Young Farmers
Lessons forged on a wrestling mat and a ranch serve as a powerful reminder to separate your worth from your work. In the face of life’s hardest hits, it is the courage to share our stories that helps us find the way forward.
When Jennifer Thomson lost nearly all 300 tons of her 2024 grape crop due to no buyers, she refused to quit. Her grit led her to sparkling winemaker Paula Kornell, forging a dynamic partnership saving a family legacy.
California grape grower Jennifer Thomson saw nearly every grape go unsold in 2024. But through grit and determination, she fought back — and this year, she found a home for her entire crop, defying odds and carrying her family’s legacy.
Nashville singer and songwriter Adam Sanders is one of the final six contestants in CBS’ new series, “The Road.” Here’s a look at the story behind his new release, “Get It If You Did It” co-written with Missouri pig farmer Jesse Heimer.
Producers nationwide face thin or negative margins, rising input costs and economic pressure not seen in decades — forcing some to make the tough choice of whether they can afford to keep farming.
New Heart Brings New Life: 13-Year-Old Dairy Exhibitor Returns Stronger After Life-Saving Transplant
At just 12 years old, Lexi Anderson was diagnosed with a rare heart disease. After a successful heart transplant in early 2024, she is back to showing dairy cattle and playing sports. Read how her determination — and a life-saving donor — gave her a second chance.
At just 10 years old, Jackson Laux has gone from riding with his grandpa to farming his own acres — while also becoming John Deere’s first-ever Chief Tractor Kid. And now he’s teaming up with NFL quarterback Brock Purdy and John Deere to make a difference.
Love is in the Air: How a 13-Acre Corn Maze in Ohio Turned Into a Larger-Than-Life Marriage Proposal
Tim Sullivan had a grand idea this spring: turn his family’s corn maze into a 13-acre marriage proposal for his then girlfriend Caroline. With the help of local farmers, his dream became a reality: flying her over the corn maze to create an epic proposal.
Isabelle Doherty released Bye-Bye Buddy, a book about the sensitive subject of saying goodbye to your show animals, at an in-person event at the Team Purebred National Junior Show.
Aaron Blackmon, a North Carolina extension agent and first-generation farmer, discovered his passion through mentorship and now carries on a farm’s legacy with dedication.
Suicide and mental health concerns continue to increase on farms and ranches. Watch for signs, be proactive and provide support to those struggling in your community.
Little did Sydni Mell know the resilience and courage ingrained in her upbringing on the farm would become vital tools in facing unwelcome adversities that awaited her after high school.
Amanda Freund, a Connecticut dairy farmer is headed to “Shark Tank,” where she aims to propel her creation, CowPots, into the mainstream.
Amanda Buschor’s journey back to her family’s Wisconsin farm exemplifies the dynamic interplay between time-honored practices and game-changing technology.
With a college degree under his belt, Aaron Krueger put together a fleet of equipment and returned to his grandfather’s ground to breathe new life into the farm. He’s implemented cover crops and plans to diversify beyond corn, soybeans and cereal rye.
At just 11 years old, Reed Marcum had an idea for a project: Collect toys and give them to children in his community. Eight years later, the toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys at an annual event people wait in line for hours to attend.
Carmi, Ill., farmer Chase Sailer isn’t afraid to do things different. He learns from failures on the farm and is turning to precision tools to drill down decisions to every acre.
There are challenges that come with the process, but also hidden opportunities that can help the rising generation build for the future.
Rebecca Sip shares about the challenges she’s faced navigating a gradual generational transition of their family farm, the importance of continual learning and the role of humility each and every day.
Nine-year-old social media sensation @justajacksonthing will create content for John Deere’s social media channels to bring awareness to the people working tirelessly in agriculture.
Summer internships are the first exposure for students to the real world.
Lance Sommers has transformed his family’s 2,000-acre grain and dairy farm by integrating technology and boosting efficiency to free up time to refocus efforts on other aspects of their operation.
Gen Z’s challenges aren’t just academic; they’re personal, says Jill Bramble, president and CEO of 4-H. Many young people say they are falling short, unable to envision a successful future where they feel connected to their friends, families, and communities.
Bri Osborne returned in 2019 to help her father manage their family farm, overseeing 1,000 acres and 7,000 hogs while expanding their dragline manure and spray drone businesses.
Since Lance Dobson’s return to the family farm, he’s added cattle, cereal rye for forage and a seed dealership. “Whether it’s exercising or farming, hopefully diversification in our day will yield results that improve our longevity,” he says.
It’s not often you hear of a farmer using virtual reality or an artificial intelligence chatbot on the farm, but coupled with real-time data through OpsCenter, this Arkansas farmer is truly taking technology to a new level.
In 2022, Dalton Dilldine bought a shuttered commercial grain facility and outfitted it with monitoring and automation technologies. This year, he’s taking a hard look at spray drones and how they can fit across his acres.