Gavin Spoor

I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

I'm not surprised.

I'm not surprised.

Did you have him labeled?

Did you have him labeled?

I would say we both have our own chores that we handle at our own houses. But, like, if Grace has been spending more time in Missouri than I have in Kentucky, if I'm trucking all day, she ends up surprising me by having all the laundry done and the kitchen's clean. I'm like, I walk in like, this is so nice.

I would say we both have our own chores that we handle at our own houses. But, like, if Grace has been spending more time in Missouri than I have in Kentucky, if I'm trucking all day, she ends up surprising me by having all the laundry done and the kitchen's clean. I'm like, I walk in like, this is so nice.

Or, like, she's got, like, mac and cheese cooked. I'm so hungry. Like, this is perfect, you know. It's great.

Or, like, she's got, like, mac and cheese cooked. I'm so hungry. Like, this is perfect, you know. It's great.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. So are you guys living together now? Not really.

Yeah. So are you guys living together now? Not really.

Yeah. When I'm in Kentucky, I stay at her house because where else am I going to stay? When she's in Missouri, she stays at mine.

Yeah. When I'm in Kentucky, I stay at her house because where else am I going to stay? When she's in Missouri, she stays at mine.

Google Maps says five. It's four and a half.

Google Maps says five. It's four and a half.

When you're going on 64 across Illinois, you just find whoever's driving the fastest, and you get right behind them, and you just follow them the whole way.

When you're going on 64 across Illinois, you just find whoever's driving the fastest, and you get right behind them, and you just follow them the whole way.

Well, we're still dating. We ended up getting a show on Acres TV.

Well, we're still dating. We ended up getting a show on Acres TV.

Been to a ton of farm shows together.

Been to a ton of farm shows together.

Still not tired of each other.

Still not tired of each other.

We're working on a Mack truck restoration that's going to the Mack Museum.

We're working on a Mack truck restoration that's going to the Mack Museum.

Nope.

Nope.

So Grace has got it in my shop, and she's going to finish repainting it. We'll put everything back together and take it out to Pennsylvania.

So Grace has got it in my shop, and she's going to finish repainting it. We'll put everything back together and take it out to Pennsylvania.

um not really i've we repainted a semi at the farm a few years ago and um our main tractor we repainted that too but that's really all i got i'm not hardcore restoration when i started farming i mean if i was buying used junk i can't i'm fine running old stuff but it can't be ugly so i'd rattle can it or fix it up put new wear parts on just basic stuff what was the grain cart

um not really i've we repainted a semi at the farm a few years ago and um our main tractor we repainted that too but that's really all i got i'm not hardcore restoration when i started farming i mean if i was buying used junk i can't i'm fine running old stuff but it can't be ugly so i'd rattle can it or fix it up put new wear parts on just basic stuff what was the grain cart

Oh, yeah, the grain cart. Oh, I forgot about that. I forgot we did that. We do a lot. Yeah, I have an ugly. I love Parker grain carts, but it was old and rusty. It never spent a day inside in its life. So, like, two weeks before harvest, I was like, we're going to paint that block.

Oh, yeah, the grain cart. Oh, I forgot about that. I forgot we did that. We do a lot. Yeah, I have an ugly. I love Parker grain carts, but it was old and rusty. It never spent a day inside in its life. So, like, two weeks before harvest, I was like, we're going to paint that block.

Yeah, probably.

Yeah, probably.

That cart's nice. I mean, everything about it was immaculate. It had new flighting, good tires. We put a new tarp on it. Just the paint was so ugly. It was so embarrassing to drag that behind a nice tractor next to a nice combine. So we spent a couple days, and I was able to make a YouTube video out of it for Grace's channel because she was needing some content. Harvest hadn't started yet.

That cart's nice. I mean, everything about it was immaculate. It had new flighting, good tires. We put a new tarp on it. Just the paint was so ugly. It was so embarrassing to drag that behind a nice tractor next to a nice combine. So we spent a couple days, and I was able to make a YouTube video out of it for Grace's channel because she was needing some content. Harvest hadn't started yet.

