CALF_News_June_July_2020

28 CALF News • June | July 2020 • www.calfnews.net I n their youth, most people don’t know what path to take in their lives. They might struggle for years, trying to determine what they “want to be.” Those lucky few of us, however, know from little on up where we are headed. Perry Thompson is one of those few. A native of Osage City, Kan., Thomp- son is proud of his agricultural heritage, saying he’s an ag producer for at least three generations on both sides of his family. We all know that farming often comes with other entities attached; Thompson’s parents owned a trucking company in which he worked for many years. Taking over the business as an adult, Thompson managed the truck line until 2008. Other jobs came connected to rural life as well, but he maintains that his interests and loyalties were always with farming and cattle. Thompson fed cattle in custom feed- yards for years. He enjoys the livestock, the people and business in general. Start- ing light cattle and finishing them gives him a great deal of pleasure; watching them grow and develop is a fascination we can all relate to. His interest in cattle feeding grew to the point that, at age 55, he began look- ing for a feedyard of his own. This was a complex matter Thompson, first, was in a position to step away from his Osage City farm for short periods. Having a good, steady wife in Kim, he also had additional family support from one son-in-law, Austin Koett, as well as his two other sons-in-law and three daughters, who help part time. His farm was in good hands, allowing him the opportunity to seek diversification. Hays Feedyard Manager Hayley Gottschalk has held nearly every position at the facility for the past seven years. She handles office management as well as outside work as needed. A Vision Realized By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor He searched for five years, looking for a place with some value, one he was not afraid to “fix up.” He preferred a Kansas location, but looked to other states, as well. His efforts did not come to fruition on various offers; the entrepreneur says he was probably “too conservative.” Then there was Hays Thompson likes Hays, Kan. When someone advised him to look into a feedlot there, he jumped in his truck. The 20,000-head yard had garnered a sad reputation, having been unsuccess- fully offered for sale at public auction. Thompson began earnest haggling with the attached bankers in June 2019. After four months of negotiations, he obtained a long-term lease and took over pos- session last October, renaming the site Hays Feedyard, LLC. To help swing the deal, six business partners from Kentucky were brought in, folks who Thompson describes as lifelong livestock producers and friends. They travel to Hays every four to six weeks and meet with management, Thompson and employees. Thompson still lives at Osage City, but frequents the feedlot regularly, spending two to three days each week. He explains that he and the Kentuckians are regulars at the local Fairfield Inn, a place where they are treated well and consider it a second home. He describes the lot as having housed only 2,000 head on the day he took the lease; it is now populated at 12,000 head and headed for 20,000-plus. Bunk space is currently at 21,000 feet. Daily management is handled by Hayley Gottschalk, who has held almost every position at the feedyard for the past seven years. Thompson is generous in praise for her. He says he not only has a good manager but is also pleased with his neighbors, customers and co-workers. COVID-19 No conversation is complete nowa- days without analyzing the COVID-19 outbreak and how that is affecting our society and economics. The most immediate and direct impact has been the sudden change in feedstuffs that cattlemen have had to navigate since the first of April. Corn