FEATURE
A F A R M E R ’ S D E T E R M I N AT I O N by Sara Beth Butcher
“I can’t kick the bucket yet, there’s too much my wife still has for me to do,” joked Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association President, Irvin Kupper with a level of optimism I knew few would have if they’d walked a mile in his boots. He went on to explain that his wife, Patricia, had been a rock for them since he was diagnosed with kidney disease about twelve years ago. “She get’s out and opens the gate and I drive through. We take care of the farm together.” The duo has been a strong team, especially since he started dialysis. She, along with his daughter Renea and grandchildren, Justin and Michael keep him motivated as he undergoes treatments. He has dialysis three days a week for over four hours each as he awaits a matching donor on the kidney transplant list - but he continues to push himself to contribute to the industry and the world in more ways than most perfectly healthy people. Kupper, 69, has fifty head of cattle in Shelby County and was a founding member of the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association, a director for five years and the president of the county association for nine years. He ran the Tractor Supply stores in Louisville and Shelbyville for thirty seven years and said his favorite part was the customers. He’s now retired but not taking it easy. One would imagine that most people undergoing these types of treatments, with a limited amount of free time and with extremely depleted energy, would just try and focus on rest, relaxing with friends and family and worrying about how to improve their quality of life in whatever way possible. That is not how Mr. Kupper is approaching this hurdle. According to fellow Shelby County Cattlmen’s Association member, Bob Anderson, Kupper does more for his community than most even know, going as far as paying dues for cattlemen’s members who have fallen on hard times. “He cooks steaks for catering events to raise money for scholarships for youth who are very important to him,” explains Anderson. He 54
went on to add that the group had a tent which was irreparably damaged during a storm. Kupper spent money out of his own pocket and built a pavilion. He promotes the Heifer Essay Program because he knows it’s a great way to motivate the next generation of cattlemen. “The word, ‘No’ isn’t in his vocabulary,” says another county member and friend, Tom Ingram. “He has a big heart of gold and will help anyone he can. We tell him not to overdo it, but he never listens. Everyone would be so happy for him to get a transplant.” When asked what Kupper meant to the local cattlemen’s association, Ingram replied, “He IS Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association. He’s the driving force. He is a really good man. He shines in this community.” Inspired by Kupper’s selflessness and strength, I had to get to the bottom of where his attitude towards life came from. In fact, after the original interview, I called him back just to ask. “We’re all on limited time. We just don’t all know it. I’m not ready to go yet but my kidney isn’t on the same page,” explained Kupper. Although this is a reality few of us have to face, Kupper does so armed with his faith in God and faith in himself. He also gives partial credit to farm life for training him to have the resilience and determination that he does. When prices aren’t what you wish they were and legislation seems not to be in your favor, you don’t quit (you join the Cattlemen’s Association). When it’s 98 degrees and the hay is down and the clouds are rolling in and a piece of equipment breaks, you don’t quit. When it’s in the teens and water is frozen and a momma cow dies giving birth to a calf that you’ll have to bottle feed, you just do it, you don’t quit. When the doctor comes in and gives you the news you don’t want to hear and you realize you’ll have to fight for your life, that same spirit rises up in you. You just DON’T QUIT. I then had to know what other advice he had for those of us who haven’t had to look death in the eye like he had. When asked, COW COUNTRY •
OCTOBER
2020
• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N