We totally restored a grain cart. Completely forgot about that.

We totally restored a grain cart. Completely forgot about that.

Yeah, it was green and rusty orange, whatever. But yeah, now it's pitch black. Got new decals for it from the John Deere dealership and slapped those on and put a rear view camera. The only thing it doesn't have is a scale, but it's got the rear view camera. We ran a monitor into the cab for all the road travel.

Yeah, it was green and rusty orange, whatever. But yeah, now it's pitch black. Got new decals for it from the John Deere dealership and slapped those on and put a rear view camera. The only thing it doesn't have is a scale, but it's got the rear view camera. We ran a monitor into the cab for all the road travel.

Gosh, I think it's about the same size. I've dropped some acres to the south and picked up some acres to the north, but as far as total acre size, it's pretty well right where it was.

Gosh, I think it's about the same size. I've dropped some acres to the south and picked up some acres to the north, but as far as total acre size, it's pretty well right where it was.

Yeah, the being spread out thing, I mean, you pick up what you can where you can find it, but I'm going too many different directions. And with going down to Kentucky, you can only do so much.

Yeah, the being spread out thing, I mean, you pick up what you can where you can find it, but I'm going too many different directions. And with going down to Kentucky, you can only do so much.

No. I need to get a low boy. Yeah.

No. I need to get a low boy. Yeah.

Have you noticed that everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, why? We shouldn't have to be doing that. You know, what is going on?

Have you noticed that everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, why? We shouldn't have to be doing that. You know, what is going on?

Yeah, there's some days where Jaron and Shannon will be harvesting, and I'm down in Kentucky. So there's stuff happening at my farm, and I'm not even around town.

Yeah, there's some days where Jaron and Shannon will be harvesting, and I'm down in Kentucky. So there's stuff happening at my farm, and I'm not even around town.

As long as a job gets done. Doesn't matter who does it. Yeah.

As long as a job gets done. Doesn't matter who does it. Yeah.

Yeah. Had to be a record year for you.

Yeah. Had to be a record year for you.

Beans were like right on average. The earlier the beans were planted, the better they did. But every planting date they got later, you just watched the yield monitor drop. So our beans were super average. But corn, like we were cranking out 250 bushel corn. We've got 130 bushel county averages. It's like, we're not going to see that for another decade. Right, yeah.

Beans were like right on average. The earlier the beans were planted, the better they did. But every planting date they got later, you just watched the yield monitor drop. So our beans were super average. But corn, like we were cranking out 250 bushel corn. We've got 130 bushel county averages. It's like, we're not going to see that for another decade. Right, yeah.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep. And every one of those bushels counts in a year like this.

Yep. And every one of those bushels counts in a year like this.

Yeah. We call it bushel on our way out.

Yeah. We call it bushel on our way out.

I had a couple fields beat my APH or T yield or whatever, and I still had a claim on them because of the revenue difference from spring to fall. So that was weird. That's never happened before for me. So what did you do with all the crop? Did you just go right to town? A lot of the corn went to town. I was forward selling some of it because I still don't have a bunch of grain storage.

I had a couple fields beat my APH or T yield or whatever, and I still had a claim on them because of the revenue difference from spring to fall. So that was weird. That's never happened before for me. So what did you do with all the crop? Did you just go right to town? A lot of the corn went to town. I was forward selling some of it because I still don't have a bunch of grain storage.

But then I rented a few bins off of neighbors for seed beans, growing seed beans for two different companies now. So half of them have gone to town. The other half are still in the bin.

But then I rented a few bins off of neighbors for seed beans, growing seed beans for two different companies now. So half of them have gone to town. The other half are still in the bin.

This past year I didn't because we got so much in the warehouse I was able to just keep selling what I had. But then this spring we'll plant some again.

This past year I didn't because we got so much in the warehouse I was able to just keep selling what I had. But then this spring we'll plant some again.

Yeah, and honestly, I've focused much less on it because the row crop operation's grown 100x of what the popcorn has. But now with the climate that we're in with crop prices, I might go back to focusing on it some more. Cause I really enjoy it, but it's such a small portion of my income now that it's like, it doesn't even exist. I just do it. Cause it's what I've always done.

