The Farmer's Daughter

Mandy is an outstanding student, friend, and farmer’s daughter. She is either at school, helping on the family farm, or volunteering at her church. Five foot, four inch Mandy drives a lifted one ton truck and is one hundred percent farm girl tackling anything that comes her way. I have been very blessed to have Mandy as a friend throughout junior high, high school, and college and I have no idea what I would do without her!

Kelsey: Can you please tell me a little bit about your family farm?

Mandy: My family farm consists of corn, soybeans, and beef cattle. The main part of our farm is located outside of Tremont, Illinois, my hometown. We farm 4,000 acres in two states. Our farm areas are located around Tremont, Illinois, Centralia, Missouri, and Taylor, Missouri. My dad is the man in charge on our family farm. Along with the help of my uncle, my dad is a part of every activity that happens on the farm. The two of them plant, harvest, and haul grain, care for the cattle, apply their own fertilizers and herbicides, and are the mechanics behind all of the equipment. Our family farm, stays in the family, with the exception of the very occasionally employed truck driver or auger wagon operator, when I am at school or working. 

Kelsey: Why did you decide to study agriculture?

Mandy: Agriculture has always been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. I can remember telling people even in kindergarten, that I wanted to be a farmer, but being nervous because farming is traditionally a man's job. As I have grown up and worked on the farm all my life, I have become my dad's shadow. I always followed him around out in the field, handed him tools in the shed, or sat beside him in the tractor. Since I have been old enough to drive on my own, my dad can't convince me to stay home. I enjoy driving the auger wagon and operating tillage equipment. I enjoy being able to pull the bull dozer out when it gets stuck cleaning out ditches, or driving the trailer of seed from field to field. I have felt so strongly that I have a place in agriculture, so I decided to attend to college to study agribusiness and agronomy management. Agriculture has always been a large part of me and will always continue to be. 

Kelsey: What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the agricultural industry today?

Mandy: I think that “women in agriculture” is a big issue in the current industry. As I mentioned before, I was always a bit nervous about entering what predominantly was a man's job. More and more women are entering the field of agriculture each year, but I believe there are still people who are cautious about allowing a woman to take on various roles in agriculture. In my agriculture classes the males greatly outweigh the females. This seems to be a common trend in the industry. I think that women have taken great steps in the agricultural industry, but there is a long way to go to receive equal opportunity. 

Kelsey: What life lessons/values do you feel you learned growing up on the farm?

Mandy: Growing up on my family farm where my dad assumed every role, I feel that I have learned many values. My dad taught me how to be successful enough in decision making to provide for a family. He showed me how to be task oriented and manage time. He taught me how to work hard and take things into my own hands. My dad is a very hard working man, but he is also there to spend time with his family. My mom does the bookkeeping for the farm, and all of the bills and taxes. She has taught me to be patient (because my dad isn't the most organized person when it comes to paperwork!) and how to help run a farm from behind the scenes. My parents have taught me a lot of great life lessons right on our farm, and I am thankful that I was raised on a family farm. 

Friend a Farmer Friday

As social media continues to prevail throughout our everyday lives more and more farmers are taking advantage of an excellent opportunity to promote the industry they have grown to know and love!

Check out Wentworth Family Farms on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/user/torywentworth

Friend A Farmer Friday

Today's Friend A Farmer is a very special farm wife and mother of three, almost four! As she juggles the kids, her husband, and the farm she shares her everyday life! Please check out this extraordinary blog!

http://webelfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/

The Story Behind The Turkey

I very vividly remember my grade school field trip to the Sinn Turkey Farm. I had been to quite a few different types of livestock farms but I had never seen turkeys! As a Tremont Turk myself this was important; yes, you heard me correctly. My hometown of twenty-one hundred people has a “turkey” as our school mascot. We refer to him as a Turk and he is extremely tough I might add! Greg Sinn is a great farmer, father, and an amazing asset to his community.

Kelsey: Can you please tell me a little bit about your farm?  

Greg: My brother Steve and I operate our farm, Sinn Brothers Turkey Farm. Over seventy years ago my father started the farm and it has evolved as well as the turkey itself. In the beginning years of the Sinn Turkey Farm our market was a whole bird market catering to the Holiday season. We raised the birds in outdoor lots and even ran a processing plant. In order to address a health conscious consumer’s diet the turkey market changed to a year round market. At this point in time we began raising large turkey toms for Sara Lee. The turkey toms are marketed in deli or other quickly prepared products to be eaten at any time rather than simply cooking a large turkey and wondering how to eat the entire thing. We moved our turkeys from the outdoor lots to environmentally controlled buildings. The advancements throughout turkey farming are unbelievable and I cannot imagine what they will come out with next!

