Off-Farm Income

On tomorrow's ag business episode we are looking at the concept of farm transition again. It has been several years since I have done this, but it is a topic that we should keep front of mind because it is a valid way to begin farming or ranching. Back in 2017 I interviewed a young man who was a National Proficiency Finalist and a sophomore in college. He was raising his own cattle and working for a neighbor on his ranch, and that neighbor was ready to retire. The neighbor did not have a family member who wanted to farm the ground, and he was transitioning the operation to my guest, Stetson Dittmar. On today's show we will revisit that conversation.

Our guest today is an inspiration to people everywhere who have said "how do I get the land that I need to farm?". Tyler Worthey is showing everyone what can be done from your own back yard and kitchen.

Tyler is the Chapter Reporter at Neoga FFA in Illinois. He was recruited by his FFA Advisor back in the 8th grade after being enrolled in an introduction to agriculture class, and he has not looked back. That year he started making hot sauces in his kitchen at home just for fun, and he would share them with friends at school. It wasn't long until people were requesting certain sauces and were even willing to pay for them. Worthey Peppers was born.

Today, Tyler is growing his own supply of peppers in the back yard of his parents house in a neighborhood of Neoga. He is taking those peppers and turning them into a variety of hot sauces, jams and jellies in the kitchen of his house. And, he is fully licensed and certified through the State Of Illinois as a "cottage food producer". He then markets those products at fairs, festivals and farmer's markets. He is killing it, and has really got a great brand created and a great product to sell!

Today's episode was inspired by a Tuesday show I did back in 2019, #662. I will be discussing getting yourself to a conference this year as a matter of pivotal importance to the growth and sustainability of your business and/or farm enterprise.

Ava Belanger is just finishing up her sophomore year of high school, but is well ahead of the pace when it comes to her knowledge of horticulture. She and a partner are currently growing floating flowers in a kiddie pool at her school, and they have already rescued them from deterioration and death once only to see them come back flourish.

This all began when Ava decided she wanted to be a neurologist at the end of her 8th Grade year. In Massachusetts some students can attend high schools dedicated to one main area of study. At Norfolk County that is agriculture. Ava saw this and thought that it might help her in the scientific pursuit that she had identified. So, she enrolled at Norfolk. However, she later determined that was not the direction she wanted to pursue and developed an interest in plants.

Today, Ava is serving as a Junior Officer in the Secretary position. She hopes to advance to an upper level officer position next year and keep pursuing her interest in plants.

The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S. This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

I have more students from around the country tell me that they are going out of state, to Oklahoma State University, to study agriculture than to any other university. On today's show I finally get to find out why this is! OSU has something going on, and it is working. The lineup of guests we have today do a great job of demonstrating what there is to love in Stillwater, and today will get to profile the Ferguson College Of Agriculture.

Tip Of The Week

Don't pay for anything you don't have in your possession without safety measures in place

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/08/hay-horse-scams-sweeping-internet-ms-ag-theft-bureau-says-be-cautious/

https://www.klfy.com/local/st-landry-parish/officials-ask-for-publics-help-in-locating-missing-livestock/

https://ktemnews.com/ixp/341/p/red-paint-tree-meaning/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/24185243.gps-dome-stolen-tractor-west-dorset/

https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/rural/rural-crime/shropshire-farmers-warned-following-rise-in-diesel-thefts/

Africa

https://www.chronicle.co.zw/byo-police-recover-19-head-of-stolen-cattle/

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-03-13-state-opens-more-security-camps-in-baringo-to-tame-banditry/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.wdsu.com/article/community-rallies-around-slidell-women-who-discover-therapy-goats-dead-or-stolen/60192109

https://www.thedailystar.com/news/davenport-man-sentenced-for-insurance-fraud/article_76ed8290-e16b-11ee-beb7-eb6bd39a765d.html

John Price is 26 years old and has been running his own farm for 1/2 of his life. Today, he runs Archlynn Farm with his wife, mother and step-father in Charlotte Courthouse, Virginia. There they raise over 50 acres of produce for direct sales to customers and sales in grocery stores.

When John was in elementary school he, his sister and his two brothers were all in the 4H, and John never liked it! He exited the 4H as soon as he was able and really was not enthusiastic about agriculture. However, when he was around 13 years old his family planted a 1/2 acre garden, and he worked with the rest of the family on the plot.

At some point, friends and family started asking to purchase produce from them, and this led to the development of a CSA. Something clicked for John at this point, and he has been loving farming ever since. That was 13 years ago, and the time since then has spanned half of John's life.

Today, his siblings have moved onto to other pursuits, but he is farming with his folks and his wife. They are now growing produce on 50 acres of land and selling to multiple outlets. There was a pivotal moment in the development of the farm that led to a question - "do we scale back so the four of us can run this, or do he hire help so we can grow?". The choice was to grow, and to develop a business that would sustain the four of them as full-time farmers.

This decision led to the problem of finding reliable labor on the farm. Ultimately they chose to participate in the H2A Program and hire labor from Mexico during the growing season. John and I spend the final 15 minutes of the interview discussing how this works and the decision process.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling a farmer from South Virginia with an impressive vegetable farm. This made me think about the interview I did with the owners of Diemand Farm back in 2019 and how many different enterprises and value added products they had to keep going. I thought this was a great tie in for tomorrow's ag business episode, and I am eager to play it for you again.

Quinton Berg has a passion for livestock judging, and he has carried that forward through his time in the FFA. He has been judging livestock since he was in the 4H, and he travels to competitions all over the Mid-West to pursue this skill set. Last year, he decided to share it with others the way it had been shared with him. So, he set up a free livestock judging clinic to teach younger 4H members how they can participate.

Through his efforts, Quinton received donations of money, door prizes and livestock to be judged. He also had a lot of help putting on the event, and he acknowledges those who assisted him in the interview today. There is no doubt that his passion for this type of competition shines through wherever he goes. At a competition at the Fort Scott Community College in Kansas last year the college's judging coach saw something in Quinton and offered him a scholarship to come be on the team. And you guessed it, Quinton will be judging livestock for Fort Scott starting in the Fall of 2024!

Today is a regular farm update for you. On the agenda is:

• March snows
• Building a heated room in my shop
• Taking up wood carving
• HenGear Nest Boxes