It’s calving season at Yenter farms in Marengo, Iowa. It’s one of many satisfying moments James (Jim) Yenter has grown to appreciate about his first-generation farm.
“I don’t know why it’s so satisfying to watch cattle eat, but it is,” he says.
The operation today includes cattle, hay and several hundred acres of row crops.
“I’m doing some things that I love to do,” adds Yenter.
His passion that started as a young boy from the city, spending summers on a farm with his grandfather and uncle.
“I like the freedom of it,” he says. “I guess back then it was no cell phones and if something screwed up, you had to figure it out on your own.”
Not large enough to support another family, when Jim graduated and went to college, he left the farm behind. He joined the National Guard, he went to Afghanistan, and at the 10 year mark, he and his wife had a decision to make.
“Well, we’re either going to stay in another 10 years and get that retirement or it’s time to get out now, and my wife was like, ‘well, what do you do want to do if you get out?’ I said I want to farm.”
He means farm full time. He and his wife were already renting his grandfather’s old farm.
“It was that moment we made the cognizant effort and we were all in,” says Yenter. “It was extra motivation. I had to succeed. You know, technically I still haven’t succeeded. “
With a desire to succeed, Yenter knew to succeed he needed to grow.
“I farm my grandpa’s 80 acres, and it was probably six or seven years before we got more farm ground after that,” he adds. “I let my farming practices speak for themselves and the landlords hopefully come to me.”
In order to make it work, today he’s growing non-GMO soybeans and waxy corn.
“We just try to do little things that keep adding up in order to make smaller acres pay for themselves.”
He’s also selling his cattle up the value chain.
“Almost all of our calves get processed as freezer beef and sold direct to consumer,” says Yenter.
Relying on freezer beef and direct to consumer was a part of his business the pandemic didn’t hurt.
“Our biggest increase this year was customers increasing their orders,” he says. “We had a lot of people that bought quarters that went up to a half. And we actually sold four whole beef this year where that’s the most whole animals we’ve ever sold.”
His biggest problem isn’t finding customers; it’s room at the processor.
“We’re working on booking 2023 appointments right now, and 2021 is full. 2022 is full,” he says.
While he’s making it work, being a full-time farmer hasn’t been easy.
“Outside looking in, it’s kind of like a fairy tale. It looks glamorous,” says Yenter. “There’s a lot of bad days that go with it. It’s tough; it’s very tough. It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever done.”
Life as a first-generation is tough, but for Yenter, it’s a life that’s satisfying.
“I’m doing things that God gave me a talent to do,” he says.
As this first generation is determined to share those gifts with the next generation.
“The goal is to have something to hand down.”
View the entire “Farming the First Generation” series:
First-Generation Farmer Gavin Spoor Proves Passion Pays Off
Growth in Moderation Helps First-Generation Farmer Jesse Daniels Focus on the Future
