This column serves as a spotlight, highlighting the everyday people who work and live in Callaway County. The Fulton Sun takes a moment with someone who is not usually featured in the news, but is just as instrumental in making the community a strong and beautiful place.
Matthias McCurren grew up and went to school in Jefferson City and has been living in northwest Callaway with his grandfather. McCurren and his grandfather run a family logging company together. He studied at Westminster College and lived abroad while he served in the Peace Corps for a number of years.
Q. What was your first job?
A. My father was a realtor in Jefferson City and I did the landscaping for him and his property. I would cut the grass and pick up the limbs and stuff like that to keep the curb value up during the summers.
Q. Who most inspires you (living or dead)?
A. My grandfather, Forrest Backer, with whom I work with currently. He's gonna be 90 in September and he still gets after it. We're in a pretty physically demanding business and he's still up and gets after it. Not only his physical ability to work, it's also his disposition and attitude to be his age to still want to get out there and he does it with a smile on his face.
Q. What have you done in life that was most fulfilling?
A. I've had the opportunity to live outside the country when I worked in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. I taught school and I taught natural science classes. Having the ability to travel is great but also having the ability to come back home has been really satisfying.
Q. What is something that you are proud of that you have been recognized for?
A. I did a program last year where I was living in Brazil teaching English at a university. The program is called Fulbright and it's an organization out of Washington, D.C. It's kind of competitive academically and I was selected to fulfill a grant and got to teach in Brazil.
Q. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
A. I always thought being a professional surfer would be pretty cool. I like coastal areas, I like the ocean - which is kind of ironic being here in the middle of the country - but I love travelling and playing in the ocean.
Q. What profession would you not like to do?
A. I baled hay for a few summers when I was studying at Westminster just to get some extra spending money. I don't have any desire to bale hay again. It's a sweaty, dirty job.
Q. What is something that nobody knows about you?
A. I have a pretty sizable boot collection. Being a logger, we have work boots that we need. I'm a big fan of Red Wing's boots, made in Minnesota. I probably have more boots than I'd like to admit.
Q. What is your favorite thing about Callaway County?
A. It feels like home to me. When I think of coming home now, at this point in my life, I think of being on my grandfather's farm. When I hear Callaway County it's synonymous with being back home.