Farm and Ranch - Guymon Daily Herald

www.guymondailyherald.com
Farm & Ranch
January 2016
What’s Inside:
Advertising from area Ag Businesses: See what these
businesses have to offer you!
The story of the J.C. Byers family, a look at life in the late
1880’s and early to mid 1900’s
Information on the 2nd annual Excellence in Ag Experience
January 2016
Farm and Ranch
A very special thank you to the
advertisers that help bring this
section to the readers of
The Guymon Daily Herald
• Anchor D
• Bailey Flying Service
• Texhoma Wheat Growers
• Standard Supply
• Panhandle Irrigation
• American Implement
• Hinchey Ford
• Hooker Equity
• T.E.L. Oil and Gas
• Green Country
• Guymon Chamber of
Commerce
• Farm Credit
• Bank of the Panhandle
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
01.26.2016
www.guymondailyherald.com
Farm & Ranch
2
“Call of the West” brought German-born family to The Panhandle
The J.C. Byers Family
By Dana Byers Tomlinson
Great Granddaughter of J.C. Byers
The following is a brief history of a tall,
staunch, broad shouldered German, better
known as J.C. Byers or sometimes called by his
fellow farmers, “Joe”.
Taming the West was on the mind of
Joseph Charles Byers, former pioneer settler
of Texas County, Oklahoma, when he heard
of the wonderful possibilities in America. J.C.
was born January 26, 1854 during the severe
winter months to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Byers
in Berlin, Germany. His father was a machinist
and J.C., as is customary in Germany, followed
his father’s calling. At the age of seven, he
accompanied his father to the United States
settling in a small suburb of Chicago, Illinois
called Whiting, Indiana. When war broke out
between France and Germany, J.C. returned to
Germany and served in the war for two years.
At the age of 28, on January 28, 1882,
J.C. was united in marriage to Pauline Matilda
Kessler in Berlin. Then the “Call of the West”
and his American dream inspired him to board
a ship to America. At the ripe age of 28, J.C.
packed all his personal possessions in a small
trunk (which stills sits in The Byers Homestead
today), left his wife in Germany and sailed to
the harbors of New York City to start a new life.
J.C. finally settled in Whiting and went
to work for The Standard Oil Company. He soon
became a foreman. After saving for one year, he
became established and brought his young fam-
See us
Us For
See
for All
all of Your
your
Farming
Needs
farming needs
See us for all of your
•
Feed
•
Tools
•
*
*
*
farming needs
Boots
**• Clothing
Boots**•
Feed * &Tools
* Clothing
& Boots*
Standard
Supply
Standard
Supply
Standard Supply
lived in Neodesha until 1904.
Finally, “the call
of the West” became too great!
In 1904, Mr.
Byers and his
son, Ed #3 and
daughter, Nellie traveled by
covered wagon to
the North Flats
of the Oklahoma
Panhandle, “No
Man’s Land.”
In a sod
dugout is where
the Germanborn Byers
family filed and
staked their
claim seven miles north and one and one half
miles east on the southwest quarter of Section
twenty in Township four north of
Range fifteen east
of the Cimarron
Meridian, Oklahoma containing
one hundred sixty
acres. They lived
in their dugout,
carried water four
miles from the
nearest well and
began to make
improvements on
their homestead.
Originally, they
built a little shed
out of 1 x 12’s and
furnished it with
beds, a stove and
the bare necessities. In order to rightfully claim
the land, they had to live on the land for six
months out of every year for five years. During
this time, J.C. commuted back and forth to his
work at Neodesha, bringing supplies, while Ed
broke up all the land with a horse and sod plow.
Finally, in 1907, Mr. Byers severed his connection with his company and returned to his
homestead.
After five years of making improvements
on their land, they built what was called, “The
Little House” which was a very nice house for
this part of the country. After the house was
built, J.C. moved the rest of his family to Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Byers were devout Christians and joined the German Lutheran Church.
Their religion was probably more practical
than creedal. They were always ready to serve
each other, their children, church neighbors,
625 NE Hwy 54 • Guymon, OK
625 NE Hwy 54 • Guymon, OK
580.338.8488
625 NE Hwy
54 • Guymon, OK
Mon - Fri
8-6 Mon8-6
- Fri
8-5 Sat 8-5 Sat
1-5 Sunday
8 - 6 Mon-Fri
1-58Sunday
-5 Sat
580-338-8488
Proudly
Serving You!
580-338-8488
Now
Open
Now
Open Sundays
Sundays 1-51-5
Now Open Sundays 1-5
ily to America. J.C. also financed many of his
relatives and friends to come to America. After
he worked for his company for 16 years there
in Whiting, he was transferred to Neodesha,
Kansas as superintendent. During this period
of time, J.C. and Pauline had ten children;
Emma, Frank, Charlie, Nell (Campbell), John,
Ed, Anna (Miller), George, Marie (Mann), and
Martha (Ramsey) Byers. J.C. and his family
Texhoma
Inc.
Need helpWheat
makingGrowers,
the RIGHT
sells this growing
agronomy decisions
•season?
