Like father, like son

Koal is a young, innovative farmer who operates an Angus cowherd and feedlot. He farms with his wife, Ann, and their two little cowboys – Kade, 4, and Kohen, 2. Ann is a teacher at an elementary school in town, and keeps busy with the boys when Koal is at the farm.

When I pulled up the Deering’s driveway and got out of my car, I slowly headed towards the shop office. On my way, I noticed two little boys cradling a cat in their arms. They were all smiles, playing and laughing with each other. As I got closer, I realized it was not a cute, cuddly kitten, but rather a baby raccoon that they had wrapped around their necks. As we were chatting, the boys confidently sat down beside me and set the raccoon down on the table where it proceeded to climb over my notepad and camera. I looked to Koal to gauge what he was thinking. But rather than giving his boys a stern look of disapproval, he exuded a smile that spread across his face and preceded a giggle. For how tame the little animal was, I assumed he had been adopted by the boys for quite some time now.

“How long has he been around?” I asked.

“Uh haha…a few days,” Koal shrugged.

Life on the Deering farm is a family affair. There were several boys and girls running around the farm, appearing to range from age two to seven.

“This is the farm that Ann grew up on, so it’s her family and myself that run the cattle here,” Koal said.

Ann joined us at the farm shortly after Koal and I finished chatting in the shop. Together, they rounded up their boys and invited them along for a coveted ride in the Ranger. It took us about 10 minutes to reach the cow-calf pairs that grazed in a big, open pasture about a mile away from the farm. There was something so simple and pastoral about this outing that made it the most memorable part of our visit. We drove from pavement to gravel, over rolling hills, through a field of dandelions and even over an old wooden bridge before arriving in the midst of the cattle. As Koal parked the Ranger and we hopped off, all I could do was take in the beauty of the countryside. Nestled in a nook of the field, we watched as the sun set behind the wooded pastureland. The silent serenity was both breathtaking and calming after a long, warm day.

Witnessing the Deering family interactions was heartening. Although it was well past the dinner hour by the time we finished, Koal, Ann, Kade and Kohen made the most of their night on the farm together. The boys never once complained that they were hungry or bored, but instead had a positively-curious attitude as they helped their dad finish up work. From filling the mineral feeder to jumping in the bunk at the feedlot, the adventurous little farmhands wanted to be wherever the action was.

I could not help but step aside and capture the memories that were being made. Some of my fondest childhood moments involve nights in the barn together with my dad and siblings. There is just something special about barn bonding and growing up on the farm that leaves behind invaluable lifelong lessons and stories that we’ll always cherish.

It was evident that Koal enjoys being with his boys, and just as clear that they look up to him and all that he does. As I hit the road for my last stop in Wisconsin, the lyrics of Rodney Adkins’ hit track, “I’ve Been Watching You,” played through my head:

He said I’ve been watching you dad, ain’t that cool
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah we’re just alike, hey ain’t we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I’ve been watching you

Happy Father’s Day to every man who serves his family and the beef industry! Your hard work, devotion and sacrifices each and every day make you a hero in more ways than one. A father that is a farmer, is a father that is a teacher.

Here are my three takeaways from Monona:

1) Dogs Raccoons are man’s (and boys’) best friend, depending on who you ask.

2) Cherish the little things in life. Take the time to appreciate God’s beauty in everything around you.

3) Honor your father every day. Look up to him, learn from him and have fun with him. Because some day, you will only be able to look back on as many memories as you made.

That’s all for now. Next stop — Livingston, Wisconsin!

-Becky

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