MT. HOPE, Ohio – Land prices are probably the biggest barrier to beginning farmers, according to Allen Weaver, of Shreve, Ohio. Weaver and Robert Schlabach, of northern Holmes County, shared their insights during the 2023 Ohio Grazing Conference in Mt. Hope.

Weaver bought his Clover Ridge Farm, near Shreve, in 2014. Weaver worked for the previous farm owner before purchasing the farm.

“I had no idea what I was getting into when I first moved to the farm,” Weaver said.

Weaver and his wife, Deanna, have five children, two of whom are married and one son works off the farm. Allen Weaver worked in a metalworking shop for his father-in-law for 15 years before buying the farm. The Weavers own 80 acres and rent an additional 85 acres of pasture, raising hay and sorghum sudan grass. They milk 70 Jerseys and raise their own replacements. They transitioned to 100 percent grass in September 2022 and ship to Organic Valley.

“I still love to weld,” he said. “It is fun to do.”

Weaver said his parents rented a farm while he was growing up. “I have good memories of living on a farm, milking cows and feeding out hogs,” Weaver said.

Weaver said he had a good job off the farm, in a family business that was growing, but he went to church with eight families who were dairy farmers, and after church they talked farming. He was also working for the previous owner of the farm. Weaver knew at some point he needed to be all in or get out of farming completely.

The Weavers bought the farm and their lives changed. Not only did Weaver change jobs, but they also changed church districts and schools.

Weaver told the audience that many of them had farms to pass on to the next generation, but he and his family didn’t and they had to buy it off the market. Within a short period of time, Weaver bought a farm, equipment, cows and horses. Weaver added a parlor and 95 stall free stall barn. “We took on a lot of debt,” he said.

The Weavers bought a local herd of 75 Jerseys and after losing their first market, they found a home for their milk at a local cheese house. But things were still tight for them.

“Our only real hope was to get into Organic Valley,” Allen said. “It gave us hope to continue farming.”

Weaver gave a nod to fellow organic dairy farmer Tim Kline for his help and encouragement. “A lot of people will help you if you ask them,” Weaver said.

Once they got their milk market established, Weavers began making changes to their operation, including building their bale wagons to move round bales from the field.

Weaver said he enjoys doing his repair work around the farm. He added that his dad raised and trained horses and he enjoyed working with horses as well.

Weaver said farming offers a sense of community, something he didn’t fully appreciate until a derecho went through the area on June 14, 2022, before his daughter’s June 16 wedding. The storm knocked down the tent that was the site of the wedding meal, and tore the roof off a shed on the farm.

“The storm did a lot of damage,” Weaver said. “We wondered how we were going to get everything cleaned up for the wedding the next day. We needed help and we got help from our neighbors and from people we didn’t know. It was overwhelming, but my daughter had a good day for her wedding.”

Schlabach and his wife, Maryann, started farming in 2012. They, along with their five children, milk 45 registered Holsteins on their farm in northeastern Holmes County. They own 72 acres and rent an additional 25 acres.

Schlabach said they raise their replacements on the farm until they are about six months old before they are moved to another farm and brought back when prior to freshening. Schlabach said high quality forage is the key to producing milk.

“If you have good quality forage, you don’t need a TMR,” said Schlabach. “I do like to see cows out on pasture, eating and lying down and resting.”