Jeremy Wilhite
Family: Wife Lauren Wilhite; children Stella, Sadie and Sophie
Town Life: “I work for American National Insurance in Tahlequah, Okla., and have done so for about 1 ½ years having previously worked in various agriculturally-related jobs. Insurance is a perfect fit because I know farming and agriculture, which means I know what people need to protect the most and how to help them save a dollar while doing so. Most of my business is farm, auto and life insurance but we also offer business insurance and investment planning. Additionally, I work at the local sale barns as a sorter and tagger as needed. Finally, I have been a volunteer firefighter for a year after a friend asked me.”
Country Life: “My wife Lauren and I own and rent 460 acres where we run 135 mixed Angus mamas and three Angus bulls. If I want to make money black is where it’s at. Besides, the heavy Angus’s influence provides good mommas, as well as my not having to pull any calves. We run two 90-day breeding seasons and sell our weaned calves at the local sale barns when they reach 700 pounds. Bull calves are castrated, and we give two rounds of shots. I do my own preg checks and very seldom use a vet because I have raised cattle all my life and know how to push them to their productive limit with good care. I support their grazing with a 16 percent protein commercial feed and with hay I harvest from 100 acres. My land is mostly fescue, Bermuda and red clover and drill wheat mixed with red clover, seed for better winter forage.
Together: “The combination of insurance and farming is perfect for me, my wife, and our three daughters. Because I am my own boss in both jobs, I have excellent time flexibility. This means I can plan my work week according to current needs. I prioritize and schedule my days and weeks accordingly. Working at the sale barn also works because I work when I can when I am asked. My ultimate goal is to someday farm full-time.”
