June 2024 2024 Farm Family Salute 23
“ They also help feeding our beef cattle, assisting with vaccinations, tagging and sorting. They work in our garden, and most importantly, they help take care of their 4-H projects.”
The Emitt’ s oldest daughter, Jade, has five show cattle and a lamb in the barn. Ryan, their next oldest, has three show hogs, and the youngest daughter, Kinley, has four goats. Even four-yearold Braden will have a bottle calf closer to the fair. Their duties regarding the animals they are showing include feeding and watering them twice a day and exercising them daily. On top of all this, of course, they help with the upkeep of the farm.
The Emitts also assist Rebecca’ s father, Brad Holt, with his cattle operation. They feel that working with him is how they were able to start out on their own.
“ Through assisting my father with his farming, we have gained the knowledge we need to successfully raise our own stock, and we are thankful for the wealth of knowledge that we have at our fingertips from him,” Rebecca said.“ We sell our litter from our poultry houses to local farmers to fertilize their hay fields, and we use litter to fertilize our fields for forage. This is so beneficial to use because it takes a‘ waste’ that could otherwise be called useless and turns it into some of the best fertilizer available to purchase by farmers.”
In November 2020, the Emitts suffered a tremendous loss. They had day-old chickens that they had just placed. One of their chicken houses had an electrical malfunction and ended up burning down, which took their eighthouse operation down to seven.
“ We were devastated, and due to COVID building materials were at an all-time high,” said Kenny.“ It was the most economical choice to decide to tear down the part that was destroyed the worst and use the remaining part as a show barn for our children’ s livestock projects.”
Through the devastation, Kenny and Rebecca were able to allow their children to branch out into the different species that they have always shown interest in and provide them with one of the best show barns.
Congratulations
Kenny and Rebecca Emitt 2024 MADISON COUNTY FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
Washington County Farmers Mutual Fire
INSURANCE
Company
2209 North Henbest Drive Fayetteville 479-442-2612
www. washingtonins. net www. wtequip. com