Kelsey: Is there a connection between your farm and the Tremont Turk mascot?

Greg: This is quite a reoccurring question on the Sinn Turkey Farm since we are one of the last turkey growing farms in the Tremont area. However, we are not the reason for the well established mascot. There was a turkey farmer a while back that donated money to Tremont High School in order for the school to purchase their first uniforms and it is often believed that is how the “Turk” mascot evolved.

Kelsey: Why do you have a passion for agriculture?

Greg: My passion for agriculture has to be tied to working as a family. There is an inherit responsibility to keep up the farm my previous generations worked so hard to develop. Everyone was expected to do their part as I grew up and that is no different today! It is so special to see family pitch in to help unload the baby turkeys when they arrive at our farm and then help again as we load them at market time. Agriculture is a cycle just like our everyday lives and it is extremely important that we keep family in the center of everything we do!

Kelsey: As a turkey farmer how do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Greg: We celebrate Thanksgiving by being thankful for our friends, neighbors, and family. We hand dress some of our turkeys and give them to friends and neighbors as tokens of our thanks. At our family Thanksgiving we celebrate being together and appreciate everything God has given us. We of course have turkey! In fact, I am the proclaimed turkey cook with a secret recipe that I change a little every year as I see fit!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! This year please take a few minutes before eating your Thanksgiving dinner and remember the farmers who raised the potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, milk, wheat, and of course turkey for the special meal that allows your family to gather and celebrate in Thanksgiving.  

Friend a Farmer Friday

Illinois Corn Farmers do an amazing job at promoting not only corn but the entire the agricultural industry. Check out the Corn Corps blog!

http://corncorps.blogspot.com/

Queen of the Farm

Angie is currently an agricultural education major at the University of Illinois. Growing up on the farm Angie has always known that agriculture would play a large role in her future. She is extremely involved throughout her school and community and demonstrates her love for the farm in everything she does. As a previous county fair queen Angie was a tremendous role model for Tazewell County 4-Her’s. I’m positive she will be a tremendous asset to an Illinois high school agriculture department upon her graduation.

 

Kelsey: Can you tell me a little bit about your farm?

Angie: My father and brother farm in Tazewell County.  We grow corn, soybeans, pumpkins, wheat, and we also have some hay.  Until last year, we also raised Polled Hereford cattle that my brother and I used to show. 

Kelsey: What is your favorite memory of growing up on the farm?

Angie: My favorite memory growing up on the farm would most likely be taking supper out to the field for my dad and grandpas during harvest.  This was the best time because my brother and I took turns riding with my dad in the combine for a few rounds, and while we were waiting, we would get to ride to the elevator with my grandpas in the grain trucks.  I loved getting to spend time out in the field and being a part of our farming operation even though I was only a little girl.

Kelsey: How are you involved within your community and school?

Angie: At the University of Illinois, I am currently the Membership Chair in Sigma Alpha which is a professional agricultural sorority.  We differ from other sororities on campus because we do professional development events, speakers, and trips to learn about the agricultural industry.  Our national philanthropy is Ag In the Classroom, so within the Champaign-Urbana area, we do numerous AITC presentations each semester to promote agricultural literacy.

I am also currently the Vice President of Programs for the Student Advancement Group for Education here on campus.  This group works alongside the Office of Advancement in the College of Education to promote communication among the college and alumni, as well as holding library book drives and read-a-thons in the area. 

Alpha Tau Alpha/Ag Ed Club at the U of I is a group of mostly agricultural education students, and I am the current ACES Council Representative.  This means that I attend the ACES Council (which is like a student council for the College of ACES) meetings each month as a liaison between the ATA/Ag Ed Club and the ACES Council.

I also am an office intern and a teaching assistant.

During the summer my family is extremely involved in the antique tractor pulls in our area. My brother and I both pull our tractors. My dad and brother are in charge of a couple pulls and help at them all. I help register all of the pullers and assist with recording the distances. My mom videotapes all of my brother and my pulls. The pulls are a great time for my family to spend time together!

Kelsey: Can you please describe your role as Miss Tazewell County?

Angie: I represented Tazewell County 4-H as Miss Tazewell County 2008.  Throughout my reign I attended events representing 4-H and agriculture throughout Tazewell County.  I also competed at the Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield.  As queen, it was my job to spread awareness of 4-H and agriculture, and be a role model to 4-Her’s within Tazewell County. I am still extremely involved with the pageant and feel it is a great opportunity for young women.

