Nothing gives one more hope for the future then sitting down to visit with a young person who displays a wealth of common sense, work ethic and a vision for the future, important qualities for owning an egg business.
Then again, not surprising when you consider the young person in question has grown up on a farm.
Joshua Sumler of rural Anderson, Mo., has always had a fondness for chickens since childhood. In middle school, he decided to buy 25 chickens, selling the eggs to family and friends. He admits it was more a hobby than a business at that point. However, during his senior year at McDonald County (Mo.) High School, he realized if he wanted to make a profit, he would have to become a business.
Now a freshman at Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo., studying criminal justice, the industrious young man is reaping the benefits of his labor and wise planning for his egg business.
“I knew if I wanted to break even or make a profit, I would have to get licensed,” Josh states. Unafraid to ask questions, he first contacted the Missouri Department of Revenue to get a regular business license, then a limited retailer egg license and an egg dealer license. The limited egg license allows him to sell at Farmer’s Markets or roadside stands. The egg dealer license allows him to sell to other businesses. He started selling his free-range eggs at The Jane Store in Jane, Mo., and recently to Town and Country Grocery in Anderson, Mo.
“I did a lot of research before deciding to start my own business and I rely on the advice of other chicken farmers. But mostly, I learn as I go,” he says, grinning.
He estimates that he gets roughly 100 eggs a day from the nearly 200 free-range hens located in the fenced area near the old family barn behind the house. His flock consists of a mix of Black Australop, Golden Comet, Buff Orpingtons and mix breed chickens. He uses a sodium lamp on a timer that simulates sunlight to encourage the hens to lay more eggs.
The criterion for an independent egg dealer is fairly simple and required no on-site inspection but Josh operates as if an inspection could happen any day.
He is committed to taking care of his chickens in the most natural way possible, avoiding lots of chemicals or additives. Of course, chickens naturally will dust themselves in the dirt to keep the lice and mites off themselves but Josh also uses diatomaceous earth spread on the floor of the hen houses and mixes it into the feed to worm them.
“Fortunately, I don’t have many get sick,” he adds. “Once in a while I lose one to a hawk or a raccoon but not often.”
In order for eggs to be considered Grade A-Large, a dozen must weigh between 24 to 26.9 ounces. He must candle every egg to ensure that there are no blood spots, that the yolk moves freely and that the air cell takes up at least an eighth-inch area in the big end of the egg. One thing Josh admits has made his job much easier is his new egg washer, which consists of a 5-gallon bucket, a special hose and air compressor that gently washes a basket of eggs.
No doubt, he is a one-man show when it comes to his growing egg business, even stamping his own egg cartons.
Joshua started his operation without any outside funding, and is quick to point out that he has taken out no bank loans.
“I am free and clear, I don’t owe anybody anything,” Joshua adds. “I do not want to go into debt doing this. If I can’t do it with my own money, then I won’t go any further with it.”
To stay within his budget, Joshua does all his own work.
He feeds and checks on the hens of a morning, collects the eggs in the evening and even delivers the eggs to his customers. He has begun to remodel a room in the old barn for his office, which holds the refrigerator to store the eggs. He also built a feed bin that holds about 1,600 pounds of feed, which lasts about a month and makes feeding the chickens much easier.
Even if business takes off, he looks forward to a career in law enforcement, setting his sights on becoming a Missouri State Highway Patrolman or a detective. If this seems ambitious for a young business owner, consider too that Josh also works two other jobs besides his egg business.
He helps a neighbor work cattle and assists a local real estate appraiser in measuring homes, among other things. He just seems to be made that way.
Joshua is just one glimpse of what is right about youth in agriculture.
