A Front Line Family Tradition

STORY BY KATIE WARD AND PHOTOS BY MORGAN FIGGINS | GROWING UP ON A FARM WITH BOTH PARENTS AS WORLD WAR II COMBAT VETERANS SET THE STAGE FOR ROGER DAVIS’ FUTURE. ROGER AND HIS WIFE, KAREN, NOW OWN AND OPERATE JUDITH FARM, A POULTRY AND GRAIN FARM IN DOVER, DELAWARE, AFTER RETIRING FROM THE U.S. ARMY AND TEACHING.

Some of Roger’s first memories include picking corn with his father, Roger Elmer Davis, and hearing war stories from both his father and his mother, Margaret. His father was a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in the Army. He started on D-Day and was promoted to Lieutenant just seven days later. His mother was a Royal Air Force radio operator in the towers for the planes.

“I always knew I wanted to serve my community and country, just like my parents and relatives,” says Roger. His grandfather raised chickens, his uncle, Bill Mowatt, was a Spitfire Pilot, and his aunt, Mary Mae Mowatt, was a mechanic in World War II. “My whole family was raised with the determination and work ethic that comes from farming and serving in the military. I didn’t know any other way,” adds Roger.

When Roger turned 18 in 1967, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After basic training, he attended the University of Delaware and earned his degree in business, along with graduating first in his ROTC class in 1973. Because of this, Roger was able to choose which area he served in, so he chose military intelligence. Many of the details of Roger’s service can’t be shared because of his clearance.

Roger was stationed all around the country, including Fort Gordon, Fort Benning, and Fort Belvoir. He served three deployments in Germany, and his last station was for support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Roger worked his way up to a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and retired in 1997.

“Growing up on the farm with a strong Christian background, being an Eagle Scout, volunteering for the Hartly Fire Company, and serving in the Army hastaught me one very important thing,” saysRoger, “always keep things stocked. Thisapplies to ammunition in the military, feedand supplies on the farm, and food in yourhouse to host family and friends.”

Roger has served more than theagricultural community and his country.He was also the owner of a motorcycleparts and dealership business, wherehe hired veterans as employees. He alsotaught science and welding classes atPoly Tech High School for 20 years. “Icould relate to the students because Igrew up with many of their parents andgrandparents, so they enjoyed talking tome about their families,” says Roger.

He was called by the military reservesone day in the middle of teaching a classto go serve as an Army Material Command at the headquarters in Virginia. “That was hard because I didn’t have a chance to explain anything to my students or to even go see my wife to tell her goodbye,” shares Roger.

In addition to these many jobs and responsibilities, Roger raised a family of five children with Karen, and has been a member of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Department for more than 55 years. “I just love serving my country and my local community,” adds Roger. “But family has always been the most important thing to me.”

The Davis family began raising chickens in the early 2000s with Allen’s, and are now on their 50th flock of birds with Perdue. They earned the title of Delmarva Poultry Industry’s Outstanding Poultry Producer of the Year in 2014.

Farm Credit loan officer Eric Woodland feels honored to have Roger as a member. “I believe his military experience has played a vital role in his success as a farmer,” says Eric. “Roger is very hands on, hardworking, and not too fond of excuses, which makes my job as a loan officer that much easier.”

Along with their poultry operation, Roger and Karen own about 100 acres of corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat, and six beef cattle. Karen’s cousins help out with the grain operation so they can run the poultry houses. “We are out at the houses every day, if not multiple times a day, tending to the birds and checking on things,” says Karen. “Roger and I take great pride in having healthy, efficient flocks.”

The Davis’ used to own more livestock, including horses, which the whole family enjoyed. “Sometimes when the cows or horses would get out and run toward the road, I’d chase after them with a bucket of feed and shake it,” explains Karen. “As soon as they heard the food and my voice, no matter where they were headed, they would turn around and come right back to me. It was always a little challenging at the time, but we got a lot of laughs out of it.”

Roger truly credits his family for all of his success in the military and on the farm. “My parents paved the road for my passions in the Army and as a farmer, and my wife is just the greatest blessing in my life. She’s the reason I’ve been able to balance so much in my time here.”

Karen and Roger enjoy spending free time with their grandchildren and hope to be able to pass their love of farming and the operation onto family one day. •

POULTRY FARMING HAS BEEN A REWARDING RETIREMENT CAREER FOR ROGER AND KAREN DAVIS OF DOVER, DELAWARE. ROGER HAS TECHNICALLY RETIRED THREE TIMES; ONCE AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE U.S. ARMY, ONCE AS A TEACHER, AND ONCE AS A MOTORCYCLE BUSINESS OWNER. HIS ROOTS RUN DEEP IN BOTH AGRICULTURE AND THE MILITARY WITH FAMILY FARMS AND PARENTS AS WORLD WAR II COMBAT VETERANS. THE DAVIS’ PURSUE THEIR FARM OPERATION WITH PASSION AND AS A PRIORITY, CARING FOR THEIR BIRDS, BEEF AND GRAIN WITH ATTENTIVE DETAIL AND DEDICATION.