Kelsey: What are your plans for the future?

Angie: I am currently an agricultural education major at the University of Illinois where I am completing a science endorsement and minoring in crop and soil management.  Upon graduation and certification, I will be teaching agriculture at the secondary level.  I hope to start an agricultural program at a school that does not currently have a program in order to increase agricultural literacy and provide leadership opportunities through the National FFA Organization.  

Cream of the Crop in Agriculture Education

Busy, busy, busy; describes the life of Grant Grebner, a farmer and assistant professor at Illinois Central College. Grant has many sleepless nights as he juggles his time on the farm, at Illinois Central College, and most importantly, with his family. He has a strong passion for the agricultural industry and makes that apparent throughout his everyday life!

Kelsey: Can you please tell me a little bit about your farm.

Grant: My family farm is a diversified livestock and grains farm operated by myself and my two brothers Gary and Stanley. The grains portion of our farm includes approximately 800 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and oats. On the livestock side we currently have 60 head of commercial cows and a 30 sow farrow-to-finish commercial swine operation. (A sow is a female hog that has had piglets; farrow-to-finish means that we raise the piglets from when they are born until they are ready for market or to be a showpig.) The cattle offspring are fed out in our feedlot and marketed through private sales for freezer beef or through a value-based marketing system with Tyson Foods in Joslin, Illinois. The swine are marketed through a grade and yield basis with Farmland Foods in Monmouth, Illinois. A portion of our sowherd focuses on showpig production with sales to 4-H and FFA youth across the Midwest.

Kelsey: Can you please tell me a little bit about your role at Illinois Central College?

Grant:  I began teaching agriculture at Illinois Central College in August of 2007. At that time, we reduced our swine operation at the farm from 100 sows to 30 sows. I am currently an Assistant Professor of Agriculture. I am also Teaching Chair within the ICC agricultural division, advisor to the Agri-Business Club, and the Livestock Judging Coach. I teach primarily animal science and agricultural economics to the agricultural transfer students and agricultural sales, pork production, and ruminant animal production to the agricultural business management students. The students in our two-year program are also required to participate in two separate eight week internships during their sophomore year and I am in charge of this program.

Kelsey: What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the agricultural industry today?

Grant: Without question, I feel the biggest challenge that we face in agriculture is the “disassociation” that mainstream society has with agriculture. The gap between our producers and consumers continues to grow as our consumers are consistently bombarded with outside information that is not always accurate. As production agriculturalists we must take an active role in TELLING our story and not let it be TOLD for us. A safe food source, fresh ground water, and well cared for animals are common objectives for both producers and consumers. We must make connections; our future depends on it.

Kelsey: What is the most rewarding part of being an agriculture teacher?

Grant: There are several things that I find rewarding about being an ag teacher! However I would have to say helping students discover the broad scope of agriculture in the educational and employment views is number one. It isn’t just cows, sows, and plows anymore! The career opportunities my students will have are endless and there are not many teachers who can say that in today’s economy. Today’s American farmer can feed an average of one hundred and fifty-six people. Therefore, not everyone in agriculture can farm; we don’t have enough land and we would have an over abundance of food! However, agriculture encompasses so many careers and I applaud my students for choosing the career path of agriculture. I also love to see the “light go on in my students eyes”. It is one thing for me to see my students’ tests results and know that they comprehend my lectures. Although it is something completely different when we are in a lab or they are on their own and something I taught them comes into play. From a teacher’s standpoint in general I enjoy seeing my students grow and mature intellectually and emotionally. While I hope all of my students gain agricultural knowledge I also hope they leave ICC as respectful and caring members of society. As a community college assistant professor I see my job as “laying a foundation”. My kids have a long journey ahead of them and anything I can do to assist them in being successful makes my job rewarding each and every day.

The Jack of all Trades

Doug is a 4^th generation farmer from Mason County in Illinois. Ever since he was little Doug knew that he someday wanted to farm with his Dad. Their family farm consists of a wide variety of crops keeping them extremely busy throughout the year. According to Doug, he is the “jack of all trades” on the farm. He does a little of everything from servicing the equipment, plowing, driving the auger wagon, combining, hauling grain into the elevator, and whatever else needs to be done on the farm. Doug is currently a sophomore at Illinois Central College where he is majoring in Agribusiness.

Kelsey: Can you tell me a little bit about your farm?

