THE HAWKINS FAMILY Sioux County, August 2021
Ryan and Andrea Hawkins custom feed cattle and grow corn and soybeans with their children, Jorden and Jaydn Berkenpas and J.J. Hawkins. In addition, Ryan does custom excavating and trucks on the side. “It takes all of us,” Andrea said. “Everybody’s got their part – and each one is an important part.” Ryan added, “I still don’t think you could find a better way to raise a family.” “We square baled a lot of hay as kids. Dad said the kids always had to have chores,” said Ryan. “My brother and I used to have bale stacking contests in the barn to see who could throw the bales the highest. That’s why I go to the chiropractor once a week now,” he joked. Every weekend on Highway 75, they see a parade of campers and boats passing by the farm. Ryan said, “The devil in our type of operation is we can’t go somewhere every weekend. We can’t just drop and go – we’ve got chores every day, seven days a week. The livestock comes first.”
Andrea, J.J., Ryan, Jaydn and Jorden.
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