Fort Morgan farmer and fund-raiser Nick Kallsen.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn

Nick Kallsen comes home from hauling a truckload of pinto beans, dirt filling the crevices of his face. "Them pinto beans are dirty," he said, dusting off his blue jeans.

Earlier, his 50-year-old International tractor broke down - even International doesn't make pans for it anymore.

Kallsen takes it all in stride; just another day on the Morgan County farm where he tends 360 acres - alfalfa this year - leases 640 acres for pasture, raises bucking cattle for the rodeo, and drives a truck to earn enough money so he can afford to farm and ranch.

"I never dread Mondays or look forward to Fridays because when you work seven days a week, any day can be a Monday, or any day can be a Friday," said Kallsen.

Kallsen sees his share of Mondays: He's a family farmer who had to start over two years ago when the price of cattle dropped and the bank called his note.

A Brighton native, Kallsen, 56, and his wife Gloria moved to the Fort Morgan area 13 years ago when a traffic light went in near his Brighton farm. That was too much development for Kallsen, so he headed east.

It's been anything but easy. In his youth, Kallsen spent 16 years on the rodeo circuit, riding bulls, breaking bones and occasionally winning a purse. When Gloria came into his life he quit rodeo, and 33 years later they're still happily married.

"I was born into the farm life," said Kallsen. "It's something you can't take away, and I'll do whatever I have to to stay here. Like that sign up there said 'This is my ranch and I'll do as I please.' That's what it's all about."

Kallsen looks out for his neighbors, most recently organizing fellow farmers to help the family of Kenny Kembel, who died last...