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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, February 15, 2020
Finding passion in backyard business Mohs raises chickens for FFA project BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
Leah Mohs holds a Rhode Island Red chicken in front of her coop Feb. 11 at her home in Rice. Mohs is raising 15 chickens and working at Mimbach Fleet Supply in Sauk Rapids as a part of her FFA supervised agricultural experience.
earn the coveted state degree as her supervised agricultural experience. Mohs started her chicken business with five Rhode Island Reds two years ago, within weeks of starting her job at Mimbach. She now has
Barred Plymouth Rocks and Golden Comets as well. “All are good layers and are hearty breeds, which is good for the hard winters,” Mohs said. “The first winter I had the Rhode Island Reds, they laid all winter.”
Requirements for the entrepreneurship and placement focus of a SAE include $2,000 in each profit and expenses. Expenses include building the coops, feed and travel. Profit comes from the eggs. She also has to
Mohs page 3C
BA7-1B-BL
Rubes Sponsored by Fluegge’s Ag
RICE – Fifteen chickens in the backyard may seem as innocent as wanting a special pet or abundant access to fresh eggs, but for Sauk RapidsRice High School senior Leah Mohs, her chickens have created a thriving business. From a young age, Mohs has always enjoyed being around agriculture. She began by helping her mom’s family on its dairy farms and has always wanted her own dairy cow. “I knew a dairy cow was not feasible with my circumstances,” said Mohs who lives on a small property. “I figured I could talk my parents into chickens because they are easy to take care of. It was a way I could jump into agriculture.” Mohs is the Sauk RapidsRice FFA president and a Region IV FFA state officer. She has been involved in the FFA program since her freshman year. Mohs has earned her green and chapter degrees, and her flock of chickens, as well as two years of employment with Mimbach Fleet Supply in Sauk Rapids, are helping her
meet required hours, which were filled by agriculture classes at the high school. Experience within FFA and attending events is also required. Mohs said a lot of her knowledge of chickens and the agriculture industry has come through her work at Mimbach. She began as a cashier and would ask farmers questions about what and why they were purchasing certain items. Now, she serves as paint manager and feed manager in addition to helping out on the floor. “A lot of my chicken knowledge came from working with the feed more,” Mohs said. “I had to be ready for questions on different feed or breeds of chickens, but I ask a lot of questions too. I took a lot of what I learned from other people, brought it home and applied it to my own operation. It has made a huge difference.” Through FFA, Mohs said her passion for agriculture has grown and it has broadened her horizon to all of the possibilities. She plans to attend Ridgewater College in Willmar for a degree in agriculture business, but with a dairy management emphasis. As she talked with staff at the college, she gained a greater interest in dairy, specifically regarding artificial insemination and genetics. While her exact direction is still being decided, Mohs
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