For 35 years, Matt and Michelle Moore have farmed on the land where Matt grew up in the Texas Panhandle

On the east side of the Texas Panhandle, in between Shamrock and Wheeler, lies Kelton, and that’s where Matt Moore and his wife, Michelle, have been operating Matt Moore Farms for nearly 35 years. It’s ground that Matt has known for as long as he can remember.

“We actually live in my grandparents’ house,” Matt shared. “I was born and raised right here and am fourth generation. I’ve been on this land my whole life. I grew up with what I know, and I love it. I love being outdoors, hands-on and trying new things.”

Matt Moore Farms has traditionally been a row crop operation growing cotton, peanuts, sorghum and wheat. During the past several years, the couple have transitioned to more livestock with a cow herd. Along with the change in model came a mindset to turn a large portion of the farmland back to grass.

“We still do row crops, but times change,” Matt said. “For instance, when I first started farming, there were five cotton gins in Wheeler County, and there used to be a whole lot more. Now, there are zero left. All of our cotton goes to neighboring counties.”

TL12V2 delivers versatility

Another change has been the Moores’ use of equipment. Matt bought his first skid steer about 20 years ago, and having one became a constant in Matt Moore Farms’ operations.

“Equipment is an offshoot of farming because we would buy a piece, see a need for it and find multiple uses,” said Matt. “The forklift, skid steer and wheel loaders have become staples on the farm.”

Matt continued, “We found out the skid steer was a very handy tool to have on the farm. We used it for anything you can imagine and kept buying more and more attachments as the years went by. We use most of them on a fairly regular basis.”

Working with Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) Territory Manager Brady McAlister, Matt Moore Farms added a Takeuchi TL12V2 compact track loader to do a variety of tasks, including brush cutting, mulching and blading. McAlister also helped with the addition of a Fecon BH85SS mulcher, a Virnig V60 root rake grapple, a Virnig brush cutter and an Erskine dozer blade with front stabilizer wheels.

“We bought the TL12V2 about two years ago, and it was my first Takeuchi,” Matt recalled. “I ran into Brady, and the more we visited, the more I decided that was the brand I needed to own. He asked me a lot of questions about how I was going to use it, so he understood exactly what I needed. One of the biggest factors in the decision was the hydraulic cooling capacity to run the Fecon mulcher, which has really good power. We use it and the Virnig attachments for brush control and to clear out fence rows and small trees in our efforts to grow more grass.”

Matt continued, “We use the Erskine blade primarily for dirt work. Additionally, if sand blows up in a fence row, we can pull it out with the blade. Historically, we used a tractor with a three-point blade, and this was an opportunity to be a little more efficient. You can pull the dirt away and smooth it out. It works well.”

Matt added that changing attachments is a simple process with the Takeuchi TL12V2.

“It’s much better than my previous skid steer because there’s a pressure relief valve to plug the hydraulics in,” noted Matt. “Using that when you’re plugging in the hoses helps make the connection easier.”

Tasks made easier with TB290

In addition to the TL12V2, Matt Moore Farms purchased a Takeuchi TB290 compact excavator that KSM equipped with a Werk-Brau spring-loaded tilt coupler, so Matt can run a JB Equipment Alpha 320 tree shear, a Dougherty Forestry Products turbo saw and a Danuser T7 Hornet post driver, as well as buckets.

“We use the TB290 mainly for brush control, clearing fence rows and keeping tree branches away from the fence,” Matt explained. “I really wanted additional functionality beyond a typical excavator, so I can prune a tree off at ground level or turn it to prune a branch, and Brady found the tilting coupler and had the machine equipped to run it. It allows me to do very precise trimming because I can angle the blade exactly at the angle I want.”

Matt emphasized that the TB290 has made those tasks much easier.

“As I’ve aged, that has become more important,” reflected Matt. “If I don’t ever have to pick up a chainsaw again, that’s fine with me. I haven’t had to since we got the excavator.”

Being able to buy a large number of varying pieces of equipment and brands from one dealer is a real advantage too, according to Matt.

“I like being able to get everything I need in one location and the service for it,” stated Matt. “Brady did a lot of research, and Kirby-Smith helped with the setup of everything. Like the loader, we wanted versatility with the excavator. Brady and Kirby-Smith brought me multiple attachments that they thought were my best options, so I could try them, and through that process and our discussions, we decided on the ones I currently use. They have been excellent to work with.”

Looking to slow down a little

Matt and Michelle are working to continue Matt Moore Farms’ legacy, although another generation of Moores will likely not be in the picture.

“We want to slow down, and we’re trying to get a younger generation to start taking over and doing more of the hard work,” Matt indicated. “The equipment is part of that plan, but I found a young neighbor as well who is stepping in and doing a lot of the farming and cows and is helping with that now. We will see where it goes.”

*The opinions expressed here are from the end user as quoted. The results described herein are those of these end users under certain conditions. Individual results may vary.