William K. Davis Family, Verona
William K. “Bill” Davis and his family have a long and widely recognized record of breeding productive and prize winning Guernsey cattle.
Bill was born May 13th, 1922 at Monett, Missouri. His parents Sanford Davis and Alma Davis were farmers. Bill grew up on the farm and started milking cows when he was six years old. He attended school at Purdy, Missouri, but continued working on the farm. His career was delayed from 1942-45 when he served with the famous 82nd Air Borne Division of the U.S. Air Force in World War II. In the invasion of Italy and France, Bill was wounded and captured by the Germans. He spent a year as a prisoner of war in Germany. He was awarded three Purple Hearts.
Upon his discharge from military service Bill returned to Monett and he and Wilma Jenkins were married July 22nd, 1945. The couple started married life by starting a dairy herd. Wilma writes “we lived in an old two room house and we had to milk our cows tied to boards under some trees”. They built a new barn and silo and other buildings. Bill enrolled in a local veterans class in agriculture under the GI bill. He topped the class in grades and was reported to be the most successful GI student in agriculture in the state. Bill and Wilma started their registered Guernsey herd in 1947 with four cows. After several years on a 400-acre rented farm the family purchased their present farm at Verona and began further development of the Guernsey herd. The farm consists of 240 acres and alfalfa is the principal crop. The herd consists of 95 cows milking age, 63 heifers and three ET bulls representing the best available today from a production standpoint. In addition to good housing facilities for the cattle a modern milking parlor and milk room has been constructed.
The herd has been built to a high level of production and good type. The herd has a DHI average of 15,230 lbs. milk, 689 lbs. butterfat. The herd was the top producing herd in the state three years in succession. A few years ago there were five “Excellent” cows in the herd. Some of the high individual producers and show ring winners include: Davis Top Nelta, “Excellent”, 19,900M, 956F and 3-yr-old, Grand Champion at five fairs and Reserve Grand at two; Golden Acres Dori Lillian, 20,530M, 1007F, a Missouri Champion and all American Aged Cow in1978, shown and owned by Robby Davis. In 1982 Roes Mor Hornets Felicia, owned by Robby Davis was first senior 4-yr old, Senior and Grand Champion at the Missouri State Fair. The same year Grand Champion and Supreme Champion all breeds at the Illinois State Fair. Bill has led the way in getting the Davis show string as well as other Missouri Guernseys to local shows the State Fair; Dairy Expo. Madison, WI, and the National at Louisville. The list of winners at various shows by members of the Davis family is lengthy and their homes are filled with trophies.
Bill and Wilma have three sons. Tony the oldest born in 1947 grew up working the Guernsey herd and showing cattle. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a major in voice and piano. From 1970-73, while in the Army, he sang with the Soldiers Chorus that traveled with the famous U.S. Army Field Band. He received a Ph.D. degree in Musical Arts and Choral Conducting in 1980 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He became a Professor of Music and also owned a landscaping firm in Dallas, Texas. Tony died in 1990. Gary, the second son was born in 1950, he grew up active with the farm and Guernsey herd. He was an FFA student at Aurora High School. He attended business college in Springfield and became a computer specialist. He is now an accountant for Ozark Rural Electric Co-op. He and his wife have four children. For several years, beginning in 1972, Gary was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri Guernsey Breeders Association. His children have dairy project cattle and started showing as soon as they (the kids) could walk. Gary, his wife and two daughters are all musicians and sing at various occasions. Robby, the youngest son was born in 1961.He graduated from Aurora High School in 1980. He was active in FFA where he was a Star Farmer. He started showing cattle at an early age and owned many state and National Champion. Robby and his wife Becky have three children. He now has his own farm and herd and also owns Davis Trucking Co. Both Gary and Robby work closely with Bill and his dairy operations.
Bill has been an active leader for improved agriculture and dairying, as has his entire family, for many years. Not only a dairyman, Bill owned and operated the Ford and New Holland Company Implement Company. He also owned and operated four feed and farm supply stores in the Verona area. He still owns the Purdy Farm Center and has been president for 20 years. Bill was a junior dairy leader for over 25 years. He is a Charter Member of the Monett and Aurora FFA Chapters; Board of Directors Missouri Guernsey Breeders Association, School Board Director, and “Who’s Who in American Business”. He is a Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bills life and that of his family is truly one of dedication to improved dairying, quality farm life, and strong support of young people’s programs.