Young Farmers
From a pragmatic approach to purchasing new technology to making more of the buying decisions on the farm, there are some interesting trends transpiring as more Next Gen farmers identify as an owner/operator on their farm.
Pride is deeply seeded in Nolan Parker and Matthew Brown. They hail from multigenerational farm families, but decided to set out on their own in 2022. The pair of Louisiana farmers are excited about their future.
There’s a serious lack of communication between generations, and procrastination and conflict avoidance are killing agriculture, says Elaine Froese, a farm family transition expert.
Matt Spillman and his two brothers are carrying on their father’s legacy. Each brother has a specific role in making all the wheels turn on the farm.
From switching to 100% strip-till this past fall to learning to build seed scripts and planting her first crop as a full-time farmer this spring, Sarah Tweeten is making her mark on her family’s Iowa operation.
New research from National Pork Board shows there are more air fryers in homes across America than there are coffee makers, which means younger generations cook meals with appliances baby boomers may not even own.
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.
As I incorporate agroforestry in my farming strategy, they improve our future because trees are a part of my plan to inspire and build a new generation of farmers.
The NY Farm Girls have become a social media sensation. With nearly 645,000 followers on TikTok, the three sisters share the truth about dairy farming, even when faced with negativity that can sprout on social media.
Trey Wasserburger, the 2023 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award winner, is redefining the conception-to-consumer beef model to live out his dream of being a cowboy.
At the age of 15, Callee Pellett signed her first lease, and today, the 16-year-old farmer has nearly 20 acres she farms on her own. As the seventh generation, it’s a unique opportunity she doesn’t take for granted.
With a slogan of “raised, not sourced,” Tim Haer had a wild idea to differentiate their business: create a vending machine to sell meat produced on their family’s farm, an idea he says that’s been wildly successful.
As Mary Pat Sass’ social media shows glimpses of life from the seat of the tractor, it’s not the view she envisioned for her life even a decade ago. But through humor and candor, she’s now an inspiration to others.
Travel to Carpenter, Wy., and you’ll see two-thirds of the state’s 9,000 dairy cows, who are milked at Burnett Dairy. You’ll also get to see an upcoming second-generation dairy farmer, Reese Burnett.
Three under-30 producers from Illinois, Ohio and Mississippi sound off on the struggles, pressures and hopes of farming’s next generation.
In just a decade on the farm, Virginia dairy farmer Ben Smith’s journey has been one of dedication and innovation, which is what makes him the 2023 Milk Business Young Producer Award winner.
As the seventh generation of the Cullipher family carves out a new opportunity, a Farmall serves as a time capsule of the past and motivation of what it takes to keep their farming legacy intact.
With a tractor that had been sitting untouched for at least 30 years, Charlie Bortner knew he had his work cut out for him. He figured the restoration project would take shape years down the road, but fate intervened.
Finding and restoring tractors has become a hobby for 18-year-old Charlie Bortner. When he had the chance to acquire a special Farmall, he jumped on the opportunity to help keep one man’s memory alive.
As farm shows and meetings portray a crowd that seems to be aging, is there a shortage of young farmers threatening the future of ag? John Phipps explains why an abundance of young farmers may not be on the farm today.
FFA is a nearly limitless opportunity for young people to figure out who they are and what they want to do in life. Here are 10 lessons Farm Journal employees learned through FFA that they use every day.
How remarkable teenagers put a call to help into action, creating some unlikely friendships and bonds after Mayfield, Kentucky was ravaged by a tornado on December 10, 2021.
16-year-old Mary Schalk set off on her first solo flight the day after a destructive tornado ravaged Mayfield, Ky. Her mission was to get supplies to those who needed it, as many were left with nothing after the storm.
Kristen Clenney recently earned the title of ‘cancer survivor’. The wife, mother and veterinarian says it’s a title she feels fortunate to have after her year long journey during the pandemic took grit and grace.
A show pig is often a family affair. For one Georgia family, a show pig became more of a companion as the animal brought their 16-year old daughter normalcy as her father battled cancer in the middle of the pandemic.
Tyler and Amanda Radke have three goals on the farm: provide peace with a place to heal, experience a family full of love and introduce them to a household strong in faith; a recipe that’s filled with grit and grace.
Here’s a look back at your favorite stories — from a young farmer buying farmland with video game money and farmers encountering monster snakes and a pot of gold to record farmland and fertilizer prices.