FROM THE FIELD: Zack Smith
Zack Smith would like nothing more than for his new agronomy degree to take him right back to his family's farm. But this 23-year-old knows that getting into farming can be a lengthy process.
While an ISU student, he played and managed a local rock band, grew sweet corn for grocery stores throughout Iowa, and learned about corporate agriculture as an intern. For the past five months he has handled program details for the new Kellogg-funded Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture project at the Leopold Center. In January, he will begin work as a manager for Thompson Seeds' farming operation near Leland.
Before he left Ames, Smith was asked to share his perspectives with readers of the Leopold Letter.
What brought you to Iowa State?
I am from Buffalo Center, a small farming community on the Iowa/Minnesota border. My love of farming steered me in the direction of going to ISU and majoring in agronomy. I had hoped to leave with a degree and a job at a large company, but as I got closer to graduation I discovered that I wanted no part in corporate agriculture. Several work experiences helped me decide that I didn't want to work for farmers, I wanted to be a farmer. I want to prove that a young person can make it today in production agriculture.
What is your agricultural background?
I grew up on a 10-acre farmstead southeast of Buffalo Center. My dad has been farming since his dad died of a heart attack in 1975. He began by growing 480 acres of corn, soybeans and hay as well as managing a small hog herd. The operation grew until 1991 when the hog operation was at a turning point. Dad decided to drop the hogs and pick up more land. He's been farming about 1,000 acres with me at his side since. I became very active in the farm when I was about 12 doing everything from planting to combining.
My dad would like to pass on the farm to me but he doesn't want to put me in a place where I'll be fighting to keep my head above water. Our general plans for now are to slowly phase me into the operation over the next 10 years. We are considering diversifying the operation as well by exploring niche markets.
What interested you in the Kellogg project?
Last spring, Fred Kirschenmann and Mike Duffy made presentations at an agronomy class. I was blown away by their comments and intrigued by their ideas. I decided that if I wanted to farm in the future, I needed to change my ideas to more of a sustainable approach. I began doing a lot of research into sustainable ag and local markets over the course of the spring and summer. I have enjoyed working at the Leopold Center with people who share my hopes and dreams for maintaining rural life in Iowa
What are the biggest obstacles in making family farms more sustainable?
Sustainable agriculture is the only answer for small to midsize farms in this state. As Brazil continues to develop its infrastructure, farming operations will continue to swallow more acres and be able to produce commodities much cheaper than Iowa farmers. If we want to compete, we need to quit thinking in terms of commodities and focus on finding niche markets. The biggest problem for Iowa agriculture is having a farm demographic in which the average age of a farmer is 54 years old. They've been farming the same way for 20 to 30 years, so why should they change?
What do you hope to do on your family's farm?
My plans are to have a career path that promotes Iowa rural life and vitality. I plan to eventually return to my family's farm and continue working the land as my father, grandfather and great-grandfather have done for nearly 100 years. My goal is to return the farm to a more biologically friendly state and profit while doing so. I'd like to be able to raise a family on the land as I was raised, and teach my children the life lessons you can't learn anywhere else but on a farm.