“The first thing I do every day is check the cattle,” says Josh Moore, 36. “It dictates the morning.”
On an early Wednesday morning, shafts of soft yellow hues illuminate the Moores’ farm in southeast Montgomery County. Josh hops in his truck with two of his children, Brennen, 9, and Briana, 4. His youngest son, Braden, 2, stays inside the house with a cold. With the truck dashboard still covered in ice, Josh cranks the window, sticks out his head and begins the drive. His eldest son, Bradley, 13, follows behind on an ATV. They spend the rest of morning together playing, checking cattle and cutting wood.
“Farming is my first love,” Josh says. “It’s a good, honest living.” Josh’s earliest memory is working at his grandfather’s farm, C&J Cattle, when he was four. Thirty-two years later, Josh still works alongside his grandfather, Charles Wills, 89, who also grew up on this farm. “I am really glad I decided to work with him,” Josh says. “It’s a real blessing. I’m glad I got to know him the way I did.”
Now Josh and his wife, Jessica, 33, are raising their four children on their land. Josh spends his mornings on the farm and evenings at Sterling Lanes, the local bowling alley which he manages. Josh and Jessica both want to be involved in raising all their children, so they work together in homeschooling them. This allows for their children to be involved in the farm life that has been so central in generations of their family.
“I like the kids to grow up on a farm,” Josh says. “It’s a good way to raise a family.”