For many, farming is more than a job. It’s a lifestyle that is often passed on from generation to generation.
But for one Nebraska farmer, he’s decided to take early retirement — and he’s doing it with a full heart and a clear conscience.
2024 was the last harvest for Jay Reiners.
None of his kids are interested in coming back to the farm, so he made the decision to retire.
However, his farm will still leave a legacy in the success of his five children. Plus, he might have the opportunity to help the next generation get into farming, even if it’s not his immediate family.
Reiners is the fourth generation on his farm in south-central Nebraska, which was homesteaded by his great grandfather in 1892.
“I’ve been farming full time since 1990 myself,” he says.
Over the past 34 years, he’s grown the operation to 2,700 acres through continuous improvement and cutting-edge technology.
“You know, everything satellite -based, cloud -based, you know, it’s data -driven, looking at all this new data, trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, that’s the biggest change.”
Like his father, Reiners intended to pass the farm down to the next generation.
“I tried farming with my oldest when he was in college, but he and I are too much alike so we butted heads. I told him he needed to go work for a real boss instead of his dad for a boss,” he explains.
Reiners youngest son grew up in the tractor seat, but decided he didn’t want to return to the farm either. He saw the stress, struggles and worries and decided he didn’t want to live life like that — and Reiners doesn’t blame him.
In fact, his youngest’s decision not to return to the farm came as a huge relief and helped Reiners decide 2024 would be his last season farming.
“That’s probably what’s driven my decision to retire at age 54. I don’t have anyone coming back, so why fight it? I love to farm but I lost the love of the game,” he says.
Reiners was also stressed out by the weather and volatile markets.
This fall all Reiners kids came back to share in the harvest and ride in the combine with him for the last time.
“It was great — a great family ending,” he says.
When he finally got to the last round he was nearly numb.
“I thought I would shed a tear, but my auger wagon driver said the combine got faster and faster. I was thinking please God just let it get to the end before something breaks down,” he explains.
Reiners isn’t selling his farm but instead renting the land to friends and will kick-start another generation.
“The guy who’s farming my ground has a son coming back. I’m passing down a legacy to somebody else’s kid, which is fine. Give them the opportunity,” he says.
Reiner has no regrets because the legacy of the farm lives on in the success of his five children.
While serving on the Nebraska Corn Board, Reiner discovered another calling.
“I want to continue on with international trade policy — that’s where my heart really is,” he shares.
Through his role, he can continue to promote the industry he loves in the next chapter of his career.
