Four generations at Koon Jersey Farm in the Bonanza Community, are left to right, Brody Koon, Kody
Koon, holding Ayden Koon, and Randy Koon.

 

Father's Day Has A Special
Meaning At Koon Jersey Farm

by: Bobby McDonald

 

At Koon Jersey Farm, in the Bonanza Community of Hopkins County, it has always been about quality dairy cattle and making certain that each generation had an appreciation for the land and the animals that provided the economic basis for the family business. However, with this Father's Day, a special meaning comes with the addition of another generation of Koons, when Ayden Koon was born on New Year's Day 2008. Ayden represents the fourth generation of direct descendents on the farm. His great-grandfather, Brody Koon, grandfather, Randy Koon, and father, Kody Koon, are all involved in the business.

"We're standing on property that my great-grandfather, William M. Cates, purchased in the 1880's," denoted Brody Koon, as he admired his great-grandson, Ayden Koon. "It's a joy to be a part of a business that can pass from one generation to the next, and to see the values that you've devoted your life to, be lived out before your eyes in the next generation!"

 

 

"We've always stressed the production of top quality Jersey cows, all of my life," continues Brody Koon. "My father and I brought the first registered Jersey cows to the farm, back in the 1930's and it's been a continual process of upgrading the herd and focusing on genetics that would make the next generation better. We still adhere to that philosophy today!"

 

 

 

"As soon as Ayden gets old enough, I'm sure we will be halter-breaking a baby calf for him to show at the Northeast Texas Dairy Show and the State Fair of Texas, in Dallas," advises Kody Koon. "It's just a family tradition to take the animals that sustain our living, out to the shows and see how they compare to the cattle of others across the state. It keeps our breeding program in check and it allows us to spend quality time together as a family. We've been showing cattle since granddaddy was a boy (Brody Koon), and we certainly see no reason to stop!"

 

 

 

The Koon Jersey Farm, located in the Bonanza Community of Hopkins County, near the Rains County line and off Highway-19 South, is a nationally and internationally known herd of cows. Cattle from the herd have made their ways to foreign countries as well as many states in the U.S., through cattle being sold in national sales and bulls being sold to artificial insemination companies to make the genetics of the herd available. "We strive to produce a cow that will function well for ourselves, as well as the buyer of our cattle," expresses Randy Koon. "And, we spend the major part of our year developing forages that we can produce on the farm, to feed the cattle. We've been successful with registered Jersey cows and coastal bermudagrass for generations and continue to operate the farm using those ingredients."

 

"It's great being in a family operation, where you get to work with your siblings, children, and now grandchildren," acknowledges Randy Koon. "I've lived on the farm from the time I was born and really never paid that much attention to the history of it, until now that I see another generation being born. Now, it's more important to keep the farm continuing and to make certain that Ayden has the opportunity to be a part of this operation that was started so many,many years ago!"

 

"I'm getting to the age that it will be enjoyable to go to the shows and watch Ayden show cows and let Kody and his wife, Breanna, do all the work," quips Randy. "I can now set back and enjoy the show, while they are getting the cows ready and doing all the work behind the scenes!"

 

 

Randy and Sheila Koon show their grandson, Ayden, what the life is like on
a Hopkins County dairy farm.

 

"With four sons, at different stages of accomplishing high school and college educations, we have no idea which ones will be involved in the operation. Our first rule is that each of them obtain a college education and then they are welcome to come back and join the operation, if they choose," denotes Randy. "Farming isn't always an easy life and continues to change, so we've advised each of the boys to have some other kind of marketable skill, before entering the dairy industry, just kind of an insurance policy to hard economic times!"

 

A great Father's Day present......Brody and Mary Koon admire their
great-grandson, Ayden, with hopes that he will grow to appreciate
their dairy farm in the Bonanza Community.

 

"I know of no other occupation that you can enjoy seeing each successive generation take an active part in the operation, like a dairy farm," expresses Brody Koon. "It's gratifying to see them become interested in the family legacy and to become a part of something that was started generations ago. Each successive generation brings something new to the operation and allows it to develop."

 

 

In over 70 years of being involved in the dairy industry, Brody Koon has seen the dairy industry in Hopkins County develop from delivering cream in cans to be picked-up beside the road, to tanker trucks taking the milk they produce on their farm to as far as California and Washington on the west coast and Pennsylvania and Maine on the east coast. However, as he attempts to look into the future of the dairy industry, and predict what the dairy industy will look like for his great-grandson, Ayden, the picture becomes cloudy. "I can only imagine what the dairy industry of the future will look like, if it changes as much in the next 70 years, as it has in the past," denoted Brody Koon. "I guess the only advise I can give Ayden is to take it one day at a time and trust in the Lord, and some way you'll be prepared for the challenges ahead!"

Kody Koon lets his small son, Ayden, get an up close and personal look at the cows on the Koon Jersey Farm.

 

This Father's Day, Sunday, June 15th, the celebration at Koon Jersey farm is both special and a reflection of accomplishments, as well as a look toward the future with a hope of continued success!

Meanwhile, little Ayden Koon is reaching for Jersey cows, rubbing the baby calves, and wondering just what all the fuss is about, not knowing the rich heritage that comes with being born into a Hopkins County Dairy Farm Family!

 

Little Ayden Koon wonders what all the fuss is about this Father's Day, as he's too young to know the rich
dairy heritage he has inherited.

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