Photos by Jamie Plain
Born To Farm
Meet Will Henry Settles
On any given afternoon in Stanley, Kentucky, one can depend on trusty and reliable hard work from one farmer. He’s not your average farm hand, given he’s only 5 years old, but he was born into a calling that he takes pride in and lives out every single day.
Will Henry Settles, is a kindergartener at West Louisville Elementary, and a fifth generation farmer. The son of Jess and Kelsey Settles, he is no stranger to harvest season and fancies time spent with his Dad, Uncle Matt, and Pappy at Mullican-Settles Farms.
When asked about his family farm, he had plenty to say, and elaborated more on the work he does as a Daviess County ag kid.
“We farm corn and soybeans. We take them from our grain bins and then we sell our crops to places like Owensboro Grain,” Will Henry said.
The Mullican-Settles farm, established in the 1880s, was originally a dairy, transitioning to row crop farming exclusively in 1975. The future of the family farm is in good hands, especially since Will Henry plans to carry on the family business. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his response was in the utmost confidence.
“I’m already a farmer, so that’s what I’ll keep doing. I will keep going to work after school,” he said.
Settles also has some advice for other kids who may want to get into farming.
“I would like to teach other kids how to work on stuff if they don’t know how. You have to make sure you spray your crops in the summer and turn on your pivots so your crops don’t get too dry.”
Naturally, it might seem a bit lofty to expect such a strong work ethic from such a young farmer, but for Will Henry it’s just another day, living the dream.
“We grow sweet corn too, and it’s really good to eat,” he noted with a big grin.
One can only hope the future of agriculture is as promising and determined as this kindergartener full of ambition. The oldest of three, Will Henry is readily available to head out to the farm at any given moment. He’s wise beyond his years.
“My favorite part is working on stuff with my Dad, Uncle Matt, and Pappy. I help work on tractors, headers, and semis.”
It’s all in a day’s work for Will Henry Settles, of Mullican-Settles farm.
Seeds of Success
Meet Cecil Ballou
Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, let alone most 9-year-olds, but one Daviess County kid has found that the pumpkin market has been plentiful as of late, and he’s prepared for another successful business venture this fall.
Hailing from West Louisville, Cecil Ballou, is proud of his namesake, given his family farm has been serving western Daviess County since 1956.
“Well, our farm is Cecil Farms. We harvest pumpkins, corn, and soybeans. We have cattle too,” Cecil said when asked about the farm that surrounds his homestead.
The son of Martin and Maggie Ballou, Cecil has spent the majority of his childhood helping out around the family farm and earning his keep growing pumpkins and feeding livestock.
“I love helping feed the cattle and selling pumpkins that I help grow. I help harvest them every year. Last year I sold over a hundred, and I hope to sell more this year. I sell them to people and local businesses,” Cecil said.
That’s pretty impressive for a fourth grader.
Ballou also has his own pet cow named Isabelle whom he takes care of, instilling in him an additional sense of responsibility. It’s obvious he takes a lot of pride in that.
“I like to drive my RZR down and help feed. I use it a lot on the farm.”
Cecil loves working with his Uncle “Buck” Brian Cecil. He notes that helping run the equipment, combines and tractors are his favorite parts of living on the farm. He also credits his Pop Pop for inspiring him to follow in his footsteps and become a farmer someday.
“I want to live here forever. I want to be a farmer and work the same farm. My Pop Pop and my Uncle Brian work very hard, and I want to do the same thing someday.”
When asked about why farming means so much to him, Cecil was mindful when stating the importance of agriculture beyond Daviess County.
“Farming helps a lot of people. Farmers help grocery stores by supplying them with food, and everyone needs food,” he said.
Lastly, Cecil had some advice for kids who might want to embark on a future in farming or start to get involved.
“I would tell them, always try. Be who you want to be.”
It’s no wonder that farming is the heartbeat of the community in and around Owensboro, with kids like Cecil Ballou in the midst, the sky’s the limit and full of opportunity.
Living the Legacy
Meet Jackson, Olive, and Thomas Osborne
The Osborne kids, Jackson, Olive, and Thomas, attend Owensboro Catholic, and live on their family homestead in West Louisville. They are surrounded by reminders past and present of what their family has built over the years. The children of Andrew and Carrie Simmons Osborne, these kids couldn’t be in a bad mood if they tried. They have plenty of critters to keep them busy, including chickens and sheep.
Thomas, the youngest, is a second grader, and takes his job gathering eggs rather seriously.
“My job is to get the eggs,” he said. “Someday I am just going to farm right here.”
“Here” is pretty significant, given his immediate and extended family live all around the homestead. The very house he shares with his siblings was the homeplace his mother grew up in. His family operates Simmons Farms, which has been in the Simmons family since 1879. Today the family row crops around 150 acres. Jerry Simmons runs the farm and Jackson, Olive and Thomas’ dad, Andrew, helps. The family currently has 11 sheep that they breed and take to the market. Once a year they finish pigs for their family and other individuals. They love providing an agricultural lifestyle for their kids to grow up in.
Olive elaborates on the livestock she and her brothers help care for.
“We have different types of animals – chicken, sheep, sometimes pigs,” she said. “We also have fields full of corn and soybeans.”
For the Osborne children, a favorite time of year is harvest.
“I like harvesting the most,” she said. “Riding in the combine is fun and we get together as a family and we cook meals with everything we have raised on the farm.”
