Q: Why do you have a job off the farm if you’re a farmer?
I farm corn and soybeans with my dad, Bob, and brother, Tony, near Mazon in Grundy County. Tony and I also sell fall decorations to add some diversity to the operation. We feed out a few beef cattle and hogs for the freezer as well. I also work full time as a professional farm manager and real estate broker with First Mid Ag Services.
The main reason I work off the farm is because I need the income from my off-the-farm career to make a living while I grow the farm. Many young and beginning farmers start out this way. Another big benefit to having a full-time career off the farm is health insurance and retirement benefits. My goals are to expand the farm by renting and/or buying additional land, diversification into other crops or livestock and updating equipment as needed. Having a steady income also helps in times of lower grain prices.
Grundy County farmer Michael Bernhard also serves on Illinois Farm Bureau’s Young Leader Committee.
See more: Farmers For All Seasons: Learn What Illinois Farmers Do in Winter
