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| When i was 14, my folks rented me 72 acres (one parcel). I paid them a little bit cheaper than average rent and I traded my labor for use of equipment for the farm. I was responsible for all expenses and also the income. Eventually, I took over all of the farms. Fast forward 25 years and we did the same deal on the same farm with our son. He started about the same age I was. He was able to use his farming for a FFA project and ended up winning different state projects several times and was also was fortunate to be selected as a FFA national finalist (he didn't win but was lucky enough to get a trip to Costa Rica). I cannot say enough good things about FFA. It was incredibly good for him.
Fast forward 15 years. We rented another 80 to him a couple of years ago and will be renting another farm in a few years to him with more to slowly follow. Like he says, he can't afford to start farming fast and I can't afford to quit fast. He has a full time off the farm job as a mechanic at a local JD dealership. At 30 years of age, he will be planting his 16th crop this spring while I will be planting my 45th (now I feel old). | |
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advice on how to help young kids experience/start farming
