In the early 1980s, the Keller family traveled to Missouri from eastern Colorado to check out the farming industry in this area. This family consisted of Tony and Rita and their four children Mark, Sherry and twin boys, Keith and Kevin.
Tony Keller was a grain farmer growing wheat and barley. Keith and Kevin reminisced, “We couldn’t believe how green Missouri was. We loved the Ozarks with the trees, lots of green grass, and the clear, cool, creeks and rivers.” Even at this young age both boys knew they wanted to make their living off the land. Their father, Tony, gave them the option of farming in Missouri or Colorado, and they, without a doubt, replied, “Missouri.”
In 1984, the Kellers purchased a 200-acre farm near Summersville, Mo., and started making plans to make the move to Missouri. Keith and Kevin Keller started high school at Summersville Schools as freshmen and have lived in that area since then. They both married Missouri-native girls. Keith married Christin Shriver, a local dairy farmer’s daughter in 2000. Kevin married Karrie Hayes, a native of Texas County, in 1995. Today, they each have two children, both first-borns are girls, and the youngest are boys, born just 14 hours apart. Keith and Kevin purchased adjoining farms and now each brother owns over 400 acres of Missouri land.
Keith and Christin have a grade A dairy farm and milk 140 to 150 cows year round in a five-on-a-side Herringbone. They own 420 acres and lease another 300 acres for this diversified farming operation. Their children, Leatha, 14, and Charlie, 11, take care of the dozens of calves from these dairy cows and enjoy showing hogs and goats at the local county fair.
Christin grew up on a dairy farm and knew the dairy business. Keith and Christin built the dairy barn and bought their first milk cows in 2001. They liked the idea of working together on the farm but knew that their family life would suffer if they did not get a break occasionally. Today, they have one full time employee and one part-time empolyee. Keith said, “This allows us to go to ballgames, Christmas programs, etc., as a family. We won’t get burned out from dairying.”
The dairy herd contains Holsteins, and some Holstein/Jersey crosses. They use Jersey bulls on heifers and Holstein bulls on the cows. They keep replacement heifers from their herd. Keith said, “We do not sell any calves. We raise them all – steers and heifers, up to 600 plus pounds and sell them as feeders.”
Keller dairy farm grinds and mixes their own feed from alfalfa and corn silage grown on their farm and mixed with raw 22 percent commodities.
In addition to the 150 head of dairy cows, Keith and Christin have a crossbred herd of 70 beef cows. They run horned Hereford and Charolais bulls with this commercial operation.
Keith said, “Cows run on fescue and clover, and we have some pastures seeded to brome where we background the feeders.” He further stated, “We have our farm fenced and cross-fenced into several parcels and all pastures have live water from wells.”
When asked, “What is the secret to your success as a farmer?” Keith replied, “My father’s coaching and knowledge of farming and the honesty of Gary and Bonnie Rainy. We bought our first dairy herd from them and if they hadn’t been fair with us and sold us good cows, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Kevin works for the Missouri Conservation Department in the Soil and Water Division. He assists farmers in setting up rotational grazing and farm watering systems. Karrie works at Houston Schools as an early childhood special education teacher. Their children are, Sierra, 16, and Kayden 11. Both are interested in farming and show animals at the Texas County Fair. Sierra is secretary for the Houston FFA.
Kevin and Karrie run 100 cow/calf pairs on 440 acres and rent an additional 80 acres. The herd consists of crossbred cows with half calving in the spring and half in fall. They use Charolais bulls for good growth and additional pounds at weaning. Calves are taken off the cows and backgrounded for three months to bring top dollar on the feeder market at West Plains Livestock Auction.
Kevin said, “The secret to any successful farming operation is good land and water management.” His farm is cross-fenced into 13 pastures consisting of fescue with liberal amounts of ladino clover and lespedeza. Water is from wells using frost-free waterers. Pastures and hay ground is fertilized in the spring and land intended for winter pasture is top-dressed again in the fall. Kevin went on to say, “Because I stockpile pastures for winter grazing it saves on hay usage. I only feed 50 to 100 bales of hay per year using this method.”
Kevin feels very strongly about soil and water conservation and firmly believes in using the land to best advantage. He loves working with farmers to preserve our land for future generations. The reason he chose to operate a beef cattle operation was they are not so labor intensive, so he could work off the farm and pursue his career to help other farmers. He also remarked, “Besides that, Karrie didn’t want to be a dairy farmer.”
Keith and Kevin Keller and their families are unique in many ways in today’s world. They are twins and many fundamental characteristics are the same. They are both in the same profession but their goals and dreams are different.
Both Keller families have succeeded in achieving their individual goals. Keith and Christin have made a successful living by literally living on their farm. They head for the barn and the fields for their livelihood and are teaching their children to be independent, working individuals in order to accomplish their goals.
Kevin and Karrie love to be around people. Kevin wants to help other farmers make the most of what resources they have and let them see what can be accomplished with education and know how so that, they too, can accomplish their dreams and leave the world a better place for their children.
At the end of each day both families are warm and safe in houses on their own farms, knowing that their closest neighbor is their brother.
