After I graduated college, I just took a while to settle back in at home. I enjoyed having a little free time. Of course, I did not get to rest long for hay season was soon upon us. We made it through that without any major trouble, and due to the unusually warm spring we finished earlier than we ever had.
In July, I had an experience that completely changed my future. I attended the New Century Farmer Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. It was an instance in which God decided that it would be part of my future. Back in the spring I heard about it from a school email, and decided it sounded cool enough to apply. I was swamped in school, and came within an ace of not even applying. On the morning of the last day I could apply I set down and filled out my application. I really did not expect to get accepted. I ended up getting accepted and was ecstatic. At that time I saw it as an opportunity to see a new part of the country and meet new people. I flew out on a Sunday in July, and spent a week in which I found an experience that will be with me always.
The only thing I can say to describe New Century Farmer is that it is simply amazing. We spent five days going as hard as we could from six thirty in the morning until midnight, and at the end of the week I was more energized than I have ever been. I found that my passion truly did lie in production agriculture, and I figured out what was important in the future for me. I met some of the greatest people in the world, and made some life-long friends. I would tell anyone who is in college to do whatever it took if you have the chance to attend this conference. My eternal thanks goes out to the National FFA Organization, Pioneer, Our Facilitators, The Speakers, and The Other Attendees at New Century Farmer.
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I returned home to Tennessee energized and ready to go. I began planning, studying, learning, and building. I read everything I can get my hands on. My internet time is devoted to building myself and my industry. In the last year I have learned more practical knowledge than I ever thought possible.
In October 2012 I had another wonderful opportunity that will forever be embedded in my heart. I had the opportunity to help a FFA National Officer Candidate. It is an experiencing I truly enjoyed, and hope to get the opportunity to again. I attended the National FFA Convention with Amanda and the Gallatin FFA Chapter, and had one of the best experiences of my life. The trip came to a culmination When my wife Amanda and myself got to walk across stage and receive our American FFA Degrees.
I knew I wanted to start my own farming operation so I sat down and had a serious talk with my parents. I am extremely lucky to have a set of parents that loves and supports me. They leased 55 acres of my gradfather's farm to me on January 1st 2013. LGI Farms officially came into existence. 2013 will be an amazing year for us. We will build the foundation upon which our futures will rest, and we hope you will join us. Our doors are always open. Come by and we will show you around the farm.
This is just a glimpse of the high points of this life God has blessed me with. The thing that has made my life so amazing is the people around me and the experiences I have had with them. Thank You All. I write this not to brag about my accomplishments, but to brag about the accomplishments of agriculture as a whole. I want you to understand more about who we, the farmers who put the food on your plates and clothes on your backs, are. This is just my story. There are many more that are even more interesting. I urge you to seek them out.
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