Foundations in Family
For Steve Morris, logging has been a way of life since his father began a logging company in the 1950s. However, it was when Steve had his own children that the deep intertwining of family and agriculture became apparent.
“That was the biggest motivation to do better, was having a family,” Steve said. “I realized why we were put here. So, all my energy went toward providing for my family. And logging, it was the industry I knew.”
Today, Steve and his son Jake work together at the family operation: Morris Logging and Contracting. With high-tech equipment, they have embraced mechanical felling to improve both safety and productivity.
“In today’s world, you need to be productive to make the kind of money you need to operate,” Jake said.
Partnerships that Grow
In seasonal industries like logging, it can be challenging to find ways to create consistent income throughout the year. For the Morris family, a partnership with American AgCredit has been instrumental in expanding Morris Logging and Contracting to overcome this hurdle.
“We’ve had the privilege of working with both Jake and Steve to grow and diversify their business,” said the Morris’ loan officer, Jillian Santos. “They’ve taken an otherwise seasonal business and created year-round revenue. [It’s been] an honor and privilege to get to know not only their business, but to see the family working side by side and hear how Steve has grown what his father built and how Jake has exploded their business into other areas.”
For Jake, having a lending partner who supports innovation and growth is invaluable.
“Our relationship with American AgCredit has been phenomenal,” he said. “They understand that your time is valuable. I feel that [they] have more of a can-do attitude with you. When you throw something their way, they’re trying to figure out a way of making it happen.”
As Morris Logging and Contracting looks to the future, family remains at the heart of everything they do.
“It’s really rewarding to be able to get up and work with my dad every day,” Jake said. “It gives me something to look forward to with my son growing up. It’s kind of a perfect blueprint of what I’d like to have with him.”