Doug: My dad, uncle, and I are the operators of my family’s farm. We take a great deal of pride in our farm as it has been a part of our family for a long time. We farm corn, soybeans, green beans, popcorn, and pumpkins. Our corn and soybeans are typically taken to a local grain co-op. Our green beans, popcorn, and pumpkins are all specialty crops that we raise in our sandy soil. They require irrigation due to the way the sand dries up so quickly and the extreme heat we have in Central Illinois throughout the summer. Our green beans are raised for Del Monte, popcorn for Pop Weaver, and our pumpkins are for Libby’s, a division of Nestle.

Kelsey: What is your favorite time of the year on the farm?

Doug: Harvest is definitely my favorite time of the year! There is an indescribable type of satisfaction attained as the crops are brought in from the field. Unlike most occupations farmers take a gamble with their family’s income. Every year we put everything into the ground and pray we have high yields, some years we pray for yields of any type. We have no control over the rain, hail, and temperatures that can destroy our crops within seconds.

Kelsey: What is your favorite memory of growing up on the farm?

Doug: My favorite memory of growing up on the farm would have to be working my dad. He has taught me everything I know about agriculture. My dad absolutely loves what he does and there is no one else I would have rather learned the ropes from. I hope someday I can have the same impact on children of my own.

Kelsey: How did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in agriculture?

Doug: Agriculture is the only way of life I have ever known and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love waking up every morning and knowing that I’m going to be doing something different than the day before. Being outdoors, the daily challenges we face, and feeding families around the world all assure me that the farm is where I belong.

Kelsey: What do you do when you’re not working on the farm?

Doug: I like spending time with my family, girlfriend, and friends. During the Summer I compete in horse shows almost every weekend. Team pinning is my favorite event at the horse shows but I also participate in ranch sorting. This past year I was nationally ranked and placed in the top ten in team pinning and in ranch sorting. My sister and I compete together so it really is a family event and we always have a lot of fun. I have a strong passion for horses and I am typically riding or working with them whenever I get a chance. During the summer I also enjoy pulling my in antique tractor pulls.

The Great Pumpkin and the Greater Pumpkin Farmer





Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars; just the thought of these fall deserts makes my mouth water! Have you ever thought about where the pumpkin comes from that is used to make your favorite pumpkin treats? The answer is not the pumpkin “farms” where you find the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin or walk through the corn maze. Pumpkins are actually raised by the same farmers that raise soybeans, corn, and other specialty products such as green beans, peas, and popcorn.

In order to raise pumpkins a farmer must gain approval from the pumpkin processing plant. The most common pumpkin processing plant is Libby’s, which is owned by Nestle. The pumpkin seed is furnished by the processing plant and planted by the farmer in May. A pumpkin farmer typically applies nitrogen, insecticide, potash, and fungicide to their fields throughout the year. Everything the farmer uses is closely regulated by the processing plant which is regulated by the FDA. Farmers always keep their consumer’s safety number one and would not provide food to the world that they would not feed their own families.

As it comes time to pick the pumpkins anytime between August and October the processing plant takes over! The first step of the picking process is called windrowing. This is when a tractor with a large slide removes all of the pumpkins from their vines and shuffles them into rows. This makes it easier for the next step which is when a tractor with a conveyor picks up the pumpkins and loads them on to the semi. The semi runs along the side of the tractor which is called sidewinding. In most cases there will be at least two of these operations going on at a time in the field making pumpkin harvesting a relatively quick operation. After the pumpkins are loaded onto the truck they are taken to the plant where they are processed into the canned pumpkin we use to make our pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars! As you enjoy these tasty deserts this fall make sure you think of the pumpkin farmer and his efforts to provide you with a tasty treat!





One of a Kind

September was Grandparent’s Month. Even though I am a little late I cannot resist blogging about my Grandpa Don. Born and raised a Central Illinois farm boy he has seen many highs and lows of the agricultural industry. Grandpa has raised nearly every animal possible along with corn, soybeans, and wheat. He is one of the most hardworking men I know and along with my dad, greatly influenced my decision to study agriculture. My Grandpa married my Grandma and they have lived on the family farm ever since. My dad always says that the farmers and the coaches are the fathers with daughters and Grandpa was no exception; my mom is the oldest of three daughters. Family has always been Grandpa’s number one priority and I strongly believe it is the farming lifestyle that keeps our family of fifteen so close.



My sister, Jessi, with Grandpa and Grandma
on our annual family vacation to Arkansas!



