Monitored and controlled by computer programming, the entire operation is under the watchful eyes of the owners and operators, Jackie and Michael Moseley. They have designed the operation to maintain the strict temperature and feeding system to produce proper and healthy poultry growth.

Jackie and Michael have known each other from childhood. Both Auburn grads, the couple pooled their talents and ambitions to return to the place they grew up to further their lives. They are a symbol of what successful life in a rural community can be – if you are willing to plan and work for it as hard as they do.

Jackie Holmes, who graduated from South Montgomery County Academy (SMCA) in May of 1986, received her degree from Auburn University in Management Information Systems in 1991, Jackie’s interest was in developing computer systems and writing software programs before thinking of the poultry industry.

Michael, also a 1986 SMCA graduate, pursued his interest in cattle farming and received a degree in Agriculture Science from Auburn University . His primary interest was in cattle, but he chose poultry farming as a way to diversify the farm operation in 1992.

He began with three conventional broiler houses, growing out 60,000 chickens per batch, some seven to eight times per year. Much of the operation was managed ‘by hand’. Heaters and fans were controlled by manual thermostats, and the work was time consuming and intensive.

“Raising our children on a farm and in a small community like Ramer is a great Blessing to us,” he says.

The Family Teams Up

Michael and Jackie have been childhood “sweethearts” who married and began raising a family. A son, Baxter, was born in 1955, and daughter, Katie in 1998.

Jackie had continued the pursuit of her career in mainframe computer programming, and considered her career and Michael’s “worlds apart” in the ‘90’s. But as time progressed so did technology, bringing their career paths closer. Soon after the births of their children, Jackie and Michael decided the time was right for both of them to devote themselves full-time to updating their poultry farming operation.

By spring 2002, they had remodeled their three original poultry houses into modern 500-foot ‘tunnel-vented’ houses and soon added a totally new 500-foot tunnel house. That increased their broiler capacity to 100,000 per batch, or just under a million birds a year. Life and technology changed dramatically.

No More Guesswork

Because the biggest threat to poultry farming is excessive heat and ammonia levels, Jackie and Michael installed a ‘controller’ in each of the poultry houses. This system monitors the fans, heaters and evaporative cooling units. It gives them a means to automatically monitor conditions 24 hours a day.

All of the controllers are integrated into one computer. “We can monitor,” says Michael, “as well as modify, house conditions using this integrated system. We also have the capability of being able to dial-in to the system to monitor conditions when we’re away from the farm, or when bad weather is in our area.” Jackie adds, “the daily work involved with poultry farming hasn’t really changed or become any easier, but new technology has made it possible to handle more birds on the farm for the effort.”

Thanks to some important work by MonCre technician David Hubbard, the dial-in service system was set in place which monitors (literally from anywhere in the world) the conditions in these buildings.

“MonCre has grown right along with us,” says Michael. “From the first day of business they have been here to help and support us in our changes. They have always been more than willing to run telephone lines or install phone jacks to help us stay connected. When we call with a problem, they are always quick to respond and solve the problem.”

In October, 2003 another expansion added four more tunnel-vented houses to the farm and increased the capacity to produce approximately 220,000 broilers at a rate of eight times a year for Alabama ’s Sylvest Farms.

The Moseley farm and poultry operation is an example of what happens when knowledge and efficiency join technology. It also provides this MonCre ‘subscriber family’ with a financial opportunity and a chosen lifestyle for themselves and their children.

Through their thoughtful and hard work, the sign of success hangs over the land that has been in the Moseley family for several generations.

Both Have Important Roles

Michael today remains the primary caregiver for the broilers and also maintains all poultry house equipment and other equipment used in the poultry operation. He also manages the removal and distribution of the litter—a task that begins with a 31/2 mile walk every morning through the houses. Jackie has the responsibility of managing the controllers and the integrated system, as well as the bookkeeping and record keeping for the business. Presently, the farm consists of eight tunnel-vented broiler houses, as well as 90 head of cattle.

Michael and Jackie appreciate the environment in which they grew up, and are pleased that their children will have the opportunity. “Raising our children on a farm and in a small community like Ramer is a great blessing to us, Jackie says. Our children take for granted the wildlife around us, the farm life they enjoy so much, and the great family, neighbors and friends that we have here. We are so thankful to God for the opportunity to be right here where we are.”

As their parents did, both children attend school at South Montgomery County Academy .

The Moseley’s are members of the Sampey Memorial Baptist Church , where Jackie helps with the weekly bulletin and Michael serves as Sunday School secretary. He also gets the job of preparing breakfast at the community men’s breakfast held at SMCA on the third Sunday of each month. Jackie takes on the responsibility of maintaining the computers in the school library so that their network can stay running smoothly.

Jackie says, “MonCre has always been more than willing to run telephone lines or install telephone jacks to help us stay connected. When we call with a problem, they are always quick to respond and solve the problem.”

onCre Telephone Cooperative is pleased to have such an outstanding young farm family as the Moseley’s as a subscriber and member. It is our pleasure to have assisted them with installations and equipment, and our job to kepp their communications and even more pleased to have helped them move forward by assisting in the installation of phone lines and equipment.