Cover Feature: By Stephanie Haas solidified a home at JDK Trucking since its purchase in 2003. Hauling cattle within the state of Kansas, in October 2021, while still driving one of the company trucks, Mason purchased his first truck and put a driver in it. Fast forward a year and he and his wife Esther were married on July 31. Also in 2022, Mason purchased that same gray 1999 Peterbilt 379 from his father. Pretty cool that this 379 is Kansas is a multi-faceted state, and when you drive through this flyover state, the vast land changes from east to west. This land is built on solid morals, firm handshakes for agreements, and where your word is the written contract. There is green grass, abundant crops, and beautiful landscapes on the east side of Kansas. Amidst that area is Burns, KS, home to Mason Smith (25), his family, a bunch of cattle, crops, and trucking. Three generations strong, Mason was no stranger to ranch and trucking life. Family-owned JDK Trucking LLC was started by John (Mason’s grandpa), David (Mason’s Dad), and Keith (David’s brother) in 1996. Mason was fortunate to have grown up in the industry among men who not only knew the value of the land, but the hard work that goes into being successful. He loved riding in the truck with his dad whenever he could, but around age seven or eight is when he fell in love with it when he got behind the wheel for the first time. Some might say, everything kind of fell into place as time went on, from there. His father David was responsible for teaching Mason how to drive, and it wouldn’t be until years later that Mason truly valued everything he was taught. His dad, along with his grandfather John, instilled a hard work ethic into Mason throughout the years. In 2014, David, along with Mason and Mason’s younger brother Austin, started MAD (Mason, Austin, David) Cattle Company. Just after his birthday in June 2017, Mason obtained his CDL, and it just worked out that one of their drivers quit, leaving their gray 1999 Peterbilt 379 open for Mason to hop into. This truck had already 10 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 CATTLE, CROPS & TRUCKING
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