Each month, Eagle Radio in Great Bend is recognizing groups or individuals that make a big impact on our community. This Appreciation Month is highlighting farming.
High C Farms near Radium is a family farm with roots going back to the late 19th century. Jason Pinkston is the 5th generation in his family to work on that farm. He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Bud and his father Chris. And he is a good representative of what it takes to be a farmer in 2021 and why today's farmers should be appreciated.
Jason and his family grow wheat, corn, milo, and soybeans on the farm that encompasses about 2,000 acres. The diversity that is required in agriculture is one of the things he likes best.
"By the time you get tired of doing something, whether it’s planting in the spring or harvesting in the fall, it’s over and you move on to something different. The freedom of getting to be your own boss...a lot of responsibility with that, but you get the freedom, the flexibility."
Farmers find out how each year if they've made the right decisions, if they're getting the best results. Jason likes that, too.
"When harvest comes around, you get to find out how good you did. Mother nature plays a big role in that. In a lot of businesses, in a lot of things you do, you don’t get that objective report card that the yield is at the end of every season. So that’s always intriguing to see...if you’ve done better, if you’ve stepped forward or not. Every year's a little different.”
Technology has become an important part of agriculture in the 21st century. And that presents challenges for today's farmers.
"It’s just not just as simple as going out and pulling something behind you in a tractor and turning dirt. About everything we do anymore has a lot of technology in it.
"If you’re not pretty competent with GPS and computers, it’s going to be a struggle anymore which makes it hard to find qualified help. Grabbing a high school kid, 16,17 years old out of school on weekends or after school and put him in something to get a few extra hours is difficult to do anymore because of where things have gone technologically.”
A 1996 graduate of Macksville High School, Jason went to Fort Hays State University where he earned a degree in Ag Business in 2000. He also met his wife Beth there. She grew up in the Bison area and graduated with a degree in Ag Business a year after he did. They have a 13-year-old son Grady who helps around the farm.
Does Jason want his son to take over the family farm someday?
“Well, if that’s what he wants to do, that would be great. I guess my goal is to keep doing what I am so that the opportunity will be there for him. I want him to do what he enjoys doing. If this ends up being what he enjoys, that’s great. So my hope would be that when he gets old enough to make those decisions the opportunity is still there if he wants it.”
Jason's attitude towards farming reflects the sentiment that family farmers have expressed for generations in central Kansas.
Read the previous Appreciation Month stories by clicking HERE.