Small Town News

Hanson one of two Chatfield students honored with national FFA award

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Editor's note: This story is on one of the two national winners from the Chatfield FFA program.

Jordan Hanson's career is trotting along on four legs.

He's chomping at the bit now that he's a national entrepreneur.

"I have helped my dad my entire life with raising his horses and started raising my own when I was 8," said Hanson, who received the FFA National Agri-Entrepreneurship Award on Oct. 23 at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

"I breed and raise Percherons, Belgians, quarter horses, and some quarter-ponies. I try to have a wide range, so that when one area is lacking in the industry, I can have the other areas picking up the slack."

Jordan, son of William and Lisa Hanson of Chatfield, joined FFA as a freshman in high school at the age of 14. He's now marking his sixth year as an FFA member at the age of 19.

"I decided to make horses my FFA project mainly because it is the only thing I know and it has been a profitable and growing business for me. It fit right into the type of project that I needed."

Hanson was one of 10 finalists competing in the Agri-Entrepreneurship competition -- he and fellow Chatfield FFA member Tyler Steinbrink, as well as the other eight finalists -- received the awards after being chosen as finalists from a poof of "numerous" competitors nationwide. He earned an opportunity to have his project on display at the FFA Mall career show and also brought home $1,000. Chatfield's FFA chapter received $1,000 in honor of the young men's accomplishments, and the money will be put toward establishing a local grant program for similar FFA projects.

Even though he's studying ag business with a minor in animal science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he's still busy keeping his stable business thriving.

"I buy and sell horses throughout the whole year, yet some trends show that it is best to buy in the fall when winter is coming and people don't want to feed for the winter, and sell in the spring. Early spring, before too many events get going, tends to be the best time of the year to sell horses in large quantity for good prices. Yet in order to strive in the business, I am trying to buy and sell horses every day of the year."

Choosing good stock is the most important decision he has to make while managing his money at the same time.

"First of all, I look for good conformation and quality in any type of horse I buy -- I have learned to look for horses of higher quality to buy. By buying horses of higher quality, I can make more money and not have as many to train and feed. It is easier on me, my feed, my equipment, and my checkbook.

"Next, I look for their potential to improve their quality and training and increase their profit margin. Also, I like to buy horses that are registered -- especially in quarter horses -- for resale is much easier."

His father sometimes assists him in buying horses if he's unable to attend a sale.

"There are occasions that I do have other people buy horses for me, although on most occasions it is my dad, so he has a good idea of what I want and want to spend. I have had others buy for me, and it has worked well and not so well at times."

Studying to take his equine knowledge to competition at the convention "was time-consuming and took a lot of concentration and determination to answer several essay questions," but he learned to put more emphasis on keeping records and making plans that improve his business while saddling up for the contest.

Having been to the national convention before, Hanson stated that this time was different.

"I felt like I had responsibility and was a role model to many other students who were there. It was exciting and fun and gave me the feeling that my hard work was well worth it, for it was being recognized by thousands of people."

That said, he added, "When I sell horses, it is just like anyone else going to work Monday to Friday and paying bills. I wasn't trying to become one of the highest-earning FFA members or trying to get everybody to read about me in the newspaper.

"I am just trying to get a jump-start on the job life and pay my own bills, but I have learned that some of my best qualities are interacting with people and making business propositions and transactions."

Hanson called coming home from the convention with his win "very rewarding," concluding, "I love horses and doing everything with them every day, so some could say it has become my life."

To contact Hanson to buy or sell ahorse, call (507)272-3571.



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