The word to describe Chris Payne’s path to farming probably isn’t “traditional.”
Despite growing up on an Oregon dairy, he had little background in row crops. He joins Rena Striegel and Ron Rabo on the Ag Inspo podcast to explain how he came to farm onions, sugar beets, corn, wheat, and alfalfa along with running an onion packing and shipping facility.
After graduating college, Payne knew he wanted to work out in the field. He began work at a local fertilizer company operating a sprayer. After a couple of years, he moved into a role at a customer’s operation and spent several years learning the ropes of row crop farming and also started a custom baling business.
“I went to my manager [at the fertilizer company], and I told him what I wanted to do, and he says ‘you need to go work for this guy for a few years learn how to farm’,” Payne explains. “When they retired, we rented 400 acres from them to farm, and then we’re doing several thousand acres of hay and alfalfa straw.”
Payne shares the farmer he worked for had two brothers who split the farm, but one wanted to go in a different direction and allowed Payne to rent his acres.
“He took a chance on us and rented us that first 400,” he says. “We tried really, really hard, just like everybody, to do the best job possible, but be perfect at it.”
He credits the opportunities he’s been given in farming to his care of the land.
“The quality we were showing in the field made statements, and that has kind of led to open several doors from other farmers that are retiring to give us the opportunity to rent their ground,” Payne says. “We’ve been able to show that we know what we’re doing and we try and do as best we can, just like we own all of it.”
For other young producers wanting to get started in farming, Payne’s advice is to build relationships without being pushy.
“Big farms come in that offer cash on the barrel for the whole place. And I think there’s a lot of these older farmers that are believe this whole thing’s not about money. They want family farms to still thrive,” he says. “I think sometimes just taking a chance of going to visit with people and convince them to take a chance on you knowing you’re a good person and they can do things with you. It’s miracles of luck are out there, but a lot of times we, you know, we create some of those also.”
The Ag Inspo podcast uncovers the stories that inspire, empower and drive change. Hosts Rena Striegel and Rob Rabo explore the journeys of farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders who are making a difference. To hear more, click here.
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