Next-Generation Farmers
When the four Hansen brothers came back to the small family dairy farm in Hudson, Iowa, which had operated since 1864, things needed to expand. Hansen’s Dairy has since taken ‘side hustle’ to a whole new level.
The math and mental gymnastics to truly understand how much risk your farm can handle can be exhausting, but it can be calculated with enough what-if scenarios.
When a pair of sisters set out to help the family farm, they didn’t think they’d end up on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. On the debut of Grow Getters, a podcast about ag’s most creative side hustles, they tell their story.
Heath Huisinga is always eager to investigate new tech for his farm in Casey, IL. This year, he’s using John Deere’s AutoTrac Turn Automation, which frees him to focus on the planter rather than on driving the tractor.
Head to the Lone Star State, and everything is bigger, or so they say. That doesn’t only refer to big hats and big hair, it also applies to dairies, as the average size in the Panhandle hovers around 4,000 cows.
After years of letting negativity and discouragement hold him back from full-time farming, the first-generation Kentucky farmer decided to take a leap of faith.
In addition to traditional row crops and cattle, Lindsay Baneck operates a direct-to-consumer produce business in Wisconsin. These days, her goals are geared toward success and sustainability.
Wayne Gehrke and Carolyn Brummel share how they diversified beyond corn and soybeans and made the most of what they already had so they both could farm full time.
As someone who enjoys technology, Kaden Sweeney says he’s geared toward numbers. New this year, the family operation plans to control the grain cart from the combine for ease and efficiency.
Marc and Meagan Kaiser are building their future — finding a way to be part of their families’ corn and soybean operation and soil testing lab while starting a precision ag business and being active in farm groups.