SEGMENT: GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, FAMILY, & FARM EQUIPMENT

Stephen Scates>ISM Interviews M-Z>ISM Interviews M-Z, Segment 9

SEGMENT: GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, FAMILY, & FARM EQUIPMENT,

duration 12:44
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LIVESTOCK
150-175 beef cows. Fed them grain. Now them sell them as calves, when they reach 400-500 lbs. A mixed breed, containing some Herford, Angus, and Simmental.
FARM EQUIPMENT
John Deere sprayer with 120 ft. boom. M International. Combines. Old corn picker picked two rows at a time. Today's combine picks 24 rows of corn, 40 ft. soy bean table. Price has changed dramatically. Experience tells him when it is time to invest in new equipment.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Mr. Scates has supported a number of successful politicians including Paul Simon, Dick Durbin, and Barack Obama. Points out that he has supported unsuccessful candidates as well. Notes that most of the politicians were very hard working. The rules were made in Washington, DC & Stephen's job was to implement these rules in Illinois. One rule was that you had to keep ownership of grain to receive a payment. He saw small farms get burned by this rule. Got the rule changed. It was changed back when Stephen left his position.
FAMILY
Credits the success of his farm career to the support of his extended family. Sunday afternoons were spent around the family swimming pool, where much of the business occurred. Stephen' s wife and his brother Mark's wife were both teachers. Hue David's wife was a nurse. Joe is unmarried. Stephen's mother stayed at home, raising the family. "The salaries those individuals contributed were very meaningful." Wants his children to go into farming only if they can have the same benefits of someone in another job.