Eleven year old Jackson Osborne is proud of his lineage.
“It has been in our family for four generations. When my mom was little it was known as Simmons Pig Parlor Farm. They raised pigs and row cropped. We just row crop now and have a few sheep and chickens,” he said. “My job is to feed and water the chickens. I help my dad and Papaw work on combines and tractors. I also help my dad clean hooves and give medicine to the sheep.”
When asked about other fun aspects of farming, Jackson added that he likes transporting the sheep to market with his dad and selling them.
“I love being on the farm and living beside Mamaw and Papaw too. I love all the space to ride four wheelers and go carts,” Jackson added.
For Thomas Osborne, the grain bins are where the most memories are made.
“I like playing in the grain bins full of corn with my cousins,” he said.
What’s not to love about farming and family, especially when it’s all around you.
Growing Together
Meet Margaret, William, and Russell Westerfield
It is said that George Washington once deemed agriculture as the most noble profession of all. He added that it was useful, and good for your health. The Westerfield trio, Margaret, William, and Russell, most likely agree.
Together with their parents Jeremy and Leann, these kids embrace farming and find happiness in every aspect of their roles on Flat Lick Grain Farms.
“We grow all kinds of stuff,” Russell, age 11, said. “We grow corn, soy, and wheat. We have cattle too.”
Somewhat of a chicken extraordinaire, Russell is an avid member of 4-H. He shows chickens and recently traveled to the Kentucky State Fair. His show hen “Milkshake” is a sight to behold, and Russell is a previous county champ in the poultry division multiple times over. He says that showing poultry has given him confidence and taught him responsibility.
For his younger sister Margaret, farming is all about the family aspect.
“I love helping my parents, my Granddaddy, my uncle Bryan, and Gustaf,” Margaret said. “I love spending time with my family. That’s the best part.”
A true family affair, Flat Lick Grain Farms has been in operation since 1965, and farms over 2,700 acres. The Westerfield children are proud of their heritage and hope to carry on their family’s legacy someday, having had a strong work ethic passed down from their Granddaddy, a third generation farmer.
“I guess someday I’ll go look for lost cows like my Mom does sometimes,” 9-year-old William said with a laugh. “I want to manage the business side of things like my Mom. The cattle though, they are my favorite. I definitely want to have cows.”
Aside from their immense love for all of their cattle, including a fan favorite named Gerald, the Westerfield kids are grateful to have such a great opportunity to learn a trade that will enable them to thrive in the future.
“I think I want to teach people to farm someday,” Margaret said. “Yeah, I think people need to learn how to farm, and I think I should teach them.”
Rest assured, if this trio of siblings has anything to do with the future of agriculture in Daviess County, the legacy of Flat Lick Farms will live on for generations to come. The heart of a farmer has no age requirement, and that love grows as strong as crops in the field.
Best in Show
Meet Elaina, Savanna, & Carrie Kuegel
The Kuegel sisters are capable of just about anything, and they are truly enamored by cattle. It’s true, Elaina, Savanna, and Carrie Kuegel are best in show when growing up in an agriculturally driven world.
“We’ve grown up around cows,” 14-year-old Savanna said. “We’ve always spent a lot of time on the farm with our grandfather, and I’ve just always found cows really interesting.”
Together with her two sisters, Savanna is active in Daviess County 4-H as well as Apollo High School FFA. Helping raise both Angus and Wagyu cattle, she ultimately got into showing cattle after attending a friend’s showing, and hasn’t looked back since.
“Around four years ago we watched our best friend at a show and realized we could do the same. We tried it with cows first and then added pigs.”
The daughters of Luke and Samantha Kuegel, all three girls value and appreciate the farming heritage handed down to them from their grandfather, Rod.
“Our grandfather has over 500 head of cattle,” 16-year-old Carrie said. “We grew up helping raise bottle babies. These are calves that are either sick, have been abandoned by their mothers, or are injured. This taught us a lot about responsibility.”
Aside from showing award winning livestock, the Kuegel sisters are no stranger to row crop farming. Farming has been a staple within their family for well over a hundred years.
“We help our dad sometimes in the fields, he mainly focuses on crops,” Savanna said. “We grow soybean, corn, and wheat.”
Twelve year old Elaina has a soft spot for a special cow, named Rosa. Having helped raise her, Rosa is now a mother herself and resides in Calhoun.
“I got really attached to her,” Elaina said. “We all took turns taking care of her after she was born, kind of in shifts, morning and night feedings.”
When asked about how other kids could get involved with agriculture, Savanna noted that there are lots of ways to become a part of the farm community.
“Daviess County 4-H is always an option – we had always known about it, but really got more involved because of friends,” she said. “All of the local high schools also have FFA chapters, this has been opened up to eighth grade students recently.”
The friend factor is also what Carrie regards as one of the most rewarding aspects of being an “ag kid.”
“My favorite thing, honestly, is making new friends. I love working with cattle, but I love meeting new people who ultimately become friends. I love helping my dad. I love everything that it has to offer.”
Aside from farming, these sisters share a bond that is unbreakable.
“We don’t give up,” Savanna said. “It’s not easy, you have to have patience. You can’t give up. All of it is worth it.”
These girls are holding their own, fully embracing what lies ahead.
“I love educating younger kids,” Carrie said. “That’s rewarding. When kids ask questions, we have the chance to teach them more about what we do. That’s the best. I absolutely love sharing what we love with all of them.”