Most everyone involved in agriculture today realizes that every part of a family's farm program has to mesh in order to work together like a well-oiled machine, and different enterprises must mutually benefit each other.
The Cheevers' family is no exception. This team orchestrates two 40×400 feet broiler houses, 300 cow/calf pairs, a full-time job and busy 4-H schedule. Stacy and Joyce Cheevers along with 12-year-old daughter Lauren (their youngest of three) work together as a family farming unit. They enjoy the heritage of farming that began with Joyce’s grandfather.
“Joyce’s grandfather got us started. He was a lifelong farmer. He helped us get started in cattle and left us 40 acres in Wheeler. We moved to Elkins in 2004 and expanded our operation,” Stacy said.
Stacy works full time as plant manager for the Beaver Water District. “It’s a pretty stressful job and farming helps keep me sane,” he said. Stacy finds family time with Lauren in the hayfield or driving around checking cattle. “She’s my ride-along buddy. We put up 1,400 bales this year. We ran out of hay last year, but we are on our fourth cutting this year," he said. Since 400 acres of pasture are rented, Lauren also helps keep tabs on the cattle.
“Most of my records are in my head. Lauren is the only other one who knows where the cattle are and what’s going on with them," he added.
Joyce is home full-time with the broilers. Stacy laughed, saying, “Joyce takes care of the chickens, and I’m the maintenance man.” Joyce’s diligence in staying home with the birds is important because the houses are not computer automated. Stacy feels they have better production because of Joyce monitoring the flocks temperature and ventilation several times a day.
Joyce and Stacy understand the farm is a great place to bring up children. They are supportive of Lauren's 4-H projects and Lauren’s small herd of registered show cattle. She has six horses, and aspires to be a veterinarian some day. She said she would like to have a ranch in Wyoming. Lauren is very active in the Greenland 4-H club and Young Riders 4-H.
“She wants to be in Shooting Sports 4-H club too,” Joyce said.
With one daughter married, one in beauty school, and Lauren at home; Stacy and Joyce said they're looking forward to bringing up their first grandson, Khristian Downey, just 4 years old, as the next male in the farm heritage.
“I look forward to having a boy on the farm. He loves to ride out and check cows with me,” Stacy said.
With fertilizer costs connected to petroleum costs, the poultry operation is a blessing to the cattle end of the farm. Concerned about water quality at work and at home, the Cheevers are using alum as a top dressing for bedding in the poultry houses to help bind phosphorus and protect the watershed from pollution. The litter fertilizes the hay fields and pastures which helps keep fertilizing costs low. Less bought feed is necessary since the pastures show increased production. And the income from the broilers helps cushion the seasonality of cattle production. The Cheevers family enjoys working for the George’s poultry company. Stacy said “George’s have been really good to us. It’s still a family-owned business and it shows. They treat us with respect and we have access to everyone in the company as needed.” By striking a balance between poultry and cattle, the environment, their family time and the finances, Stacy and Joyce have found a way to pull the farming lifestyle together.
