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Tri States Grain Conditioning
highest. That would make my dad upset because we were using too much energy – and that’s why I go to the chiropractor once a week now,” he joked. Ryan graduated from MOC-Floyd Valley High School in 1997. After graduation, he custom cut and baled hay, helped various farmers chop silage, drove truck for Stan Eisma, and helped on the family farm, before becoming a formal part of the operation in 2001. His parents, Roy and Roxanne Hawkins, moved from the farm to Orange City in 2002. Roxanne used to run Hawk’s Café and R&G Country Store in Maurice. She now works in the kitchen at Prairie Ridge Nursing Home in Orange City. Roy fully retired a year ago, closing down his Hawarden-based business, R&R Metal Design. In addition to farming with his brother for many years, Roy had also been partners with Ryan’s brother, Devin, in D&R Welding on Highway 10. “We always did a lot of work in the shop, overhauling motors and trucks. Great Grandpa, Grandpa and Dad did a lot of blacksmithing repair on the side for neighbors,” Ryan said. “We always had something to tinker on, building go-carts or things to pull behind the 4-wheelers which would give our mother gray hair.” (“You still do that,” Jaydn added.) Ryan and Andrea didn’t go to school together, nor did they meet through friends. Ryan said, “We met at WalMart, proving you can find anything at WalMart.” Jaydn joked: “In the clearance aisle.” And J.J. added, “Now you’ll be known as the WalMart couple.” The couple met in 2010 and married in 2013. Andrea grew up south and west of nearby Struble, on a farm operated by her parents. Her dad also drove truck. “Ryan and I grew up seven miles apart, but never knew each other because we went to different schools.” Her parent’s farm was strictly crops versus the Hawkins’ livestock operation where there’s something always happening and there are chores every day. “But she started hands-on and has made a difference here,” Ryan said. Andrea stays home on the farm so she gets all the fill-in work when an extra hand is needed, plus runs for parts and makes sure everyone gets fed. Jorden graduated this spring from Le Mars High School where he was active in both 4-H and FFA. “I’ve worked with livestock all my life. My biological dad had livestock near Le Mars, so it wasn’t really a change to be here. I’ve been driving tractor almost since I was born. I was always outside and getting into something,” he said.
Age Media Qtr Page Color 1-8-20.pdf 1 1/8/2020 11:21:34 AM The Ryan and Andrea Hawkins farm sits along Highway 75 in southern Sioux County.
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