Age: 18
Hometown: Anutt, Mo.
County: Dent
Parents: Bob & Kelly Chapman
Siblings: Kennedy Chapman, Lucas Chapman, Brad Chapman, and Linley Chapman-Marsey
FFA Chapter or 4-H Club: Salem FFA
Chapter Advisor: Heather Johnson/Dalton Sanders
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I was pretty much born into farming. I started out as a baby riding in a car seat strapped on a Kawasaki mule feeding cattle with my mom and three-year-old sister while my dad was gone to work. When he would get home, he would finish up what my mom couldn’t get done with two little kids. Now I am involved in all aspects of our family cattle farm and have a herd of registered Red Angus cattle of my own. When calves are born in our registered herds of Red Angus and Charolais cattle, I tag and weigh all the newborn calves before and after school. Keeping records for those herds is an important part when cooperating with a registered seed stock producer who purchases our calves. In the summer, we put up a lot of hay and in the winter, it takes about all day to get all the cattle fed at different farms. It’s a lot of work, but I really enjoy all aspects of working with cattle whether it be feeding, hauling, sorting or working them.”
What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/living on a farm? “My favorite part of being involved with farming is that there is always something to do. There is no time to get bored and I enjoy working hard and all things cattle. I like the work ethic and values that living on a farm provide me and my family. I am proud to be a farmer and farming has taught me to respect hard work.”
What are your future plans? Do they involve agriculture in some way? “My future plans are to continuing farming with my family and raising cattle. I may even do some heavy and light equipment operating with my nephew, Baylor. We started out playing with farm toys together and have grown up playing with real farm toys… 4-wheelers, tractors, hay equipment, skid steers, dozers and excavators. What more can you ask for than to do the kind of work you like the best with all the people you like the best!”
