Iowa State Bank

Adults: Gwen, Rick, Tony, Gina, Ciara and Lucas Kellen. Kids: Jack, Oliva, Kody, Masie, and Caroline.

KELLEN FAMILY FOCUSES ON HAY AND FINDS AN EXPLOSIVE SIDELINE

By Bob Fitch

Diversifying income streams is a goal for many farm families in northwest Iowa. For most farms, corn and soybeans are givens. Feeding cattle or hogs are common additions to the mix. The Kellen family cast a wider net and added a little pop to their income diversification.

Tony and Gina Kellen and Rick and Gwen Kellen farm near Alton. Together they grow corn and soybeans plus feed hogs and cattle. In addition, alfalfa is a significant crop for them. “We just like hay. It’s a fun crop to harvest and put up. It's challenging. It's a good cash crop and it's good for the soil,” said Tony. The farm was recognized as “Outstanding Conservation Farmer” in Sioux County and Iowa Region 1 in 2012. The Kellen’s hay customers include dairies, horse farms and feedlots. “Most of it goes to dairies. But we’ve also got customers like a little old lady down in Texas. Every year, she buys it by the truckload from us and then sells it by the bale to farmers down there who have cow-calf pairs or horses.”

Rick said, “Some people think we're crazy for what we do.” But demand is strong in the southern plains of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas for the hay produced here. Tony said, “I was in Kansas last month and, coming back, I bet I saw 30 hay trucks headed south on Highway 81 running out of South Dakota.”