J.B. and Joan Kunkel, Carthage, MO
J.B. and Joan Kunkel with their daughters Kelli and Ann own and operate Jo and Jo Farms near Carthage, MO. Theirs is a family operation widely recognized in Missouri and throughout America for high quality registered Jerseys. J.B. was born in 1936 at Verona, MO the son of Albert and Julia Kunkel. The start of the herd goes back to 1950 when J.B. was an FFA student at Aurora MO High School. Under the guidance of Vocational Agriculture instructor O.R. Tripp, J.B. purchased his first registered Jersey heifer. He began exhibiting at local shows and early developed the knowledge necessary for the breeding and development of high quality cattle. In 1957 he made his first full show circuit of some ten Midwest shows: He returned home with 40 blue ribbons and 15 grand and senior championships.
J.B.’s wife Joan no doubt inherited a love for Jerseys from her parents Fred P. Durnell (deceased) and his wife Jewell. For many years Fred Durnell, Springfield, MO showed champions from coast to coast and had many state records for production. Joan was born in 1939. At an early age she learned to care for and exhibit cattle, traveling with her father to many shows. Joan and J.B. first met at the Missouri State Fair in 1956 where they were both showing their cattle. Their mutual interest in Jerseys no doubt helped spark a romance and they were married in 1958. J.B. had about 20 head of cattle and Joan had 18. They combined their herds and started milking and breeding cattle for a living on farms at Nixa and then at Republic. They later found their present farm, near Carthage, borrowed $20,000 and bought it. Thus, Jo and Jo Farm came into being.
Their farm consists of 105 acres owned and about 100 acres rented. The land is used largely for pasture and hay including 30 acres of alfalfa. Sudan, rye and wheat are used for temporary pasture. The herd usually consists of 75 to 110 cows in milk and about the same number of young stock.
The Kunkels strive to produce cattle with excellent conformation and profitable levels of milk, butterfat and protein production. The herd is consistently on DHIA test and in recent years some 75 cows in milk averaged 12,639 lbs. milk, 521 lbs. butterfat and 501 lbs. protein per cow. Their breeding program involves the use of some home owned bulls and heavy use of the best Jersey sires in America by A.I. The herd score for type is 88 percent. Much of the farm income results from the sale of quality breeding stock.
Jo and Jo Farms has produced some 20 all Americans: one national Jersey Jug Futurity winner; one Junior Champion and Grand Champion at the Junior Show All American Jersey Show in Louisville, KY. They have won the Premier Breeder and the Premier Exhibitor Awards at the Missouri State Fair for the past 24 years, which is an unprecedented record. In 1979 daughter Kelli was the National Jersey Jug Queen and also won the Jersey Jug Futurity, worth a $1,400 premium. While many prizes have been won by their cattle J.B. and Joan prize most winning the Premier Breeder Award.
Many famous Jersey cows have been produced including: Pinnacle Design Norma, Jersey Hall of Fame winner with over 20,000 lbs. of milk, 1,000 lbs. of butterfat and 36 grand championships and Sunshine Volunteer Flash Lady with 25 championships and top of the Jersey Classic Sale in 1964 at $3,000. Mention should also be made of Favorite Design Tulip, Missouri lifetime producer 1986-90 with 196,430 lbs. milk, 8,194 lbs. fat.
The Kunkel’s two daughters are still much a part of the herd operations but are pursuing their individual careers. Kelli is a graduate of Missouri Southern State College and is working as an artist and antique appraiser. Ann is a pre-law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Many honors have been accorded the Kunkels during their long careers as Jersey breeders. J.B. has served several terms as a Director, Missouri Jersey Cattle Club and is a past President. He is a director of the local DHIA. He was honored in 1962 as the Young Farmer of the Year by the Springfield Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1989 the Kunkel family was the Farm Family of the Year for Jasper County and honored at the Missouri State Fair. Jo and Jo Farms is a splendid example of success from a small beginning to prominence as cattle breeders by virtue of vision, high goals, and much hard work.