Dairy Star - Third Section Saturday, January 16, 2016 Page 15

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LITTLE FALLS, Minn. As an eighth grader at Upsala High School, Raymond Kokett certainly has his fair share of responsibilities on the farm. I de nitely keep busy when I am home, Ray-mond said. Raymond helps his parents, John and Lori Ko-kett, with chores each day on their 65-cow dairy in Morrison County near Little Falls, Minn. Although Raymond does not help with morning

chores, his evenings are jam packed with work. As soon as he gets off the bus at 3:40 p.m., Ray-mond is in the house only to change and grab a snack before heading to the barn by 4 p.m. I jump right into it, Raymond said. His main responsibilities each afternoon are feed-ing the heifers, helping his dad feed cows, feeding calves their milk, chopping bedding and helping bed the cows. Bedding and feeding the cows are my least fa-vorite jobs on the farm, Raymond said. I always tend to get straw or hay in my boots when I do them. Once he nishes bedding cows, Raymond goes to the house for supper before going right back out to the barn at 7 p.m. to help his dad milk. I recently started helping with that, Raymond said. Im nally tall enough. However, learning to milk was not easy. Some of the cows take longer than others to milk out and it can be challenging keeping up with the units, he said. On top of that, the family bought new milking units, which he has had to adjust to. Im used to holding the milking units a certain way, but I cant hold them that way with the new units, Raymond said. Its been hard, but Im getting used to them. He has also started to drive tractor to haul wagons and pull the baler. Its fun, and I hope to start cutting and raking hay soon, he said. Even though show season is several months away, Raymond said his favorite job on the farm is tending to his show heifers Its a lot of fun to work with them, he said. My siblings and I will put the halter on them, brush them and walk them around when its nice outside and feed them before putting them back. For John, having Raymond around to help has been very valuable. Hes reliable and a fast learner and hes only 13, John said. Hes de nitely interested in the cows. With so many chores to do, Raymond tries to get his homework done in school as best he can.

Weve told him to get it done before he comeshome because there isnt a lot of time to do it at night, Lori said. School comes rst though. Although Raymond is working towards his edu-cation at school, he is also getting an education athome. Ive learned so much on the farm, like how to x the silo unloader, Raymond said. But the mostimportant thing Ive learned is responsibility. Raymond has four and a half years before hegraduates high school, but he has an idea of what hewants to do when he grows up. I want to start a beef farm and even raise somedairy steers, he said. But in the meantime, he is enjoying helping Johnand Lori on the farm. I like to be outside and moving, Raymond said.Its fun for me.

The right-hand manKokett a big help on familys farm

BY MISSY MUSSMANSta writer

MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STARRaymond feeds a group of heifers hay during eve-ning chores on Jan. 7 near Li le Falls, Minn.

MISSY MUSSMAN/DAIRY STARRaymond Koke , 13, ac vely helps with chores ev-eryday a er school. Koke and his parents, Johnand Lori, milk 65 cows near Li le Falls, Minn.