Jake Ayre, Carter McKinney, and Bailey
Sigvaldson – all now 22 years old –
were part of 2017’s largest graduating
class in over 30 years, with 75 young
people earning their diplomas. A
full third of those were female.
A case in point, because it’s so dry on their farm, is that
they’re now practicing more zero till.
“I learned the benefits, like how it holds moisture, and
how it’s good for the organic matter – specific benefits we are
actually getting instead of dad saying ‘we do this because we
do this.’”
Carter and his dad continue to operate as a duo for the
most part, but last fall they did hire an additional person to
help with harvest, and also brought Carter’s girlfriend, Kayla
Stang, on board. An additional combine was also purchased
to expedite the process, which Carter said makes things easier.
“Instead of having to push and push with one combine to
try to get as much done in a few days, we can kind of just cruise
along with two and have a person in the grain cart, and it runs
fairly efficiently.”
Carter and his family are still mulling over succession
plan details, and will begin the official process within four
years. Looking to the future he’s keeping an eye on how
consumer markets are pushing for more organic production
methods.
“I think this could play a role in the future and it’s something
to try to wrap your mind around, the way things are
changing,” he said. “If things went that way, I don’t see why we
couldn’t do that.”
During the winter months, Carter works part time as a
heavy machinery mechanic at Enns Brothers Ltd. John Deere
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