55 Years And Counting From The Tractor Seat

 By Bill Whitman

 It occurs to me…

I watch YouTube videos of mostly young farmers getting started because I see the future of the United States dependent on the success or failure of sustaining the first of three essentials for life, food (clothing and shelter being the second two essentials). I’m delighted to watch the success and growth of several of these young people and families located across the country.

When I see these younger farmers grow and profit when so many others have faltered and quit in the past two decades, I wonder what are the common denominators I can identify that lead to their success? You know, “what is the hidden secret of success?”

Without identifying by name the farms, I’ll briefly give an overview of my perspective of each farm’s success and related dynamics.

The first two farms I watch happen to be in Montana. Unimaginably large by my perspective – being many thousands of acres – but each faces a myriad of weather-related challenges every year. I see the younger generations facing the ever-changing climate with a calm and positive outlook. Last year I watched as one of these farms harvested a near nonexistent crop, wasting tens of thousands of dollars to satisfy crop insurance requirements… but that’s for another day. Both farms have expanded regardless of any given year’s problems. Faith is evident in both farms’ attitude but there’s something more too.

Moving East a bit is a livestock operation in South Dakota. In this farm I have watch the youngest son graduate college and work a few years to make a place for himself and his wife in this specialized farm. I get the sense that this father-son operation has reflected a move toward technology, successfully in the crop and forage side while the son continues to learn the care of livestock and marketing.

In Minnesota there are two major “FarmTubers.” Both are grain operations and have expanded to make room for the younger generation. Both of the younger generation have brought technology to the operation and carved out a way to financially justify their participation in the operation. Both have also used YouTube to bring in additional income.

The next two FarmTubers, one in Iowa and the other in Indiana, are actively trying to grow their individual farms. The Iowa farm is a second-generation farm and the one in Indiana a first-generation farm. Both of these farms have used hard work and taking advantage of every opportunity to grow.

Pretty diversified group, isn’t it? It is. We all know that people who have farming and ranching in their blood are hard workers. We also know that they must be gamblers at heart because it’s one of the only professions where you invest everything you own to have a job each year. The one common denominator that I see in virtually every operation that is successful and growing is a recognition by the younger generations that the older generations hold the keys. Even the first-generation farmer in Indiana was helped to get started by an elderly man, now passed, that he worked with as a younger man and then made a way for him to start on his own. The older generations have lived through and overcome some of the worst financial challenges this world has had to offer and… survived.

Bottom line, those of us who have survived have much to offer to those following behind us. I see this in each of the FarmTubers referenced. The younger generations are prepared to take the risks and certainly have the desire to embrace new technology but each one yields to the wisdom and reasoning of “when” to take those steps and how to manage the finances through turbulent times. So as a member of the older generation, be ready to share from your experiences and if you’re a younger farmer, don’t hesitate to reach out for advice.