Dustin Chadwell
In Town: Dustin has worked for Kraft Foods in Springfield for 15 years, currently working in the Processing Department.
Family: Wife, Christy; Son, Justin, 6 years old; Daughter, Kalie, 7 months
On the Farm: “Besides my cows, I usually try and raise 25 to 40 bottle calves a year. I have a total of 300 acres in Norwood, Mo., plus some leased land, and a friend who has helped me make my own tire watering tanks.”
How does the work complement the farm?
“It provides me the stuff that the farm won’t provide. Basically, the way I look at it is you have to have a job to support the farm nowadays. It has really helped out on the insurance.”
How It All Began: “I always had a few cows on a piece of rented land or ran them on dad’s property. My first beef cows came from Oklahoma and from that I just added to the cows and the farm.”
Biggest Challenge: “Having enough time to get the farm work done. I always fall back on the statement ‘time is money.’ You have to make every little bit count on the farm. One thing about the farm – you always have something to do. If you don’t love it, you won’t farm. If it gets too hectic and I don’t have time with the kids something will give.”
Future Plans for the Farm: “I would like to go to more intensive grazing. You can run more cows on less acreage. It’s really helped me run more numbers. It has also helped my cows become much gentler and much easier to move.”
Story and Photos by Jane Kinser
