Cookson Seed to continue after building destroyed

MORLEY, Mo. -- Though most of the Cookson Seed building lay in pieces scattered on surrounding property Monday after severe weather hit Scott County on Sunday, the Cooksons will continue business as usual.

Brad Cookson was on site Monday afternoon sorting through and cleaning up debris from the building that housed his family's business south of Morley after the recently remodeled office area and seed storage facility were destroyed during severe weather -- possibly a tornado -- that hit the area Sunday afternoon. Brad Cookson is the son of Ronnie and Dee Cookson, who own the company.

The National Weather Service has not confirmed whether a tornado or tornadoes touched down in Scott County on Sunday. A news release from the Paducah, Ky., office said three survey teams were to be surveying the damage Monday.

Based on eyewitness accounts, his experience as a claims-adjuster and the patterns of the twisted debris, Brad Cookson said he believes some type of tornado hit the building. He said he saw a tornado after he and his family took shelter at his parents' home, about two miles north of Cookson Seed, while his parents were out of town for a seed company awards meeting.

Brad Cookson's brother, Jay Cookson, said the storm system made it hard to breathe.

"It was like it was taking the air out of your lungs," he said Monday at the site of Cookson Seed.

Brad Cookson said the family is documenting its losses, making necessary repairs to the building to prevent further damage and getting what can be salvaged out of the building, including files and paperwork.

"We got coverage, and we're going to be all right," Brad Cookson said.

The family plans to rebuild the structure that housed the company for three years. The building is totaled except for the concrete floor, Dee Cookson said Monday.

"There's no way to salvage any of the building," she said.

The damage is a setback because the company was scheduled to receive its 2014 corn seed next week, but it also was a week away from having a substantial amount of corn in the warehouse that could've been destroyed during the severe weather, Brad Cookson said. The company sold the last of its wheat seed for the year last week, he said.

"Really and truly for our business, it hit probably about the right time for us not to lose our inventory," Brad Cookson said.

In the meantime, he said area farmers have offered shed space to help store the Cooksons' seed, and Dee Cookson said other seed dealers have banded together to help. The family also is looking into renting warehouse space to house its inventory.

Ronnie and Dee Cookson both taught in the Scott County Central School District. Ronnie Cookson was a longtime basketball coach for Scott County Central and led the Braves to 13 state titles. He coached Otto Porter, who went on to play basketball for Georgetown and in July was signed to play for the Washington Wizards. Scott County Central's gymnasium is named Ronnie Cookson Gymnasium.

Brad Cookson said the family has more people helping to clear the damage than he can count, and plenty of former students have called or stopped by to lend a hand.

"Rural America is a very good place to live," and it's times like these that brings out the good in people, Dee Cookson said.

No one was in the office at the time of the severe weather. Had the storm hit a quarter of a mile north, it would have hit the populated area of Morley, Brad Cookson said, which could've resulted in significant injuries.

Until the family lines up a contractor, which could take months, and receives money to rebuild the facility, Brad Cookson said Cookson Seed still is open for business.

"We'll move the office to the house and keep going," he said. "[Ronnie will] take over the kitchen table. That's what it will amount to."

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