the Country: “I’ve been raising registered Charlois since 1990. I also do some Artificial Insemination. They were a popular breed when I started in this 20 years ago and I like them, so have stayed with them. I have 27 momma cows on 140 acres, and am just now getting ready for the spring calving season. Last year was a good year, real easy. I’m looking forward to the same sort of spring this year. I kept all of last year’s heifer calves, and the bulls I sell mostly at home.”
Family: “I have four brothers, two of them here in Rolla. Tom, who is retired from the U.S. Geological Survey and Jim, who is retired from the postal service, both help me out.”
How do you balance both work in town and on the farm?
Al, a self-confessed workaholic laughed and said, “it’s rough. There is no idle time. There’s always something to do on the farm, picking up limbs, fixing fences, setting out hay, stretching fence, getting out the chain saw. I can always look around and find something that needs done, but no (time for) play doesn’t make me dull. It really is the other way around.”
Why do both?
“I grew up in town, but my grandparents had a farm and my brothers and I would go out and do chores there. I always really enjoyed that. The best part is the peace and tranquility, getting away from the hustle and bustle of work. I just enjoy watching the cows”
By Laura L. Valenti
