Nathan Ogden
In Town: “In January 2012, I opened a Fayetteville, Ark., company called Pick-it Construction and started by putting in fencing. I now have nine full-time employees in management positions with a subcontracted force of 200 people daily. In the past we have completed a tornado renovation in Oklahoma and sports center in Fayetteville. My wife, Tracy, has just started a new online clothing business called Sooieet Life Boutique that is based out of Prairie Grove, Ark. We also attend the Prairie Grove First United Methodist Church.”
In the Country: “In 2010, I built an expansive, airy home with a type of concrete siding that looks like wood on the family farm of 360 acres in Hogeye, Ark., where my wife and I and our two girls, Oaklie age 2 1/2 and Huntlea age 1 year, live. While I have always raised a few cattle, two years ago I switched from commercial cattle to registered Angus with the intention of producing seedstock bulls. I quickly figured out that heifer replacement was also a good market. I currently have 25 registered momma cows and two registered bulls, one for use with heifers for calving ease due to a good birthing weight and the other for producing high weaning and yearling weights. I have both fall and winter calves and plan on starting AI this spring. I currently have 11 bulls and four heifers for sale. The best tip I have for my customers when buying bull calves is to consider the purpose of the bull, and if they are not looking to breed to heifers, they need to check the numbers to make sure the bulls produce the highest weaning and yearling weights.”
Future Plans: “My country life and town life work together very well because my business has provided capital to expand my cattle business, which is based on an opportunity given to me by my father and grandfather. Because I am in business for myself, I am responsible for my own retirement and plan to develop a fully self-supporting and profitable registered Angus business, which will be a significant part of my retirement plan.”