In order to be a livestock farmer you must have a strong passion for what you do and Grandpa is a perfect example! He does everything to the best of his knowledge to produce the best meat products! After all, the meat he is producing feeds not only families all over the world, but also his own family! Due to the amount of time Grandpa spends with his animals in the barn, pasture, or stalls it would be extremely difficult for him to not care about the best well being of his animals. Throughout his time on the farm he has raised cattle, hogs, sheep, ducks, horses, and chickens. However, his strongest love has always been for the cattle. Grandpa typically raises Charlois, Herefords, and Angus cattle. He has bruised and broken numerous ribs, received a couple of black eyes, and even broke his hip ensuring his animals receive the best care possible. However, he is tougher than anyone I know, and even the broken hip did not keep seventy-five year old Gramps down for more than a couple weeks. In fact, three months after he broke his hip he was behind the boat on his water skis! Grandma water skis too, she claims she can’t let old Grandpa out do her!

My Grandpa also bales a lot of straw and hay. Similar to raising livestock baling is something that you can’t do unless you really like it. Grandpa spends endless hours in the sun on hot summer days out in the alfalfa and wheat fields. While my cousin and a couple of his friends help Grandpa he is not typically on the tractor. Grandpa loves throwing the bales and can almost always outdo the young guns!

I feel very lucky to have such a special Grandpa! It is the farmers like him that continue to pass their love for agriculture down to the next generations and make our industry the largest in the nation.

Greg is a corn and soybean farmer from Southern Illinois. He and his wife, Nancy, are the sole operators of their family farm and take a great deal of pride in the agricultural industry. Greg and Nancy always keep the best interest of their consumers number one while preserving their farmland, and protecting the environment. They keep up with all of the latest technology advances and are always willing to try something new in hopes of improving their farm. Greg is a previous Illinois Corn leader and is very knowledgeable in regards to the locks and dams system along the Mississippi River.

Kelsey: Can you tell me a little bit about your farming practices?

Greg: The corn grown on our farm is conservation tillage and we have no-till soybeans. We use integrated pest management and a variety of different chemistries for weed control. Even though many consumers worry about the different chemicals farmers put on their fields it is important to remember that we all use as little as possible and everything we do use is approved through the USDA. We are feeding your family the same thing we feed our own families and we always keep that in mind! Every four years we soil test our farmland. This enables us to not only preserve the soil but improve the soil quality. While making decisions for our farm Nancy and I discuss our plans with seed, crop, and marketing specialists. We feel that this is the best way to learn new techniques and ensure we are taking the right steps to operating a successful farm.

Kelsey: What roles does your family play in making the farm successful?

Greg: Nancy and I run our farm completely on our own. Nancy does an outstanding job at jumping right in and getting her hands dirty! She runs the combine, drills beans, and does the tillage. I, of course do a little of everything; including all of our spraying. Farming is not an occupation but a lifestyle and there is no way in which we would rather live our lives!

Kelsey: What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the agricultural industry today?

Greg: I really believe that there is a lack of knowledge among consumers in regards to production agriculture. Therefore, as with any lack of understanding, consumers are easily deceived about the agricultural industry. This is primarily due to the fact that there is no single good source of correct information about production agriculture. Many groups such as HSUS and EPA have more resources to get information about their cause into the public eye.

Kelsey: How is your harvest going?

Greg: Harvest is going GREAT! We are extremely early this year which is definitely nice compared to our last two years and their immense amounts of wet weather. I am currently finishing up corn and getting ready to start soybeans. Since the 1970’s our corn yields have doubled and soybean yields are up twenty-five percent. This is very encouraging to me and farmers throughout the United States.

Kelsey: Living in Southern Illinois you are close to the Mississippi River; how do the locks and dams affect you and your farm?

Greg: A portion of both my corn and soybeans goes to the export market. This means that they are put on a barge and transported on the river. The locks and dams really affect my farm in two ways. First of all, the transportation costs increases because the transportation method (river transportation via barge) is extremely inefficient. Second, the inefficiency makes our prices higher for everything we use on the farm that is transported on the river. A couple examples of these products would be fuel, fertilizer, and coal.

Kelsey: Recently, President Obama did not authorize and money for locks and dams. What are your thoughts on his decision?

Greg: As an Illinois state senator Barack Obama supported locks and dams upgrades along with levy improvements. However, as President he supports highways and railroads. This is very frustrating because the locks and dams are in great need of an upgrade. There is currently only one lock chamber and if something were to happen to the lock chamber there would be no alternative. The individual locks were built in the 1960’s and 1970’s resulting in numerous unscheduled repairs which shuts down transportation. Improving the locks and dams would not only help the agriculture industry but everyone who uses any product transported on the river.

