10 minute read
Kendall & Kade
Boatman twins named IBA’s 2024 Outstanding Juniors of the year, prioritize being
By Sara McClendon
As twins we are very competitive,” says Kendall Boatman. “We are always competing against each other.”
Kendall and her twin Kade own 2TK Cattle Company and help their parents manage Perks Ranch in Rockford.
The twins will start their senior year of high school in August. They have both been named the 2024 Illinois Beef Association Outstanding Junior for their humble, hardworking attitude and major contributions to the industry.
“I was very honored with the nomination,” says Tammy Boatman, Kade and Kendall’s mother. “Any parent would be to have someone else look in and see the hard work that your kids are doing. That’s what I’ve always taught them, to work hard. It was pretty special when I got the call.”
Tammy notes that typically the Outstanding Junior award goes to just one person each year. However, since Kendall and Kade both have the same interest and involvement in the beef industry, it was a special and unique circumstance for them both to be recognized.
Wade Perks, owner of Perks Ranch, says Kade and Kendall’s recognition is well-deserved.
“I’m glad Kade and Kendall were recognized because they are so selfless that they may almost go unnoticed,” Wade says. “They put the work and the time in.”
Born Into an Industry They Love
“As a sixth generation Hereford breeder, the industry kind of chose me,” Kade explains. “I don’t know anything else. If I didn’t have this industry, then I really have no clue what I would be doing.”
“I was basically born into this and I’ve been around it my entire life,” Kendall adds. “I’ve shown cattle ever since I could walk.”
Tom and Tammy Boatman have generations of experience in the Hereford industry. Tammy is fifth generation and Tom is third. It makes sense that their story began at a Hereford show.
“There is actually a picture from 1988 of Tammy and I both at Junior Nationals,” says Tom. “We are standing next to each other. We didn’t even realize it until much later.”
Even as babies, Kendall and Kade accompanied their parents as they worked with cattle. And, it was not long before Tom and Tammy found that both of the twins were naturals with cattle.
“I will never forget when they were about two-and-a-half years old, and we decided to enroll them in a preschool where they went two days, about 2 hours a day so they’d start getting social skills and be around some other kids,” Tammy recalls. “During that two-hour time period, Tom and I had moved some cows across the ranch to a totally different pen. We got back and were riding through the ranch, and both kids started pointing at the cows and saying their names.”
Tom and Tammy said they were amazed. Kade and Kendall were barely talking, but they could pick out and correctly identify cows in a new area. They even correctly identified their cows in sale catalogs. To this day, Tammy says if Kade and Kendall are there when a calf is born, they can pick out the calf from a mile away.
“We’ve always looked up to our parents and wanted to be like them,” says Kendall. “Seeing the success they’ve had throughout the years, we thought that starting our own cattle operation would give us the chance to grow and learn new skills and hopefully be as successful as them one day.”
Max Stotz has known the family for a decade, helping at Perks Ranch on a regular basis. In addition to Tom and Tammy, he has been one of many mentors for Kendall and Kade. In fact, both the twins and Max agree they are like sponges around him, soaking up knowledge as they work with him.
“Kade and Kendall are well rounded and well-spoken kids,” Max says. “They were taught the honest way and know integrity. That’s all part of upbringing, and who you are surrounded by is key. They surround themselves with pretty good people. I could see the potential in these two kids when they were 10 years of age. I’m not disappointed. They’ve probably exceeded what I thought they would.”
Hard Work Delivers Results
Hard work is a consistent theme in Kendall and Kade’s life.
“Even if things don’t go your way, just keep your head up,” says Kendall. “If you keep working hard, it’s going to work to your advantage one day.”
“Always be the hardest worker in the room,” Kade agrees. “If you are the hardest worker in the room, then you will accomplish things.”
The Boatman twins have certainly accomplished a lot. They have won multiple awards for showing cattle and in FFA, including champion livestock judging teams, being named All-American and SAE projects. One standout award for Kade was his second year of showing at the Junior National Hereford Expo when he was named the Champion Peewee Showman.
“I remember the emotion I felt in the ring as soon as he gave me that grand champion slap,” Kade says.
For Kendall, the 2020 junior nationals sticks out in her memory. She won with a grand champion bull and won a division with a heifer.
“I was really proud of myself that I was able to breed and raise those cattle and put in the hard work to achieve my goals,” Kendall says.
Hard work is something others immediately recognize in Kendall and Kade.
