Toby and Dusty Essick
Toby’s Family: wife, Krissie; daughter, Kennedie, 12; sons, Myles, 14 and Bo, 7
Dusty’s Family: wife, Jacque; daughters, Rylee, 7 and Sarah, 5; son, Hayse, 2
In Town: Highlandville, Mo., brothers Toby and Dusty Essick each work a very unique, creative town job. Toby is the co-owner of Black Widow Bows, a well-known bow hunting company. Toby and two other entrepreneurs purchased the company in 2005 – before that, he was an employee and has been with the company for a total of 23 years. Dusty works as a general contractor and is the owner of Essick Builders. Dusty has had a hand in construction for 18 years and he began his contracting business in 2005. In 2011, he began his latest venture: an auction company by the name of Essick Auction Service. Dusty also works as a Field Representative for the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center.
In the Country: Dusty and Toby are farm partners and together they work and manage the Essick family farm. Toby and Dusty purchased the farm from their father and today, they run a herd of 55 commercial momma cows. The Essick brothers breed for good beef and they like to use Black Angus and horned Hereford bulls to cover their herd. The beef cattle are marketed off-the-farm through the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center. The brothers also have several horses and mules that they and their families enjoy riding and taking on pack trips. Toby and Dusty share the feeding, fence building and farm responsibilities, and both agree that good communication is essential to their partnership. A strong family bond is also an important aspect: “We get along about as good as any two brothers could,” said Dusty, smiling.
Story and Photo by Klaire Bruce
