9-Year-Old Farmer Starting Out With 2 Acres

2017 - Volume #41, Issue #5, Page #19

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Like most farmers, Aden Franzen checks his corn crop frequently and hopes for rain when he sees the leaves curl. It’s the 9-year-old’s first year of farming two acres, which he rented for $400.
    “I paid for the rent out of my own savings. We used seed that Dad (Adam) and my grandpa (Lowell) bought,” says the young Lyle, Minn., farmer. “It was my dad’s cousin’s alfalfa field. We got a new plow and tested it out, so I rode with Dad.”
    Aden had his first tractor ride at 7 days old, then became obsessed with lawn mowing with his dad when he was 2. His interest in farming continues to grow, according to his mom, Tara.
    “He watches Market to Market on TV with his dad on Fridays. He checks the weather routinely,” she says.
    “I go on my dad or mom’s phone to check the apps for weather,” Aden says, adding he is learning about corn varieties and yields. “I’m thinking how much I’m going to get and hoping I get a good price.”
    He’s already found land to rent and hopes to double his acreage to four acres next year with his profits.
    His opportunity to farm got better this year when the Franzens added a third tractor. With supervision, Aden cultivated 200 acres for planting after he had help setting up auto steer.
    “It’s nice to have so you stay straighter when you are planting or digging,” he says.
    Tara notes that Aden’s grandfather and dad take every opportunity they can to teach Aden, peeling back ears of corn to explain how it develops, for example. They always emphasize farm safety. Aden helps pick rocks and care for the 2,000 replacement gilts the family raises in addition to growing crops.
    “We are obviously very proud of Aden. It’s exciting,” Tara says.
    “I want to be a farmer,” Aden admits. “But I’m thinking about being an agriculture lawyer, too. It’s a good job and I know a lot of farm stuff.”
    For now, he enjoys checking his corn, dreaming about the money his corn crop will give him, and deciding whether he should grow corn or soybeans next year.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Aden Franzen, 12370 505th Ave., Lyle, Minn. 55953 (ph 507 434-9128).

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9-Year-Old Farmer Starting Out With 2 Acres AG WORLD Like most farmers Aden Franzen checks his corn crop frequently and hopes for rain when he sees the leaves curl It’s the 9-year-old’s first year of farming two acres which he rented for $400 “I paid for the rent out of my own savings We used seed that Dad Adam and my grandpa Lowell bought ” says the young Lyle Minn farmer “It was my dad’s cousin’s alfalfa field We got a new plow and tested it out so I rode with Dad ” Aden had his first tractor ride at 7 days old then became obsessed with lawn mowing with his dad when he was 2 His interest in farming continues to grow according to his mom Tara “He watches Market to Market on TV with his dad on Fridays He checks the weather routinely ” she says “I go on my dad or mom’s phone to check the apps for weather ” Aden says adding he is learning about corn varieties and yields “I’m thinking how much I’m going to get and hoping I get a good price ” He’s already found land to rent and hopes to double his acreage to four acres next year with his profits His opportunity to farm got better this year when the Franzens added a third tractor With supervision Aden cultivated 200 acres for planting after he had help setting up auto steer “It’s nice to have so you stay straighter when you are planting or digging ” he says Tara notes that Aden’s grandfather and dad take every opportunity they can to teach Aden peeling back ears of corn to explain how it develops for example They always emphasize farm safety Aden helps pick rocks and care for the 2 000 replacement gilts the family raises in addition to growing crops “We are obviously very proud of Aden It’s exciting ” Tara says “I want to be a farmer ” Aden admits “But I’m thinking about being an agriculture lawyer too It’s a good job and I know a lot of farm stuff ” For now he enjoys checking his corn dreaming about the money his corn crop will give him and deciding whether he should grow corn or soybeans next year Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Aden Franzen 12370 505th Ave Lyle Minn 55953 ph 507 434-9128

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