“I think you’d struggle to find kids their age with their work ethic and talent,” says Noah Benedict, a close family friend who has worked with the Boatman family on sales, and in a professional capacity as a field manager for the American Hereford Association. “I’d put them against any cow people in the country on what they know about cattle operations. They’ve won awards all over the place. It’s pretty impressive. I think they have a true passion for the industry.”
Add in a love for the spirit of competition, and it is easy to see why the Boatman twins have been so successful.
“I think I’m most proud of Kade and Kendall, just for the drive and competitiveness they have,” Tom says. “They love to compete. They love to win. And I think what’s important in the world today is having that competitive drive.”
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
“I think competition makes us better at the end of the day because we are constantly pushing each other and we’re trying to beat each other,” says Kendall. “That makes us the best possible versions of ourselves. At the end of the day, we’re a team and we win and lose together.”
This team mindset has been taught to Kade and Kendall since they were young. The family works together on the ranch, where the twins actively help their parents, learn the operation inside and out and make their own individual contributions.
Kendall is known for her outgoing, positive personality and love of the show barn.
“Kendall is the barn boss,” Max Stotz says. “Most families know who the barn boss is, and she runs the roost with show cattle. She’s detailed oriented and pays attention to the little things which is important if you want to succeed in the industry. You have to pay attention to the details.”
Kade is noted for his sense of humor, and always being the first one to jump in when they need to work with the cows or do tractor work.
“Kade is as sharp as they come,” Wade Perks says. “We were out looking at cows and he knows all the grass out in the pasture. He has a very mature sense of humor. He’s got a sophisticated wisecrack. I’ve seen him have conversations with my dad, who is 70, and my son who is 11.”
Despite all the time spent showing, and the numerous awards won, it is most important to Kendall and Kade that they do the right thing, no matter what.
“Both at the ranch and in our own operation, we strive to raise functional cattle that still have some style about them,” Kade says. “A lot of people say that they raise show heifers that can still go out into the real world and do what they are supposed to do. I like to think that I want to raise cattle that can go do things in the real world first, and then they can have style later. Without the cows in the pasture, we won’t ever have the showring.”
Future Beef Industry Leaders
To anyone who knows Kendall and Kade, one thing is clear: they have a strong future in the industry.
“My parents have always pushed me to do different contests and step into leadership roles,” Kendall says. “Without them, I might not be the person that I am today, or had the success that I’ve had.”
Kade and Kendall have been leaders in a variety of ag organizations. Kade has held multiple leadership positions in FFA, currently serving as treasurer. He is a junior leader in 4-H and also enjoys leading Illinois Junior Hereford Association as president. Kendall is also a junior leader in 4-H, and serves as president of FFA. She also is secretary of the Illinois Junior Hereford Association where she and Kade dedicate a lot of time and effort running meetings, securing sponsorships, and putting on the show. Both Kade and Kendall are also involved in Illinois Junior Beef Association.
“Last year we got the opportunity to go to the Illinois Junior Beef Tour for the first time, which was a really cool experience to just explore some different career pathways or possibly spark interest for me,” Kendall explains.
The twins also enjoy mentoring younger members, helping them stay inspired to stay involved in the agriculture industry. They both participate in the Pen-to-Pen program through the National Junior Hereford Association. Older members mentor younger members, giving them advice and guidance. Plus, Kendall and Kade serve as good role models for the future generation.
“They have a true passion for the industry and the Hereford breed too,” Noah Benedict says. “I’ve got a little sister and she’s now set goals for herself. She’s a few years younger than Kade and Kendall and I tell her to look at them, and that’s what you have to do. Having those role models and people who are passionate about it means you’re going to be in good hands when they are leading the way.”
For Tom and Tammy, encouraging their children to be involved and be leaders in the industry has left them with rewards beyond winning championships.
“The best decision I made was to sign them up for peewee speech at the junior national,” Tammy says. “They are really confident getting up in front of groups. They are responsible and organized with schedules and what we have to get done. They manage school, work and their activities.”
Both Kade and Kendall plan to continue livestock judging at junior colleges. Kade plans to graduate high school early and spend the second half of his senior year traveling to shows and ranches, gaining work experience and making connections. His future career is undetermined, but he is confident he will work with Hereford cattle and the beef industry. Kendall plans to get her bachelor’s degree in an ag-related field. She is excited to explore her career options, knowing that she will always be involved in the beef industry and ag community.
No matter where they end up, it is clear Kendall and Kade Boatman will continue to have a positive impact on the beef industry.
“Watch out for these kids,” Noah adds. “You’re going to see them win a lot more awards like this. It’s lucky IBA got in early!”
