The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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September 13, 2009

Crab Orchard teen manages a flock of responsibility

By Bev Davis

A 16-year-old Crab Orchard farmer in the making feathers his nest by raising chickens.

“My Papaw Sam had a back yard chicken house, and I got interested in the chickens. He gave me a few and helped me build the chicken houses and learn how to take care of them,” Coleman Priddy said.

The son of Scott and Cindy Priddy is up before daylight caring for the baby chicks, laying hens and eggs he’s incubating.

“I go out to the barn and clean up after them all and make sure they have whatever they need, then I go to work and come home and do it all over again,” he said.

And, he does it strictly for one reason — he wants to, his mom said.

“We never have to tell him it’s time to go take care of them. This is his thing, and he really cares about those chickens. This was something he wanted to do when we moved to the farm six years ago. He’s up and out there taking care of them before we even know it sometimes,” Cindy Priddy said.

During the summer, the ambitious teen worked at Priddy’s Hardware and General Store in Sophia.

The store is owned by his grandfather, Don Priddy, and his dad works there.

“I’ve grown up with an interest in farming. It’s something I like because I’m outside all the time,” Coleman said. “I don’t think I could handle one of those jobs where you sit behind a computer all day. I like to be out in the fresh air and moving around all the time.”

Although his brother Connor, 11, and sister Catey, 6, aren’t sure they’re headed into careers as farmers, they, too, enjoy being around the cattle, goats, horses, chickens and a rabbit who’s taken up residence near one of the chicken pens.

Coleman, however, moved from Independence Middle School to Shady Spring High School this year because of the school’s Future Farmers of America program.

“I want to be part of FFA, because you have to be a member for at least a year in order to be able to show animals at the State Fair of West Virginia,” he said. “I also think there’s a lot I can learn in FFA that will help me later on.”

The Priddys live on land owned by Coleman’s great-great-grandfather and are bringing the farm back to life.

“I think a farm is a good place to raise kids,” Scott Priddy said. “It teaches them responsibility, and they see how important it is to take care of things in a timely way.”

Cindy has watched their older son’s interest go from a budding hobby to a small business.

“When I hear him talking with older men about chickens, it blows my mind how much he knows. He has read and studied about chickens, and he’s taught himself how to apply a lot of that knowledge. We’re really proud of him,” she said.

By selling eggs and chickens Coleman gains some practical business experience.

“It’s a lot of responsibility. You have to be dedicated to it, or you shouldn’t do it,” Coleman said.

“Children gain a lot of knowledge when they have responsibility,” Cindy said. “We never imagined Coleman would take this kind of an interest.”

Coleman doesn’t mind the hard work and investment of time in his farming interests.

“A full day at a farm can fly by. I never get bored,” he said. “I can’t think of anything I would like better.”

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com

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