Growing up, I knew farming was in my DNA—it was always a dream. In 1996, my senior year of high school, I was accepted into Iowa State University to major in Agronomy. My dad sat me down and told me I wasn’t going to farm. Having lived through the 1980s farm crisis, he wanted me to understand the realities of farming. I respected his experience and took a detour, but I stayed focused on farming.
In 2011, my dad was ready to retire, and we began planning the transition. After working with Iowa State University and Farm Bureau, 2012 became my first crop. In 2014, my wife and I purchased farmland, and the Iowa Finance Authority’s Beginning Farmer program made it possible. Farming is capital intensive, and starting out without support would have been nearly impossible.
The program not only helped us purchase land but also allowed me to focus on regenerative, conservation-minded practices like no-tillage and cover crops, setting an example in our community. Programs like Beginning Farmer are essential for giving young farmers the chance to pursue their dreams and continue our country’s farming legacy.
-Brian Keehner, Beginning Farmer Programs, Bernard