Farming and Family: The Burgess
Welcome to day 11 of 31 days of Farming and Family! Today's farm family isn't one who has been farming the same land for generations. I have loved learning more about their farm and family. I hope you will do the same. And remember not all farmers start off the same way...some are blessed with family operations while others start from scratch but we all have the same goals...to grow food for your family and ours.
1. Who are you and where are you located?
1. Who are you and where are you located?
We farm near Sterling Kansas.
2. How did your farm begin?
My husband came from England through an exchange program at Ohio State University. It placed him on a Harvest crew in Alden Kansas. He did harvest for 4 years and then helped manage their farm for another 4 years. Through working with other farmers and making relationships with other farmers retiring our farm has grown. We always wanted to farm, both of us. It’s difficult for young Englishmen to start from the ground up on a farm in England. You have to be married into a farm family or born into it. More info on my blog for both of our backgrounds.
3. What does your farm produce?
We produce Wheat, Corn, Soybeans and Milo. We also do cover crops with some of our no-till rotations.
4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?
We normally are always busy, but our busiest is March through first part of Dec. Since we do not have cattle our winters are busy with paperwork, getting ready for next year on fixing our equipment or fixing others equipment machinery, this is a side business.
5. How do younger generations help on the farm?
Our kids are still pretty young. Our oldest Dillan does help out with things in the shop, like handing tools or riding tractor, combine to keep us company. Our daughter just like riding at the moment.
6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?
My husband is a board member of a local CO-OP. I am a board member on our County Farm Bureau.
7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?
We love to be outdoors. Tinkering in the shop is probably our favorite activity.
8. Why is family important to your farm?
That’s a hard question. There are so many things that are important when it comes to family on the farm. I think like most farm families you learn to work hard at a young age and are closer than most families cause your either working with them or living with them. You can’t get away from each other, which can sometimes be bad when your brother and sister. If it wasn’t for our parents the farm would also not be what it is today. Their continued support and helping when and where needed is a true blessing.
9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?
Every farmer and his family work their hardest every day to provide safe reliable food. This life is hard and not everyone can do it. We don’t always have weekends or holidays. If it is a holiday we’ll spend an hour or two celebrating, but then its back to work. Farming does not wait. A making or breaking moment is always lurking around the corner. This work is not for the faint of heart. Take the time to credit farmers and ranchers in what they do, not criticizing.
Every farmer and his family work their hardest every day to provide safe reliable food. This life is hard and not everyone can do it. We don’t always have weekends or holidays. If it is a holiday we’ll spend an hour or two celebrating, but then its back to work. Farming does not wait. A making or breaking moment is always lurking around the corner. This work is not for the faint of heart. Take the time to credit farmers and ranchers in what they do, not criticizing.
10. Do you have a blog, a farm Facebook page, twitter, etc where people can find out more about you and your farm?
You can learn more about Burgess Hill Farms on
and ; Jen's blog
Thanks again to Jen & the entire Burgess family for sharing about their farm and family! If you have questions or comments for them but sure to leave them below or visit them on one of the sites listed above.
Until we meet again may God Bless you & keep you...
Caci
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