Category Archives: Know Your Farmer Know Your Food

Patience and Passion: Oregon Hazelnut Farmer Revives Family’s Farming History

By Michael Booth, Public Affairs Specialist Jim Gerig grew up in a western Oregon farm family, but in the 1980s his father had to lease out the family land due to dwindling profit margins. Since then, he has kept a … Continue reading

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Young Entrepreneur Continues Father’s Almond Legacy

By Scott Whittington, Public Affairs Specialist At 26 years old, Andre Alves owns his own successful almond orchard in a beautiful California countryside and strives to grow the best product for his customers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) started an … Continue reading

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Fresh Out of the Frey’s Pond

By Scott Whittington, Public Affairs Specialist Successful people have many characteristics in common, and one of the most important is never giving up. One farming family’s crop was devastated when they lost their entire crop yield, but they kept their … Continue reading

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North Carolina Timber Production Yields Paper, Furniture and Lumber

By Nimasheena Burns, Public Affairs and Outreach Specialist, North Carolina Farm Service Agency In the small town of Macclesfield, North Carolina, Dwight and Judy Batts have made a name for themselves as nationally recognized, award-winning tree farmers. They were named the … Continue reading

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Family Transportation Company in Idaho Expands to Biomass Products

One of the largest employers in Benewah County, Idaho, happens to be involved in the agriculture industry. Jack Buell Co, Inc. is a family owned business that started in 1959 in St. Maries, Idaho. The family operation transports forest products … Continue reading

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Fourth Generation Cattle Rancher Keeps Legacy Moving

By  Scott Whittington, Public Affairs Specialist We’ve all seen those family business signs that say “Serving our community since 19-something,” but one rancher’s family has most of those beat. Ron Cerri, a fourth-generation rancher, has followed his family’s legacy that … Continue reading

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Rhode Island Oyster Farmer Grows with Local Market

By Cassie Bable, Public Affairs Specialist, FSA Office of External Affairs Beginning farmer Jules Opton-Himmel left his New York desk job to start his oyster operation, Walrus and Carpenter Oysters. The business venture started seven years ago and today, Opton-Himmel’s oysters … Continue reading

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From High School to High Tunnels

By Lynnette Wright, Public Affairs Specialist, New York Farm Service Agency In the days when high school social studies teacher Allan Gandelman taught kids about the history of the world, he began to notice the food his students were eating … Continue reading

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Kansas Military Family Starts Rewarding Career in Agriculture

  By Lauren Moore, Public Affairs Specialist, FSA Office of External Affairs Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo are just five of 55 beef cows living on Chad and Melissa Wise’s cattle farm in Fort Scott, Kansas. Aside from the … Continue reading

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Iowa Farm Family Grows Organic Oats used in Cereal, Breads and Grain Products

By Lauren Moore, Assistant Public Affairs Specialist Lehman Farms has been a part of Iowa’s agriculture industry since the 1800s. After immigrating to the Polk County area from Switzerland, the Lehman family started their farm in 1868. The legacy of … Continue reading

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