Security Savings Bank

Left: Mary Moser, daughter of Alex and Katherine, with a lamb newly shorn by her mom. Photo by Katherine Moser. Right: Alex and Katherine Moser after competing at the Indiana State Fair.

get most of our jobs done in one day. We do a clean, efficient job,” Caleb said. Alex said, “Collectively, we probably shear about 100,000 head per year. I buy the wool and we bring it home with us, and then an Illinois company comes and picks it up 40,000 pounds at a time.” Caleb said the profit for sheep producers is in the meat, not the wool.

Depending upon the time of the year, the Moser’s bring in extra help from Royal, Iowa, or from out of state. Alex coordinates the work, but said, “The only reason I’m kind of in charge is no one will take my phone.” Partially because shearing is such physically demanding work, there isn’t a lot of competition in the business. At the same time, tomorrow is never promised. “Our backs aren’t going to last forever,” Caleb said. “Our long-term goal would probably be to cut back on shearing and spend more time here on the farm. But you never know. The tricky part is there are no other shearers. There’s surely a sheep shearer shortage.” Alex added, “Ideally, we’d find a few people who would shear and we’d be in charge of it and send them out.” Alex continued, “One of the older shearers we work with quit shearing for about five years. Then he had his knees, hips, and shoulders all replaced and was eventually back shearing again. Why not? His body was brand new. When he returned, he was just going to shear some of the good jobs, little sheep. But after a couple of years, he was shearing everything again, just like always.”

ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES

WE UNDERSTAND FARMING

For over 100 years, we have been financing farming operations, and we have roots that run deep in the community.

AG SERVICES Competitive Rates Real Estate Loans Construction Loans Lines Of Credit Livestock Loans Crop Input Loans

SECURING YOUR FUTURE

bankwithssb.com