If you have any questions regarding Greg and Nancy’s farm please e-mail me @ whosyourfarmer@gmail.com.

Craig Morgan - International Harvester

Safety First

As some of you may already know, this week is Farm Safety Week. For a multitude of reasons I feel it is extremely important that everyone understands the dangers associated with the agricultural industry and the precautions we can take in order to keep us all safe whether we are on the farm, road, or in the field.

According to the National Safety Council, farm accidents and other work-related health problems claim as many as 1,300 lives and cause 120,000 injuries a year, most of which are preventable. Most of these accidents are due to equipment overturns or machinery entanglements, farm structure emergencies such as grain bin entrapments, electrocution, silo entrapments, farm chemical spills and exposures, or farm animal incidents. Tractor accidents on farms cause the highest number of fatalities with tractor overturns

accounting for 44 percent of all tractor fatalities. These farmers are husbands, dads, brothers, grandpas, uncles, and friends who have a strong passion for their industry and are doing their best to make a living for their families.

If you are from a rural community similar to mine, during harvest it is nearly impossible to get anywhere without being stuck behind a tractor, combine, or grain truck. While it is easy to become frustrated, honk your horn, fly by the slow-moving vehicle, and demonstrate an unfriendly gesture, please put yourself in the farmer’s boots for a few seconds. Believe it or not, the farmer also has an important place to be and has a million things on his mind, just like you. However, unlike you, his combine, tractor, or grain truck is larger than the road making mailboxes and street signs easy targets, his vision is limited, he can not go any faster, and he is attempting to accommodate all of the other drivers he meets along his path. Therefore, during harvest, please keep your eyes open for the orange slow-moving vehicle triangles. As you approach the piece of equipment, slow down and be cautious if you choose to pass. All farmers understand the hustle and bustle of today’s society and will most likely pull off the road as far as possible for you and help make sure it is safe for you to pass them. Finally, as country music singer, Craig Morgan, sings, “Just smile and wave, and tip your hat to the man up on the tractor.” To view Craig Morgan's music video, "International Harvester", check out my next blog!

My Family Farm

As I begin this blog I feel that it is only appropriate that I start with my family’s farm in Central Illinois. My dad, Rick, and my Uncle, Ron, farm together. My cousin works at the farm-full time, two of my great uncles work at the farm part-time, my mom does the bookwork, and my sister and I help wherever we are needed from running the combine in the fall to picking up parts from the John Deere dealership when something breaks down. We truly are a family farm and without each person we would not run a successful operation.

We farm around thirty five hundred acres throughout a ninety mile span. We raise field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, popcorn, soybeans, green beans, pumpkins, and wheat. We sell our popcorn to Weaver, which is a popular brand of popcorn found at grocery stores and Walmart, in the microwave popcorn aisle. It is also often used in popcorn machines at sporting events. The green beans on the farm are produced for Del Monte and can be found everywhere. My family takes a great deal of pride in our farm; doing everything possible to make our grains and vegetables the absolute best for families, just like ours, throughout the world.

Our seed corn, sweet corn, popcorn and green beans are all raised in sandy soil. In order to hydrate our crops in the sand we run twenty six irrigation systems from May until September, when needed. This can make for an extremely busy summer! My Dad and Uncle spend many late nights in the fields turning the systems on and off or rotating them in order to keep our crops healthy.

Everyday agricultural engineers and scientists are finding new ways to better the technology used in the agricultural industry. I find it absolutely mind boggling that my Great Grandpa used a horse and plow to plant his fields and today with the GPS system built into our tractor the only thing I have to do is turn the tractor when I come to the end of a row; the tractor literally drives itself! My dad and uncle, similar to most farmers, love to keep up with the latest technology and are far from the stereotypical farmers wearing overalls with a pitchfork in hand.

My Dad has always said that farming is not an occupation, but a lifestyle and that truly is the way my family lives from day to day. Growing up on the farm has been an incredible experience and has taught me everything from responsibility to patience to the fact that when Dad is watching the weather my mouth is shut. I am currently a college student studying agricultural business with future intentions of managing my family farm. I have a strong passion for the agricultural industry and will do everything possible to make sure it is given the reputation it deserves. If you have any questions about my family's farm don't hesitate to e-mail me at: whosyourfarmer@gmail.com.