Owners: Mike and Sherri Brady
Location: Welch, Okla.
History: Brady Farms is still located on the same homestead built by Orb Brady, grandfather of Mike Brady and is north of the community of Welch, Okla., approximately seven miles. Mike grew up farming, working cattle and driving heavy equipment but today he has expanded what was just a small family farm into a thriving ag business providing services to other ag producers and selling produce from the rich Neosho River bottoms. He and wife, Sherri, have a combined five children and one special nephew, Shane Rice, all of whom have worked all aspects of the farming operation over the years.
Mike has farmed full-time over half his life and has diversified to keep up with the times, raising more than 600 acres of pecan trees, more than 2,100 acres in row crops and running 460 head of cows.
Owning lush river bottom acreage translates into a haven for Pecan trees. In fact, the Neosho River bottom region is known for producing more than 2 million pounds of pecans a year. Brady Farm’s pecans routinely travel to several states, such as, Texas and even to China.
Products/Services: Since stretching the operation to provide ag services in the four-state region, Brady Farm’s employs an average of 10 full-time employees and up to 24 employees during peak harvest time. They generally are running five to six trucks delivering pecans, produce or chicken litter.
Five years ago, Mike started providing dozer services, even though he has been operating heavy equipment since high school. They even do some custom haying and average about 2,000 bales a year.
Chicken litter is possibly the biggest share of the business operations for Brady Farms. They purchase litter from broiler, hen or pullet houses, depending on the needs of their customers. They provide three venues for producers from the poultry side to the crop farmer side; cleaning houses, trucking litter and spreading litter, separately or as a full-service package.
“We keep busy year-round,” Mike adds.
Future: “My Dad always told me, ‘If you’re not growing… you’re dying,” Mike reflects.
Their biggest hope for the future is that their children and nephew continue to grow the business and the family farm, following the long line of Brady footsteps.
