In celebration of Ag Week, Alliance Bank is highlighting the stories of farmers in our community…
When you get down to it, farmers are business owners. Chad Widmer went to school for diesel mechanics, but he learned quickly “you have to know your numbers” and “rely on people” to be successful on the farm.
Chad always knew he wanted to stay on the farm, yet his parents encouraged him to continue his education after high school. He graduated from Lincoln Tech and came right back to farm alongside his father Joe and uncle Paul. With the help of family, he had his own 300 acres rented at the age of 19. The next year Chad became one-third of their 4,000-acre partnership.
Dad didn’t let him get comfortable in the operator’s seat. Joe knew Chad needed to learn the logistics of an operation – moving equipment, unloading trucks, managing people. They didn’t know it at the time, but the lessons Chad soaked up the next few years would be put to test sooner rather than later.
The Roller-Coaster
The family began a roller coaster of emotions in 2001 when Chad’s mom Connie was diagnosed with cancer. Uncle Paul had to sit out harvest of 2002 to beat his cancer diagnosis. With mom still fighting, Chad married his wife Sarah in 2002. They lost Connie the next spring. But that wasn’t the end of it, “We had the opportunity to buy a farm in the fall of 2005. Dad came to me and had just found out he had cancer. He told me I was going to have to buy it.” Chad wasn’t so sure. He was still young, approaching his 29th birthday, and he and Sarah had their first child on the way. “Within two short months, dad passed away. Joey was born in February, and the next month Sarah and I bought our first farm.”
Chad persevered, giving credit to his Grandpa Bud, Uncle Paul, Uncle Ralph, landlords, his banker, agronomist, grain marketer, family, and a handful of trusted family friends. “I had a good support system. I didn’t do this all on my own,” he shared. “Do what you’re good at and let somebody else help you with the rest.”
Continuous Learning
Today, Chad and Sarah love being part of a 7 operation peer group. The growers are spread out across the United States and Canada, but twice a year they convene to learn and be a sounding board for one another. They are considering the formation of an Advisory Board for their own operation. Chad and Sarah have segmented their operation into several stand-alone entities. Should anything happen to them, they have a plan to keep the operation running until Joey gets back from college. (He’s headed to Iowa State this fall).
Life is hard. Farming is harder.
“It is a juggling act. The volatility; the weather; the flood in 2015 was my hardest crop year.” Yet, Chad and Sarah are incredibly thankful for their farming lifestyle. “We have had some of the best landlords and opportunities come along. Our partnership with Uncle Paul, leading up to his retirement in 2015, contributed to our success,” recognizes Chad.
Chad and Sarah now operate 5,000 acres with opportunities for future growth. Along with Joey, the couple has three daughters (Bella, and twins Libby and Maggie). With guidance from consultant Chris Barron, Chad hopes they can begin to transition the operation to the next generation by the time he turns 60 and knows (firsthand) communication will be key to their success. “Have it in writing, talk about it.”
