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Getting started in farming presents a
substantial maze for most young farmers and ranchers to navigate. Finances, available land, equipment, labor issues and a host of other things all make farming and ranching tenuous ways to make a living. Nothing comes easily. However, there’s nothing like overcoming adversity and having some success to build the strong fortitude, confidence and experience necessary to succeed on the farm.
We had to earn it Kris and Meredith Baker of Sherrill know that feeling. They farm corn, soybeans, rice and wheat on 3,000 rented acres. At 35 and 33 years old, respectively, they’re still young despite already having 10 years of farming experience. Kris manages the farm’s day-to-day operations while Meredith handles the bookkeeping and the planting. It’s their ability to succeed on the farm that’s just one of the reasons Kris and Meredith are among three finalist-families in Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award competition. This award honors young farm families across the state for their hard work, innovation, progress and the general excellence of their operations. The winner of the award will be announced Dec. 4 at the 79th Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention in Little Rock. The winning couple will receive a $35,000 credit to purchase a GM vehicle and receives an expenses-paid trip to the American Farm
Earning it themselves Kris and Meredith Baker strive for maximum production. Kris says you have to have the latest technology you can afford to achieve this goal.
Bureau Convention in January in San Antonio to compete for the national award. The other finalists for the award include Scott and Cassie Davis of Prairie Grove, who run a dairy farm; and Chris and Alechia Meador of Green Forest, who raise chickens and cattle.
Arkansas Agriculture
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