26
Jul
2018
Pulling out of my driveway two years ago, there were a lot of things I didn’t know. I didn’t know about the logistical challenges ahead of me. Other than when they were on my dinner plate, I’d never given second thought to many of the crops I was setting out to see. Most of all, I had no idea how the people I met on the Why I Farm Roadtrip would touch my life forever.
Categories: Why I Farm
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9
May
Now that the weather has finally warmed up, farmers and ranchers around the country have been preparing for a new season.Here’s what spring looks like for some of our Why I Farm Roadtrip featured farmers around the country.
Tags: Beck's Blog, farming, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, spring season, farmers of America
17
2017
Nelda Mitchell grew up on a dairy farm. As a girl, she milked cows twice a day, 365 days a year. “On leap year it's 366 days, and it’s rain, shine, sleet or snow. Ball game, party, whatever, you still had to milk cows.” She recalls.
Categories: Why I Farm, Why I Farm Roadtrip
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, peanuts, agritourism, Cotton, Mitchell Family Farm, corn maze, pumpkin patch, playground, Mississippi family farm
16
Growing up in a suburb of Los Angeles, Debbie Crocker never imagined she’d end up a farmer in Oregon. On the other hand, her husband, Collin, never left the family farm he grew up on.
“Literally, from day one, I never thought about doing anything else.” He says, standing in the farm office surrounded by his family.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, hazelnuts, grass, mint, Debbie Crocker, Collin Crocker, Oregon farmers, pumpkin seed, grass seed, sugar beet, seed
14
Kyle Wilson is proud to honor his family’s traditions and help write the next chapter of their history in agriculture on his southern Utah farm. Along with his wife, Shelley, and their three children, Kyle raises vegetable crops, including heirloom tomatoes, and small livestock
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, tomatoes, Sheep, pigs, organic, young farmer, Kyle Wilson, Eden Valley Produce, Utah, carrots, beets
With their faith and family leading the way, Kelby and Kathie Iverson are building a legacy on their ranch in southern Utah. Both grew up with farming and ranching backgrounds, and are eager to raise their own six children with traditions of hard work and love of the land.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, corn, cattle, Natalina Sents, alfalfa, Why I Farm Roadtrip, agritourism, Ranch, Utah, Iverson
12
Gordon Culbertson of Springfield, Oregon has been involved in forestry since he was 12 years old. Although he’s retired from his full-time career, he still has a couple of tree farms and generously shares his expertise with friends and family.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Gordon Culbertson, Oregon, timber, trees, forest, wood
Growing up, Jay Smith was always told he could never ranch. Before they met, his wife, Chyenne got an art degree and started a construction company doing decorative concrete floors because it wasn’t possible to make a living riding horses. For years, people said ranching simply wasn’t in their cards.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, cattle, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Beef, Chyenne Smith, JLazyS Angus, Jay Smith, Idaho Rancher
At Oklahoma State University, Aaron Base had professors that told him he’d never be able to farm. His diversified farm outside Geary, Oklahoma is proving them wrong. Today, Aaron and his wife raise a variety of niche products, like grassfed beef and wine grapes, along with their two daughters just down the road from the family’s main farm.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Oklahoma, Aaron Base
11
When she was just 19 years old, Ellen Allen’s father passed away. He left her Pocket Creek Ranch in southern Montana, and she was determined to carry on his legacy.
“Dad had such dreams for this place.” She says with a sentimental smile. “It wasn't really mom's cup of tea too much because she had been an Illinois farm girl and she loved fertile land. This place was a little dry and a little rough for her.”
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, cattle, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Montana Ranch, flying, Ellen Allen, Harry Allen
When he was a senior in high school, Justin Hamilton’s family moved to a new irrigated ranch near Columbus, Montana. His parents also owned the ACE Hardware store in town. Early in his career, Justin worked all day at the store and did ranch work at night.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, corn, cattle, Natalina Sents, alfalfa, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Ranch, Montana, Justin Hamilton
10
Growing up, Krista Stauffer didn’t know much about agriculture. In fact, the only farm experience she had was driving past an old dairy farm in her small hometown. Ironically, today she lives on that exact farm with her husband and their growing young family.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, dairy, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Washington, jerseys, milk, The Farmer's Wife, young farmer
8
Tucked in the mountains of northeast Washington, a little antique shop welcomes visitors to Front Porch Farm. Further down the lane lies the small diversified farm that Dee Acheson and his wife, Liz started nearly 20 years ago.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, hay, cattle, Family, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, farmers market, Washington, vegetables, small farm, local, fresh, antiques, Front Porch Farm
7
The Greet family is proud to have four generations on their centennial ranch near Ten Sleep, Wyoming. While old farms and ranches can be found across the country, the Greet’s place is especially unique.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, hay, cattle, Family, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Wyoming, Ranch Red Dirt In My Soul, Carol Greet
6
Tony and Linda Schiffer live, work and play in agriculture as a team. In addition to their own ranch, they represent Superior Livestock, are active in industry organizations, and enjoy team roping. They both grew up in ranching families, and have continued in that way of life as adults.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, cattle, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Wyoming, land, love of the land, stewards of the land, Tony and Linda Schiffer
5
More than 40 years ago, John and Janell Reid started their life together outside of Ordway, Colorado. They met at Colorado State University, and were ready to join the ranch John’s parents purchased about 20 years prior.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, cattle, Natalina Sents, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Agri-Women, Colorado, John, Janell, ranching, American
1
Ryan Kanode still remembers the first time he got to drive the combine as a kid. It was during wheat harvest on his uncles’ farm where he worked in the summer. Now he’s in his sixth season farming and running a chemical business with his uncles in northeast Colorado. “I'd say since I was little, it's kind of what I always wanted to do.” He smiles.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Colorado Farmer, Ryan Kanode, Nataline Sents
29
Jun
After spending five years away from the family farm, Jean Lam returned to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to continue her family’s tradition of caring for cattle and row crops.
“I went to college for four years and then lived in Washington D.C. for a year. After that, I moved home and realized that I didn't want to go to law school. I wanted to farm. That's my passion.” Jean smiles.
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, cattle, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Jean Lam, Oklahoma, Agri-Women, pasture
28
All his life, Jim Harper of Louisiana has wanted to be a farmer. “My father was a farmer. From the time I was small, following him around and working on the farm growing up, I wanted to be a farmer.” Jim recalls.
“When I was a child, we raised seed corn. We used to detassel the seed corn by hand. That was a great memory for me. I would do that every summer. It was hard work, but I liked it. I just, I love being outdoors. I love being in the country. Sometimes it's hard to describe, but it's just a love of being on the farm, being on the land.”
Tags: Beck's Blog, Why I Farm, Beck's Hybrids, soybeans, Why I Farm Roadtrip, Louisiana Farmer, Jim Harper, sugar cane, crawfish, rice
To say that Jason Anderson is passionate about his Louisiana farm is a total understatement. Driving up to his place, it is clear that he takes pride in the crops he produces.
“I grow vegetables.” Jason beams, walking quickly through a large shelter full of tables and coolers. “It’s fun to grow stuff. I love it. There's just something about it. I sell right here in the back yard.” He says without slowing down.