Dekalb,Texhoma
Croplan,Wheat
& NKGrowers
corn seed
• Fiber
Max Cotton
seed
has got
you covered
- Curtis
and
•
Alta,
Milo
&
Forage
Sorghum
Rusty can lead you in the RIGHT
direction with all your agronomy
Call Let
Curtis
@ (580)817-1371
needs.
Christina
take you on a
for
ordering
and
pay
discounts
WinField R7 tour…. smart
phones,
smart equipment, why not smart
Also have financing
available
fields??
Texhoma Wheat Growers
Texhoma, TX 73960
806-827-7261
www.wheatgrowersinc.com
Panhandle Irrigation, L.L.C.
Large Inventory of parts for all brands P.O. Box 386
Exceptional Field Service
3445 US HWY 54
Zimmatic Sales
Guymon, OK 73942
P: 580.468.3511
C: 580.651.3511
E-mail: [email protected]
friends or strangers who stopped at their gate.
The younger children, Annie and Georgie, rode
a burro to the Bartles School not far from the
“The Little House.” They farmed and were very
prosperous.
In 1920, they built another home and
called it “The Big House” which still stands
today. Pauline was so proud of it, she said she
didn’t even want to cook a meal in it. Pauline
made J.C. a faithful and efficient wife. It never
occurred to her that she had any duty outside
the home circle and community.
J.C. bought six quarters of land and his
children farmed
them. They had an
orchard and built
bunk houses for
their hired help.
Pauline cooked for
her family and the
help in “The Big
House.”
When Ed returned
home from WWI,
he married Carey
Mann #8 from Tyrone, OK. and later,
they moved into
“The Big House.”
J.C.’s children,
grandchildren and
great-grandchildren have continued to farm and live on his
land to this day.
Mr. Byers had a
big heart and was
a liberal giver
to every worthy
enterprise. While
living in Neodesha, Kansas, he
gave a calf to help
build a church and
announced that if
the calf brought
$50, he would give
$100 more and
• See BYERS, page 3
Ed & Carey Mann Byers
01.26.2016
www.guymondailyherald.com
Farm & Ranch
3
• BYERS, cont. from page 1
In WWI, he was the biggest contributor to The
Red Cross of anyone in the county. Although
born in a foreign land, his Americanism was
never questioned. He was frugal in his habits and industrious beyond the average. He
accumulated a large farm and gave it to his
children. He was a breeder of purebred cattle
and until his late illness raised many hogs,
chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guineas and
peafowls on his farm. He drove a tractor after
he was 90 years of age by strapping himself on.
Prior to his
death on February 7, 1952 at
the age of 98
years and 12
days, he was
honored on his
98th birthday
with a party at
his homestead.
His guests were
registered by
his great granddaughter Betty
Rae Byers. The
lovely gifts,
token of esteem
and love were
displayed. Dainty refreshments
were served
by the hostess,
Mrs. Ed Byers
and Mr. Byers’s
twin great
granddaughters, Dana
Lynn and Tana
Lea Byers. The
honoree and his
guests enjoyed
an afternoon of visiting while Mr. Byers told of
many interesting tales about past experiences
in his life and “No Man’s Land.” Guests attending were Wilbur Hurliman, Misses Tennie and
Annie Luther, Jim Degraffenreid, Judge and
Mrs. W.G. Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Randol,
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Houser, George Ellison, Dr.
R. B. Hayes, John Gray, Francis Miller, Mr.
and Mrs. Charlie Water, Mrs. Heimsoth and
daughter, Almie, Joe Miller, Dr. W. F. Dunaway,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Byers and Ed Byers. Mr.
Byers bid his friends adieu by telling them he
would see them all next year on his 99th birthday.
His friends were numbered by his
acquaintances and his home had many callers. He loved his neighbors and friends and
by reason of his generosity, he was often imposed upon by unscrupulous persons. He had a
heart as big as these plains and his many deep
friendships lasted until the end.
Mrs. Byers passed away at the family
home north of Guymon, May 5, 1936, being
79 years, two months and 25 days old. With
the passing of J.C. and Pauline Byers, Texas
County lost two of its best known and finest
citizens. It was such sturdy pioneers as Mr.
and Mrs. Byers that gave this country the fine
type of citizenship that we have today.
Brown
& Associates Insurance
917 N Main
Dianna Brown - Multi-Line Agent
580.338.7670(Fax)
*Time to Apply Halts
* Plumbing - Heat Tape
& Pipe Fittings/Insulation
• Life • Home • Auto • Health
• Annuity • Multi-Peril • Farm
• Crop Hail • Commercial
HWY 54 West
Guymon, OK 73942
580-338-7701
[email protected]
580.338.7270
8:30AM - 5PM
Hooker Equity Coop
2015
Ford Focus
4Dr*
Wild Horse West
Wild Horse West is
OPEN
to Receive Grain
2016
Ford
Fusion*
2016
Ford
Escape*
Directions to Wild Horse West:
From Walmart go 11 miles North
on Hwy 136, then 1 mile West
GIVE US A CALL
580-652-2432
P.O. Box 400 • E. Hwy 54 • Hooker, OK
Check our prices at hookerequitycoop.com
0% Interest up to
60 Months through
+
*$2000 Special
Retail Trade
Assistance Cash
HINCHEY FORD
BOX 438 • 906 HWY 54 E.
