Randy and Sheila Koon, 2009 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade Marshals, are shown with grandson, Ayden, and
some of the registered Jersey's on Koon Jersey Farm.
Dairy Farmers on Centennial Farm
Chosen For 50th Anniversary
Parade Marshals
by: Bobby McDonald
Yes, the Hopkins County Dairy Festival is celebrating its 50th Anniversary, June 12-20th, but over 50 years earlier, the family of this year's Dairy Festival Parade Marshals, were already farming in the Bonanza Community of Hopkins County. "We're honored to be chosen as the Parade Marshals, "exclaimed Sheila Koon. "And, sometimes we're awed that we're still farming the ground that Randy's great-great-grandparents settled on, back in the 1870's. It offers a sense of continuity and family that motivates you during tough times in the agricultural industry. You tend to think back to the obstacle they overcame, and it makes you work just that much harder!"
Randy Koon's great-great-grandparents, the Cates, came to the Bonanza Community of Hopkins County, in the 1870's, from South Carolina and purchased the very ground that Randy and Sheila make their home, today. They raised cotton, corn, and almost everything that them and their livestock ate. Then, it was Randy's grandparents, that entered the dairy business, when they purchased their first 20 registered Jersey cows in 1932, during the "heart" of the Great Depression. They started milking by hand and selling the cream.
Quality registered Jersey cows have been a trademark on Koon Jersey Farm, since its inception back
in 1932.
"A great day came in 1937, when my grandparents got electricity to the farm," states Randy. "They began milking with a Surge milker and things were looking up! In 1942, a grade-A dairy barn was built and they continued to sell their milk in 10 gallon cans!"
Certainly, things have changed on the Koon Dairy Farm, since those humble beginnings, but one thing has remained constant. Close attention to taking care of family and the cows that keep them in business has become a trademark of Koon Jersey Farm.
Sheila Bearden Koon is shown in this 1972 Northeast Texas Dairy Show photo, as she exhibited
one of her dairy animals.
Randy Koon is shown, second from right, with these family entries in the 1970 Northeast Texas Dairy Show.
Randy and Sheila married in June of 1975 and moved to the farm that his great-great grandparents originally purchased. Sheila's family had also been pioneer dairy farmers in the Divide Community, some six miles to the west. Randy graduated from Sulphur Springs High School and Shelia, the former Sheila Bearden, graduated from Miller Grove High School. Both were accustomed to the daily activities on a dairy farm, spending their summers and weekends shoveling manure, feeding baby calves, hauling, cutting, and baling hay, all through their formative years. Randy and Sheila had both participated in showing dairy cattle all across the state of Texas in both FFA and 4-H programs, when they were old enough to participate.
"We knew immediately that we wanted to raise our children in the tradition that we'd been afforded, while growing up," expresses Sheila. "However, knowing that the agricultural industy is very volatile, we've insisted that each of our sons are welcome to join us in the dairy industry, if they so choose, but they must complete schooling of some other kind, before they can accept that challenge. It's just an 'insurance policy' that they have to rely on, if the agricultural industry goes into a downturn!"
Four generations of the Koon Family make Koon Jersey Farm their home, today. Left to right, Brody Koon, Kody Koon
holding Ayden Koon, and Randy Koon.
"I was always the 'little sister and the gate opener' on my family dairy farm," continued Sheila, with a smile. "I only had an older sister, Pat, and I guess I was just the right size to open gates, whenever we went to the pasture. However, eventually, I was given the responsibility of milking, putting out hay, and all the other chores, and wished that I was back opening gates!"
"I guess the first I ever remember meeting Randy was seeing him go to the pasture to feed some of his dad's cows!" remembers Sheila. "He'd come by my house with hay and feed in the back of his truck and his dogs were always riding on top of the hay. I guess some things never change!"
Randy and Sheila Koon are shown with sons and grandsons in 2009.
Randy and Sheila's four sons, Kody, Kyle, Kory, and Koyt, have all been reared on the family farm and participated in showing, daily feed and care of the animals and the hay production, and operating the farm equipment. Today, Kody Koon is married to his wife Breanna, and they live on a portion of the Koon Farm. They are the parents of Ayden, Randy and Sheila's grandchild. Kody is a radiologist with Hunt County Regional Hosptial, in Greenville, but spends his weekends on the farm. He was a member of the Texas State Dairy Juding Team in 1998, and attended World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, as member of the team. He graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and received his radiology degree from programs in both Tyler and Galveston.
Second son, Kyle Koon, is a medical dosemitrist, with Hunt County Regional Medical Center, in Greenville, and received his education through radiology programs at Tyler and Houston. Kyle was a member of the 1999 Texas State 4-H Dairy Juding Team and attended World Dairy Expo in Madison. He showed cattle all over the nation and completed outstanding dairy projects during his FFA and 4-H career.
Kory Koon, the third son of Randy and Sheila, is now an active partner in Koon Jersey Farm. Kory attended Tulsa Welding School, following his high school graduation in 2005. He was the high-point dairy judge at the Ft. Worth Livestock Exposition and won numerous ag mechanics awards, while in high school. He was a 2008 Hopkins County Hay Show winner, with some of the hay he produced on the family farm.
Youngest son, Koyt, is a 2009 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and plans to attend the PJC Tech Center, beginning in the fall. Koyt won accolades for his ag mechanics projects, building a sprayer for the farm, that he entered in competition at both Houston and San Antonio Shows. He was named the outstanding dairy and hay producer by the Sulphur Springs FFA in 2009.
The Randy Koon Family in 2009.
The "Koon boys" can be found enjoying hunting, fishing, and camping, as they join their friends and family on the farm. "Family is very important to us," expresses Sheila. "We attempt to do things together and make quality time a priority in our lives!"
The Koon Jersey Farm cattle have been shown all over the nation, winning accolades and awards. They have been on official DHIA and DHIR testing since 1937, one of the oldest herds in the state enrolled in that program. The cattle are enrolled in the American Jersey Cattle Club type-evaluation program, that continues to compare them against other cattle in the breed, across the nation. Top quality sires, selective mating, and the raising of outstanding forages, keep the herd poised for the future.
"The dairy industry has definitely changed dramatically, since I first became involved," expressed Randy Koon. "We're still fighting the weather and a number of challenges, but modern technology continues to be introduced into the business, that must be used to stay abreast of the industry!"
"The Randy and Sheila Koon family were 'naturals' for selection as the 50th Anniversary Parade Marshals," expressed longtime Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board Member, Lynda Hager. "Both Randy and Sheila have participated in almost every phase of the dairy industry and the Dairy Festival. Randy and Sheila have provided cattle for the Milking Contest, each year since its inception, back in the 1980's, and Sheila has served as a former Dairy Festival Candidate and on the Board of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival. All four of their sons have participated in the 'little kids' portion of Dairy Festival, and Randy, Sheila, and all four sons have shown dairy cattle, along with other family members, in the Northeast Texas Dairy Show, since its inception, back in the 1930's.
The Randy Koon family is typical of what has made the Hopkins County Dairy Festival reach its milestone of 50 Years!"
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