Lane Shumaker
In Town: Lane Shumaker technically has three jobs. The first is facilitating his own battery store, Battery Outfitters, located in Golden, Mo. Second, is his life on the farm, then he’s also a tournament bass fisherman. After a short stint in college, Lane went to work for the family business, Shumaker Tires. “I was fixing a tire one morning and dad came out and told me that I was the new battery guy,” explained Lane. “I knew nothing about batteries.” Batteries were a new addition to the family business, and four years later, in 1984, Lane bought the small battery business from his father. “I had my own ideas and methods that I wanted to incorporate.” From there Lane’s business has grown into Battery Outfitters. The once small battery store now includes four locations in Golden, Joplin and Columbia, Mo., and Rogers, Ark.
In The Country: Lane currently runs cattle on his family farm near Golden, Mo.
Family: Wife, Gail, children, Pate, Trevor and Audra
How did you get into farming?
“My dad called and told me to ‘go to the bank, I just bought 80 acres’,” he remembered. “I said, ‘I don’t want a farm,’ and dad said, ‘too bad’.” Keith, Lane’s father had always farmed, raising beef cattle, and he wanted the same for his sons, despite Lane having other ideas, none of which included farming. “I never wanted a farm, I thought I didn’t have time for it.” After buying his first 25 head from local sale barns, the idea of farming became clearer. “The farm was healing, it helped me with stress from the business. For that, I’m eternally grateful to my father.”
How do your “three jobs” fit together?
“Fishermen are hard-core and dedicated, my kind of people,” he said. Wearing three hats isn’t always easy, but Lane said that he’s always been one that likes a challenge and hopes to continue down that road. “I call it luck; I love my job. I have great people that work for me, the farm brings me relaxation and the lake is peace,” said Lane. “I’m proud of this community we live in and I couldn’t imagine my life another way.” Lane concluded, with a smile, “And who knows, maybe my sons will get talked into a farm like I did someday.”
By Lane McConnell
