If you ask Trey Kimbrell what his favorite time of year is, it’s an answer most kids wouldn’t give you: harvest time. While most nine year olds are sitting on the couch playing video games, Trey spends every moment he can inside the cab of a combine, sometimes working from 8 a.m. until the machinery rolls into the barn in the evening.
This year is Trey’s first year driving the combine all by himself, at just nine years old. He is one of the youngest farmers in the area of their Grandview, Texas home. His mom, Lindsay Kimbrell, says he’s accomplished so much at such a young age.
“He started driving last year when he was eight,” said Lindsay. “He’s driven grain cart before, and he’d make a couple passees alone in the combine, but that was pretty much it.”
Trey is a visual learner and was able to pick things up quickly. Years of riding with dad Todd and watching his every move helped Trey get to where he is today. Lindsay says the technology in the cab has been easy for Trey to understand. He has both a Precision Monitor and iPad and knows what’s happening on the screens.
Despite Trey’s young age, both the local community and online community are supportive of allowing the youngest Kimbrell farmer to drive such pieces of equipment by himself.
“No one has said to me it isn’t safe and he shouldn’t be doing that,” said Lindsay. “They really like to see kids doing things like that and helping in the fields.”
A year ago, this mom didn’t know her son would be driving a 15 ton combine working alongside her husband, Todd. While she’s pretty comfortable with Trey behind the wheel, Lindsay says “a lot of prayers.”
“I didn’t come from a farming background,” said Lindsay. “But I’ve learned a lot over the years. I have a lot of faith in Trey, and in my husband. He [Todd] won’t let him do anything that wasn’t safe. I’m so proud of Trey.”
Trey says he loves farming because he loves learning how farming works like how to drive and fix the equipment. He also loves that he can “grow food for everyone.”
The Kimbrell’s are 5th generation farmers, so Trey wanting to be a farmer when he grows up is only natural.
Want more video news? Watch it on U.S. Farm Report.
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