Sam Moore, 2006 Kentucky Farmer of the Year

Sam Moore of Morgantown, Ky., is a perfect example that “dreams” do come true.

And he’s proof positive that you can also live your dream.

“The smartest thing I’ve ever done in life is marry my wife, Helen,” says Moore. “The second smartest has been following my dream and never giving up on that dream along the way.”

His dream began as a high school FFA student when his dad, a construction worker, allowed him to put out 100 acres of row crops and take care of 20 cows.

After graduating from high school, the 19-year-old Moore married his high school sweetheart and the dream became bigger — to start their own operation.

They purchased 120 acres and set sail with several acres of tobacco and a 30-head herd of milking cows.

“In the beginning, we adopted a very conservative approach,” said Moore. “We invested all profits into the operation and began leasing and renting additional land.”

From that modest start, Moore today manages a versatile and successful operation of more than 4,200 acres, leading to his selection as the 2006 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for Kentucky. He was nominated for the award by Jay McCants of the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Moore and eight other state finalists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will be honored during the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie Oct. 16-19. The 2006 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year will be announced at a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Moore also has the distinction of being the first Farmer of the Year for Kentucky as the Bluegrass State was added this year in competition for agriculture’s most prestigious award.

Moore, as the Kentucky state winner, will receive $2,500 from Swisher International of Jacksonville, Fla., who along with the Sunbelt Expo, have sponsored the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award for 17 years. He will also receive a jacket and a $200 gift certificate from the Williamson-Dickie Company; a $500 gift certificate from Southern States; and a fireproof home safe ($300 value) from Misty Morn Safe Company.

Additionally, the 2006 Southeastern Farmer of the Year will receive a $14,000 cash award from Swisher; a custom-designed jacket, another $500 gift certificate and $500 cash from Dickies; the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor of their choice for a year from Massey Ferguson North America; a $3,600 custom-made gun safe from Misty Morn; and another $500 gift certificate from Southern States.

There have also been many changes in crops and products at Moore’s farm over the years. Wheat, dairy and tobacco have been eliminated while soybeans, an Angus beef herd and a feed mill have been added.

Today, there’s 1,500 acres of corn with a yield of 152 bushels per acre and 1,200 acres of soybeans, yielding 48 bushels per acre. Silage covers 150 acres and yields 22 tons per acre and mixed hay is on 150 acres, yielding 4 tons per acre.

The cattle operation includes 400 head of purebred Angus cows, 60 head of Angus heifers and 30 Angus bulls.

“I’ve had a big interest in cattle for a long time,” said Moore. “I had an opportunity to buy a herd of Angus cows and wanted something I could get Woody (son) involved in. He now keeps up with everything involved with the cattle.

“He has also built the cattle end of the business up to where we have enjoyed a lot of repeat business because of our dedication of offering high-quality Angus breeding stock,” he added.

Another successful venture has been the purchase of a feed mill.

“We have used a lot of feed over the years,” said Moore. “And in 1985 our local mill was being forced to close so we ended up buying it.

“There are currently 10 employees at the mill,” he added. It’s a feed, seed, fertilizer and farm supply store and provides a real service to area farmers for grain storage.

“Over all the years we’ve been in farming, we tried to maximize our dollars. We have always tried to make sure we have dollars to work with when it comes to production cost and input costs. We also do our own maintenance on all the equipment we use unless it’s something major.”

Wife Helen still plays a major role in the operation.

“I take care of all the records, fill out all the forms, pay the bills and run errands,” she said. “In the past, I have driven a tractor or a truck. In the early years, I even tried my hand at milking.”

“I couldn’t do without Helen,” said Moore. “She takes care of every dollar that comes in and goes out of the operation.”

While son Woody works with the cattle and feed mill, another son, Kyle, works in the operation of the farm and is an employee of Green River Feed Mill. Another son, Kent, is in sales with Big Rivers Agri-Supply.

One daughter, Shannon, is a financial consultant and another daughter, Sharla, works for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

“As I wind down my career, another dream is coming true,” said Moore. “I am very proud that we are building a family farming operation.”