Announcements:
Carol Crimi reminded everyone that January 31st is the deadline for applications for Foundation funding. Please use the new form for the applications.
President Randy announced that the Rotary Executive Board will meet this week as well as the capital committee of the Foundation.
Rotary Student of the Month:
Dennis Love introduced the January student of the month for Roosevelt High School. Patrick Gallagher, a senior, is described as an amazing student, who carries a 4.3 GPA. He is involved in an aerophysics program at Stow High School. He also takes advanced and AP classes. He is described as charismatic and positive and a good leader. In sports, he has played tennis all four years. He is also involved in leadership activities and student council. He participates in music and drama at the high school. Future plans involve college, perhaps at Ohio State University.
100th Anniversary Moment:
Jim Myers reported on Rotary activities in the late 1930’s as the country was coming out of the great depression. Rotary sponsored a recreation program for youth that was funded by a WPA grant. Rotarians also made personal and monetary contributions to the project that included recreation and educational programs. In 1938 there were 30 supervisors and instructors employed to run the program.
Program:
Amanda Senn introduced Mason Kisamore, who frequents the Kent Farmer’s Market. Amanda noted that Mason met his wife Stacy at the Randolf Fair. Mason, his wife along with sons Harlan and Emerson raise animals, supplying meat for Dumas and the Farmer’s Market.
Mason told us that he has been involved with farming his entire life. He started helping on his dad’s farm and now he has his own farm business. He owns over 20 acres of land and leases an additional 600 acres of land, to grow crops and raise animals. They raise cattle, lambs, pigs, turkeys, chickens, laying hens and milk cows. They sell pork, lamb, beef to customers at Dumas Meats and the Kent Farmer’s Market. They also sell fresh turkeys and eggs.
Mason talked about his wife’s egg selling business. She started with 20 chickens and is now up to 500 chickens. They sell about 250 dozen egg per week.
The crops that are grown on the farm include corn, soybeans, and hay. The corn and hay are used for feed and the soybeans for cash.
Mason talked about some of the difficulties with being in farming. He noted that it can be difficult to get animals processed. There can be long waiting times for available processing. He hopes that problem will level off fairly soon. Financing can also be an issue. He uses lines of credit during the months when he is not receiving income. Farm equipment is also very expensive to buy.
Future goals for the farm include building a storage facility for grain storage. In addition, Mason would like to retire the debt on the current property and buy more land for farming.
There were numerous questions asked of Mason about his extensive farm operation.
Response:
Dave Myers thanked Mason for his presentation. He admitted he likes going to the Kent Farmer’s Market and to Dumas for meat. He was impressed by Mason’s farm operation. This was a very interesting program for us today. And President Randy noted that Mason is a true Renaissance man!
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Hetrick
We heard from a local entrepreneur Mason Kisamore who, along with his wife, runs a farming operation in Portage County. It is obvious that small farms are alive and well in our community. The entrepreneurial skill they display is impressive both in scope and planning. This week Liz Sidoti, Managing Director Abernathy MacGregor, will be our speaker. The daughter of Past President Roger and a Kent Theodore Roosevelt Grad, she will undoubtedly bring us a program with national political insight.
