MORAN Both Laura and Jeff Johnson grew up with an appreciation of living in small towns.
The Johnsons, this years farm marshals for the upcoming Farm-City Days, spoke about their fondness for all things quaint in a recent visit with a Register reporter.
The conversation came amid an otherwise busy Friday, where Jeff spent the morning tending cattle on what had been his parents old farmstead near Redfield, getting home in time to wash up before heading to Humboldts Community National Bank branch, where he works as a regional vice president. (The name sounds more prestigious than it is, he jokes.)
Then, he returned home for this interview before heading back out for another meeting.
Laura, meanwhile, keeps plenty busy around the home about three miles south of Moran, lends a hand with the cattle farming operation when asked, and finds times for other activities in Moran, and her native Humboldt (Shes the daughter of Don and Ellie Walburn.)
That said, the Johnsons were a bit incredulous when asked to serve as dignitaries for Saturdays 11 a.m. parade.
They couldnt find anybody else? Jeff laughed.
In all fairness, the Johnson family has become enmeshed in community events across Allen County, and beyond.
The community has been very good to us, Jeff said. We always thought it was important to give back.
In addition to his banking job, Jeff serves as an Allen County Regional Hospital trustee, is a member of the Moran Ruritan club and the Kansas Livestock Association. Laura is on the Allen Community College Endowment Board and remains active with the Humboldt AM chapter of PEO, a womens organization. Theyre also supporters of Allen County 4-H activities.
In between home, church life and chasing after their two now-adult sons, Trent, 21, and Ty, 19, there are rarely two days without something occurring here or there, they agreed.
JEFF grew up on a cattle farm near Redfield, the son of Andy and Karen Johnson.
He knew he wanted to work cattle, but his father insisted that Jeff find a second full-time career in case the cattle markets go south (which they are known to do.)
A family friend convinced him to go to school to pursue a career in banking.
