Show March 16 1994 Extra Supplement to The Richfield ReaperReaper 10S Utah Independent Bank vie® president Brent White left and Ken Johnson owner of Valley View Feed Lot near Aurora discuss this year's plans for op eration at the lot Continued support of farming and ranching by Utah Independent Bank has helped the economy of Sevier and surrounding counties Utah Independent Bank Valley View Feed Lot Prove Partnership Can Be Successful Valley View Feed Lot north of Aurora is one of the major cattle feeding operations in southern Utah and thanks to the continued support of the Utah Independent Bank it has managed to grow by major proportions over the past 12 years Owner Ken Johnson started cattle feeding operations there in 1982 with a 2000 head of cattle capacity The operation has now grown to a point where up to 5000 head of cattle can be fed simultaneously Brent White vice president of Utah Independent Bank which has offices in Salina and Beaver pointed out that farming and ranching are big business and mainstays of the area's economy "That's why we are heavily involved in helping farmers and ranchers grow assistance when by providing them with financial our that support of farming they need it We feel all economy of over the and ranching helps Sevier County" of Working with Johnson from the beginning is Bank a major his operation Utah Independent the entire area in all for of financing provider livestock operations aspects of agricultural and ' "’ r Johnson operates a "grower lot" in which calves are brought in at 400 to 500 pounds and fed until they reach 800 to 900 pounds At that point they are sold or shipped to a finisher feed Utah Independent Bank can provide a variety of farming and ranching needs and has the flexibility to meet individual farming and ranching needs geared to individual operations lot "We work to get a two and a half pound daily gain for each animal for approximately six months" Johnson said While Johnson's operation includes some farming and raising of feed most of the feed used at the feed lot is purchased from local farmers giving them a place to market their crops Some of the cattle are pastured in the summer along the river bottom Just how big is Johnson's operation? On an average he will buy 4000 tons of hay 15000 tons of silage and 15000 tons of grain a year Customers bring in their calves from Utah Arizona Colorado Wyoming and California indicating the kind of quality operation Valley View Feed Lot is BEAVER UTAH (801)438-243- 3 SAUNA UTAH (801)529-745- 9 MEMBER FDIC |