thing that hasn’t changed is the tenacity of farmers: “Farmers never give up … other than when our health gets to the point we can’t farm anymore, we stick around,” he said. While their cattle and hog feeding operations are long gone, Roger and Kathleen are still active on the crop side. According to Roger, “In the spring, Travis does the planting and I haul the seed. In the summertime, we do some hay for his sheep. In the fall, he runs the combine, my wife runs the grain cart and I run the semi. We’re still involved, but I don’t know how many more years I’ll be driving a semi.” Travis and Kaylene’s oldest son, Richard, 6½, made sure to interject that he helps Grandma drive the grain cart and Grandma said younger grandson, John, 2½, helps out, too. Kathleen’s parents and grandparents were farmers south of Ireton. “My dad started with nothing. He went through some hard times. But they were savers and they put the money back into the farm and bought more land. They worked hard, they did it themselves.” Her father died in a farm accident when she was 18. Her brother took over and her mom was hands-on with field work. Kathleen emulated her mom by purchasing her own farm land and by working in the field. “I’ve been on tractors all my life. When I was in high school, I windrowed the hay. When we were first married, my father-in-law didn't think I needed to help with the field work and drive tractors. But, after he had heart issues, I think he asked me to help.” Kathleen is a graduate of Westmar College and taught school for six years before becoming a stay-at-home mom and volunteer. Over the years, she’s been active in the Plymouth County Cattlewomen, the county 4-H and Youth Committee and at Seney United Methodist Church. Roger is a long-time church council member plus has been in county leadership positions for the pork producers, cattlemen’s, Farm Bureau and Sportsman’s Club. He went to South Dakota State University with the intention of becoming an ag engineer. “After the first semester, I found out I wasn’t smart enough for that.” He switched his major to animal science and worked for $1 an hour baling hay and hauling manure for his dad and uncle. Three days after graduating from SDSU, he got his draft notice. He joined the U.S. Navy and served four years.
Kathleen and Richard Hawkins were recognized as an Iowa Farm Environmental Leader in 2018. Kathleen is third from left, daughter Emily, Roger, daughter-in-law Kaylene, son Travis holding his son Richard, and Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The Hawkins family in August 2021: Kaylene and Travis with son, Richard (front) and John; Roger and Kathleen; Emily and Matt Casillas with sons Izayah and Anthony.
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“When I was in the navy, I figured out I couldn’t work for anybody else. I’d had enough being told what to do, when to do and how to do.” So he returned to farming. “I think I got in at the right time. I paid plenty of rent at the time, but that’s what was available.” He was fortunate to be in a position to purchase land during the 1980s. The Hawkins family is committed to soil and water conservation. In 2018, Roger and Kathleen received the Outstanding Conservation Farmer Award from the Sioux County Soil & Water Conservation District. For 40 years, Kathleen has been improving the conservation ethic on her land in Washington Township of Sioux County. She has installed terraces, grassed waterways, tile lines, the county’s first rock chute outlet. Roger farmed this land for many years and, since 2008, both the
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May 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine
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