08/05/08 Youth loans, part two

Yesterday we introduced you to the Hungate brothers, Drake, Paul and Chad. These rural Canyon County boys, ages 12, 11 and 9 have a vision and a yearning to make some money in agriculture. PAUL "At first we trapped gophers for all the local farmers and one year we made about a thousand dollars on gophers. Then my grandpa gave us ten laying chickens and then we got 60 more started and then we started the Three Brothers Chicken Ranch." But they tired of chickens and wanted to raise cattle but where to get the money for that? How about through the Farm Service Agency and its Rural Youth Loan program. DRAKE "We borrowed five thousand dollars and I bought four cows with it and had 200 to spare so I used that for my brand and feed hay. We got really good interest and we locked it in at 3.2 percent." Smart businessman! These three brothers have learned a lot in a little time and are a great example of rural kids who could be tomorrow's American food producers. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott