Youth News
Meet Your 2018 Southwest Area Star in Agribusiness Chisholm Kliewer of the Thomas-Fay-Custer FFA
Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:01:42 CDT
During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report is spotlighting the twenty Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization. The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Production Agriculture. This week, we are spotlighting the five area stars in Ag Placement, who will compete for the State Star Award in Ag Placement during the Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up May 1-2, 2018 in Oklahoma City.
We continue our coverage this week with your Southwest Area Star in Agribusiness, Chisholm Kliewer of the Thomas-Fay-Custer FFA Chapter, whom during his high school career, has worked to build a prosperous quail hatchery business serving local hunters and farmers.
"I take Bob White quail eggs and I incubate them and raise them up to maturity for hunters or farmers and sell them to either boost the wild populations or just to hunt," he explained. "It's something I've done since I was a freshman. I knew it was something I wanted to start."
Chisholm got the idea after visiting another FFA chapter and met students there that had been successful with their own businesses selling game birds. Chisholm took action to seek startup capital and was awarded a grant through National FFA. With that, he built an incubator and the necessary housing facilities and thus began K-Bar Game Birds.
"The hardest part is when they're such fragile eggs and babies," Chisholm said. "I didn't have any knowledge prior to starting my business. So, I had to buy books and read up and learn how to keep them from getting sick."
When it comes to marketing his quail, Chisholm says Facebook is the main driver of his business today, but in the beginning, he says he "shook cans" around town and put up fliers in local storefronts to build his initial customer base. Chisholm aspires to work in wildlife management after earning a Master's degree in Rangeland Ecology Management from OSU.
You can hear his entire conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.
Our salute of the 2018 Area Stars of the Oklahoma FFA is brought to you by American Farmers & Ranchers and AFR Insurance, proud to support Oklahoma's youth. Visit the AFR website by clicking or tapping here to learn more on how AFR supports the young people of Oklahoma, and how AFR can provide you with quality insurance for your home, auto, farm, and life.
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