GUYMON, OKLAHOMA
580-338-8423
877-607-8445
Check us out at: www.hincheyford.com
“Rest for the toiling hand,
Rest for the anxious brow,
Rest for the weary, wayworn feet,
Rest from all labor now.”
We’re today’s explorers
developing the vast
resources for the future
and we gladly
support our local
farm and ranch communities.
T.E.L. Oil & Gas
501 N. Ellison
580.338.4010
09.24.2015
www.guymondailyherald.com
Farm & Ranch
4
Excellence in Ag hosts second annual awards experience
By April Coble
[email protected]
The Second Annual Excellence in Ag
Experience will be hosted
Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. at Pickle Creek Center at 822 NE Sixth St. in
Guymon, and promises to
be an entertaining experience for all who attend.
The awards aim
to spotlight business, production and students who
stand out in the agriculture industry.
This year’s event
will
feature
author,
speaker and agriculture
advocate Michele PaynKnoeper. Ken Stonecipher will be providing the
evening’s entertainment.
A
committee
starts planning early to
put on a program that
all who attend will enjoy. Farm Credit Loans of
Western Oklahoma Vice
President and branch
manager Jamey Mitchell
has noted the idea behind
the awards is to promote
excellence in ag business,
production and scholarship.
One high school
student this year will be
recognized with a $4,200
scholarship to encourage
excelling in agriculture
studies.
Students
who
wish to apply for the
scholarship must be residents of and attend high
school in Texas County, as
well as be the child of parents who own or operate
an ag business within the
county.
Applicants must
be pursuing a degree
in an agricultural field,
and must remain in good
standing during the first
semester to receive sec-
ond semester funding.
Applications and essays
must be completed by the
student applying for the
scholarship.
Essays completed
by applicants must be the
student’s personal vision
for agricultures and why
the student is interested
in an ag career. The essay is worth up to thirty
points.
An interview of
applicants will be conducted, in which the student will reinforce the vision shared in the essay,
and is worth up to twenty
points.
Applicants must
show a commitment to the
community through community service. This service is worth up to twenty
points. General factors including work experience,
student potential, family
needs and consideration
of other scholarships will
be worth up to another
ten points. Student rank
and Grade Point Average
(with a minimum of 3.0
GPA) will be worth another five points.
The top five finalists will be asked to
provide reference letters
from two individuals outside of family, stating why
the applicant deserves a
scholarship.
Reference
letters must be 500 words
or less.
Scholarships will
be awarded at the Excellence in Ag Banquet on
Feb. 11.
Information and
links to scholarships can
be found at http://www.
a g f u t u r e . o r g / s c h o l a rships. Scholarships for
Texas County can be accessed under the AFA
Community Scholarships
link.
For more information on the Excellence
in Ag scholarships as
well as the business and
producer
nominations,
contact Farm Credit of
Western Oklahoma at
(580)338-5111 or visit the
offices at 2143 Hwy 64
North in Guymon.
The awards in ag
business and production
will highlight those that
are set apart in the way
they do business in Texas
County. The awards are
not based on the size of a
business, but rather how
well the job is done.
The Excellence in
Ag committee worked on
providing the best meal
possible for all who attend, with a steak dinner.
“The thing about
it is, they’re going to get a
$20 steak dinner for $10,
if they buy their tickets in
advance,” Mitchell said.
Advance tickets
can be purchased through
January 26. The price
will go up to $25 to purchase at t
“We hope for a good crowd
to help promote agriculture in the largest ag producing county in Oklahoma,” Mitchell said.
“We just want to bring as
many people out to it as
we can.”
Tickets for the
Excellence in Ag Experience are available at
Farm Credit of Western
Oklahoma, Linda Hill
Crop Insurance, Anchor
D Bank, Hitch Enterprises and Texhoma Wheat
Growers.
Nomination
forms
are
available
through the Guymon
Chamber of Commerce,
and can be obtained by
contacting the chamber
by email at guycofc@
gmail.com or visiting the
chamber office at 711 SE
Highway 3 in Guymon.
Farm Credit
 Better Rates.
 Better Service.
 Better Way to Borrow.
Shawn Davis
580-651-3865
Jamey Mitchell
580-651-3866
Wes Fitzgerald
580-651-3862
Elkhart
364 US HWY 56
Elkhart, KS 67950
800.445.5917
620.697.2189
After Hours Parts: 620.360.1190
After Hours Service: 620.360.1191
Hugoton
East HWY 51
Hugoton, KS 67951
800.544.9833
620.544.4351
After Hours Parts: 620.428.2376
After Hours Service: 620.428.2374
Shelby Davis
Kim Rutledge
LeAnn Landers
Lisa McBride
Office:
580-338-3828