In Our 80s and Still Passionately Farming: It's Not About the Money

The roots of our farm trace back to my ancestor, Levi. Initially, my family focused on dairy farming until the 1930s, after which they pivoted to cultivating vegetables for the marketplace.

My earliest recollections of the farm date back to when I was just a child, around four or five. My duty was to help lead the horse while we lugged hay into the massive red barn.

When we married, he was in military service. After two years, his service ended, and we turned to farming as our life's pursuit.

Coming from a non-farming background, my initial year on the farm was challenging due to my lack of familiarity. I ended up driving the trucks to transport onions, potatoes, corn, and other crops. The farm life quickly became something I adored.

Alongside our son Tyson and the broader family, we continue to be actively involved in running the farm. It's a joy we have no intention of giving up.

Part of Business Insider’s '80 over 80' series, our story contributes to the collective narratives of Americans who continue working well into their eighth decade, sharing insights on their careers, retirement strategies, living costs, healthcare, and life learnings.

Seizing Control of the Family Land

In 1970, we reclaimed the family farm lost in the Depression era. When my father passed away in his 70s, Ruth and I assumed full ownership in the early 1980s.

At one point, our farm expanded to 400 acres of vegetables. My father used to purchase hundreds of calves for winter feeding. But after his passing, my brother and I chose to concentrate solely on vegetable crops.

We managed to pay off the farm within a decade, providing us with financial leverage, although health and life insurance were occasionally beyond our means.

During the years when all seven of our children were at home, we lived frugally. Our principle was to pay bills fully and avoid credit. Buying from thrift stores was common, a habit persisting to this day.

While we now have the liberty to travel, we've never valued expensive vacations and find contentment in our current lifestyle.

Embracing Technological Advancements

Throughout the years, adopting innovations like drip irrigation has been transformative for our farm, allowing for more efficient water use. Witnessing the arrival of the first tractor remains vivid in my memory.

For me, cellphones represent the most significant transformation. Had I owned one back then, managing different fields would've been considerably less cumbersome.

Innovation has always been Dad's forte. Given a challenge, he would ponder a solution through the night and set about creating it by morning, simplifying farming operations for us all.

Easing Into Lighter Work

I've started to scale back, choosing tasks that are manageable and safe. My sons handle the bulk of the workload, allowing me to focus on preferred duties.

I handle weed management with ease, utilizing a four-wheeler fitted with a spray system. Meanwhile, our grandchildren assist with various projects. Our family extends to 24 grandkids and 25 great-grandchildren.

We dedicate over 15 hours weekly at the farm, participating in markets every weekend.

Financial and Personal Investment

Our income varies annually, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, predominantly earned between mid-July and late October.

Though my parents built an inviting home an hour's drive from here 25 years back, they frequently return during farming months. We've added a bunkhouse for them on-site for convenience.

Selling our produce at farmers' markets in Murray, Utah, for over three decades has cultivated lifelong relationships; our clients feel like family.

Gradually, we've downsized our farm, selling small parcels to sustain ourselves. Currently, we're down to about 30 acres.

Additionally, my brother and I lease out roughly 500 acres in Box Elder County, an investment that's thrived over two decades and forms the basis of our retirement strategy.

Embracing the Farm Lifestyle Indefinitely

Our philosophy has centered around maintaining both mental and physical activity. Each day begins with gratitude for the opportunity to do what we cherish, sustaining a sense of purpose.

Once, Tyson gathered family spanning four generations to assist in harvesting garlic, completing in mere hours work that would have taken him weeks alone. Witnessing family unity in action was extraordinary.

The fate of our remaining land remains uncertain. We've made prudent decisions, and our descendants will confront their own challenges. The farm will be divided equally among them, leaving the logistics to their discretion.

I derive joy from nurturing life on the farm, resisting lucrative offers from developers. Accepting such a proposal isn't something I wish to do.

The pursuit of goals and addressing challenges keeps me motivated. There's a sense of fulfillment in fixing things.

People frequently inquire about potential retirement, to which I respond, 'Why end what he loves?' We haven't mapped out a retirement plan; for now, as long as health permits, we'll continue farming for the love of it.