Luke Garrabrant was born with a passion for farming
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
With National Ag Day approaching on March 22, Farms.com is connecting with U.S. producers to find out why they love farming.
Luke Garrabrant farms on about 700 acres of leased and rented land in Licking, Knox and Delaware counties in Ohio with his wife, Paige. The two have a daughter named Gracen.
The farm operates from the original homestead founded in 1926 by Luke’s great grandfather, John Goldsberry.
He raises cash crops, hay and beef cattle.Th
His passion for agriculture is part of his DNA, the 25-year-old said.
“I grew up around farming,” he said. “My dad still farms just up the road from me. I started driving equipment when I was seven-years-old and planted my first soybean crop when I was 13. Farming has always been and always will be a big part of my life.”
To love farming, Garrabrant says, is special.
Because farming has multiple aspects to it, a farmer is able to develop an appreciation for all areas of the industry.
“What I really love about farming is how many things go into it,” he said. “I like that it’s not the same thing every day. You could be dealing with crops, or soil health, or marketing, or livestock. I like to be challenged, and each of those things individually have things that I love about them.”
Garrabrant’s love for challenges helped him further his career after graduating from Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio.
He graduated in 2016 with a degree in crop production and used that to start Garrabrant Farm Services, a custom services provider.
The opportunity to work with other producers is another reason he loves agriculture.
“It really fuels my fire when I get to do custom work for another farm,” he said. “I don’t know everything, so sometimes I’m able to learn something from one of the farmers I’m working with. With farming you’re always learning, and that adds to why I love being a farmer so much.”
Farms.com has since connected with three other producers leading up to National Ag Day.
Andrea Brown, a farmer from Pennsylvania, and Indiana farmers Josh Boxell and Aaron Chalfant.
Telling Farms.com why you love farming could win you a prize pack.
Until March 22 at 11:59PM, a social media post on the @FarmsNews Twitter account with the hashtag #ForTheLoveofFarming and includes a photo or video explaining why you love farming, automatically enters you into a draw for a prize package worth $250.
Winners will be announced on March 28.