Sho-Me Real Estate celebrates 20th anniversary

A little more than two decades ago, Trish Watterson was nearing five years working in the real estate industry.
Meanwhile, her husband, Shannon, worked his nights as a referee and spent long days as well as many nights working with his dad, Johnny, on the family’s dairy farm started by Ray, his grandfather.
Then when his father who had registered cattle under the name Sho-Me sold the business, things lined up for Shannon to eventually get his own real estate license and plans started coming together in the Wattersons starting Sho-Me Real Estate in Mansfield.
This past Sep. 2, the Wattersons, along with their sons, Payton and Judd, and their dedicated staff celebrated the 20th anniversary of the business. Payton currently has his own real estate license.
“We are only hear because of the Lord,” Trish Watterson said. “It’s a hard business and His favor has been upon us...It’s been awesome for our family and for our marriage because we get to do so much together, whether it is flipping a house (etc.); we see each other all day. We’re involved in each other’s lives.”
For Shannon, he started milking on the family farm when he was 6 years old. It was his way of life, filled with hard work, which did help him in the transition into a new industry.
“It was easy going to work; going to work was the easy part,” he noted. “It was okay to work long hours because I was working until it was dark in the summertime...What also helped as much as anything was the background from being in a family with such straight shooters. People appreciated my dad’s honesty and stuff...And hopefully they will call our kids because they liked to work with us (just like people use to like to call me due to working with my dad).”
Knowing the cattle and dairy business has also translated into success selling real estate.
“When people move here, especially if they have cattle, you can really help them,” Trish Watterson noted.
Through the years, the business itself has been successful, thanks in large part to having dedicated team members like Katrina Kirkland, who has been a faithful assistant with Sho-Me Real Estate for 18 years, and Andrew Batdorf, who has been with the business for nearly a decade.
Though the real estate market is never the same and can be challenging like during the crash of 2008 and 2009, the Wattersons, staff and agents managed to celebrate a business record of 267 closing two years ago.
“It takes a lot of people,” Trish Watterson said. “Three people couldn’t do that, but a good group and a good team helps to make that happen. If the agents do good, then Sho-Me does good.”
Sho-Me Real Estate has an office at 1203 Airport Road in Ava, with its main location being at 874 W. Commercial St. in Mansfield.
Their building in Mansfield also reflects some of the journey for the Wattersons’ business.
Their first building was once home to the Little House Inn restaurant, which was a known coffee shop hangout that allowed networking opportunities for dairy farmers.
They were able to purchase sections of the building before eventually taking ownership and flipping it, which was a challenge due to the concrete block it was made out of. Then just a couple of years ago, Sho-Me Real Estate built a new office and has been serving customers ever since. The Watterson can be reach by calling 417-924-1307 or 417-683-0457.
Visit Sho-Me Real Estate on the web at sho-mehomes.com.