Farm Family Salute

www.reliablepoultry.com • 479-751-7511 Check us out on Facebook! By Randy Rice For 30 years, Brian and Tammy Lemon have been overseeing and farming this year's Boone County Farm Family of the Year, the Lemon Farm. "I grew up on the farm that we have now," Brian said. "My parents and both sets of grandparents had cattle, so cows have always been a big part of my life. For a few years, our family raised hogs. At one point, we had 30 sows, raising feeder pigs and fattening hogs. "During the summers as a teenager, I would use one of our logging trucks, and get my crew of friends together to haul square bales for local farmers. In my early 20s, my dad and I started a goat dairy, milking 125 goats by hand, twice a day. Aer a few years, my wife and I moved off to work away from home. A couple of years later, we wound up buying a small farm that was connected to my dad's land. In 2002, my dad built turkey barns. In 2015, he passed away and I began farming full- time." When Brian and Tammy started farming they owned 40 acres of land. Currently, they own 600 acres and rent 880 acres. ey grow baleage on 70 acres and yield nine bales per acre. e Lemons' focus is livestock. ey raise 225,000 turkeys for Butterball each year, yielding more than 3.3 million pounds annually. ey also raise 170 head of cattle, including cows and calves, and 50 goats. e cattle and goats are sold at a local livestock market. Lastly, the Lemon Farm oversees six beehives that produce honey that is sold to neighbors and friends. "I love the challenge of keeping the animals healthy and the pride that you get when you are successful at that," Brian said. "Being raised up on my grandparents farm, it's just part of me." e Lemons faced some obstacles early on, especially with the turkey farm. "e turkey farm was not profitable under the situation the farm was in when we started," Brian said. "With help from Farm Credit Services, we remodeled and added equipment that almost doubled the number of birds we place each flock. I didn't have and couldn't afford good help when I started with the turkey farm. Turning the farm into a profitable operation, working side-by-side, together as a family, is my greatest reward." Brian and Tammy have four children, Coy, 29, Cooper, 26, Presley, 18, and Coda, 15. Coy and Cooper work full-time on the farm with Brian. Presley and Coda are still in school but help as needed. "All my children have been heavily involved in FFA," Brian said. "e two youngest are currently FFA officers. e kids have all shown livestock at the Boone County and district fairs. e boys have played basketball, baseball and track for Lead Hill School, and my youngest son still does. My daughter played basketball, golf and track." Boone County: Lemon Family Farm 2023 Farm Family Salute 8 June 2023

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