At first glance, cousins Isaac McGinnis and Dusty Roberts might look younger than the average Ozarks farmer but a few minutes of listening confirms that these two are indeed the real ‘McCoy.’
Their grandfather and great-uncle, Garland and Donald Roberts started the Roberts Brothers Auction on Highway 32 on the outskirts of Bolivar, Mo., and they are the third generation to operate the business.
Dusty’s father, Dwight Roberts took over the business from his father, and 5 years ago, when his health failed, Dusty and Isaac stepped in. “It’ll be 52 years this summer,” Dusty stated on a quiet day during the week, while seated in the empty auction barn. The surrounding silence gave little hint to the bustling activity that can be found here every Saturday.
“It’s kind of a unique auction,” Isaac explained, “in that we start each Saturday, outside with all kinds of miscellaneous – wood, hay, household items and farm equipment and by about noon, we come inside and sell till we’re done.”
Inside includes all sort of farm livestock, two-footed and four-footed. “We have chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, geese, hogs, goats, horses, llamas and cattle,” Isaac continued. “Probably more chickens than anything else. That ring will be full of chickens,” he laughed. “We have a once-a-month horse sale on the first Wednesday of every month. From what we see around here, the horse market is coming back.”
Recent changes in the economy have made for subtle changes in their business and yet things continue as they have for half a century at the Roberts Auction Barn. “We both started helping when we were about five, and we’ve been here ever since,” Isaac and Dusty agreed while they watched nearly 3-year-old, Dayton, Dusty’s son, scramble about on the arena’s empty seats.
Both young men also work the family’s combined 1,500 acres, caring for approximately 300 head of commercial cows. Isaac also does the occasional loan inspection for the bank. “We all pitch in and help out,” Dusty explained, “and in that way, everything gets taken care of. It’s all one big family operation.”
When the question was asked if Dayton might be the next generation to grow up and take over here Dusty said, “If that is what he wants, I’ll encourage him and help him all I can. But he can choose.”