Yeah, and honestly, I've focused much less on it because the row crop operation's grown 100x of what the popcorn has. But now with the climate that we're in with crop prices, I might go back to focusing on it some more. Cause I really enjoy it, but it's such a small portion of my income now that it's like, it doesn't even exist. I just do it. Cause it's what I've always done.

Yeah. Oh yeah.

Yeah. Oh yeah.

Do you grow yellow or white popcorn?

Do you grow yellow or white popcorn?

Yellow? Okay, that's what I've got. So it would be a fair comparison.

Yellow? Okay, that's what I've got. So it would be a fair comparison.

It's finicky. I've got guys I sell kettle corn kernels to and if they're just heating up for the day, that first batch is almost junk. They throw it out. You need it heated evenly all the way across and then that second batch, world of difference.

It's finicky. I've got guys I sell kettle corn kernels to and if they're just heating up for the day, that first batch is almost junk. They throw it out. You need it heated evenly all the way across and then that second batch, world of difference.

The lady that I buy crap insurance from, her husband swears by coconut oil. Really?

The lady that I buy crap insurance from, her husband swears by coconut oil. Really?

No? It's not coconutty, you know, when you're eating it.

No? It's not coconutty, you know, when you're eating it.

Another Kettle Corn customer. I don't taste any coconuts. They swear by Corn Oil. I think it's Mazzola, or I don't know what the brand name is. It's a yellow bottle. You get it at Sam's. They buy it in bulk.

Another Kettle Corn customer. I don't taste any coconuts. They swear by Corn Oil. I think it's Mazzola, or I don't know what the brand name is. It's a yellow bottle. You get it at Sam's. They buy it in bulk.

How are you going to do it? I haven't decided yet. I want it to be memorable. It's got to be memorable.

How are you going to do it? I haven't decided yet. I want it to be memorable. It's got to be memorable.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Yeah, they came out and picked rocks. And it was like, I loved it. TerraClear is awesome. What they're doing is great. It was cool. I've got a farm with a ton of rocks. What they did was great. But they were sweating bullets the whole time because it was like one mishap after another the entire time.

Yeah, they came out and picked rocks. And it was like, I loved it. TerraClear is awesome. What they're doing is great. It was cool. I've got a farm with a ton of rocks. What they did was great. But they were sweating bullets the whole time because it was like one mishap after another the entire time.

Yeah. But I enjoyed it. Like, okay, you want me to just start from the very beginning? Okay. So they send out a company that flies a drone and maps it and finds all of these rocks, right? Well, they came out. They were running it fine. Well, then they had some trouble with the drone. And then right at dark, one of the guys lost a drone.

Yeah. But I enjoyed it. Like, okay, you want me to just start from the very beginning? Okay. So they send out a company that flies a drone and maps it and finds all of these rocks, right? Well, they came out. They were running it fine. Well, then they had some trouble with the drone. And then right at dark, one of the guys lost a drone.

And he's from the city. So I'm like, well, I'll help you find it. So, like, we meander down. It's in the woods.

And he's from the city. So I'm like, well, I'll help you find it. So, like, we meander down. It's in the woods.

way in the middle of the woods he's scared to death because he's from the city I'm like come on we're like we are apex predator nothing like everything's scared of us not the other way around but he's like shivering as we're walking through the woods with our phone flashlights finally find the drone it's in a million pieces so they can't finish flying the drone so there's a couple fields that didn't get mapped

way in the middle of the woods he's scared to death because he's from the city I'm like come on we're like we are apex predator nothing like everything's scared of us not the other way around but he's like shivering as we're walking through the woods with our phone flashlights finally find the drone it's in a million pieces so they can't finish flying the drone so there's a couple fields that didn't get mapped

well then they come back out and they're finally there to pick the rocks in between harvest and trying to get winter wheat on the ground they sneak in the perfect time but then the skid loader starts having issues so they only get like three quarters of what's supposed to be picked that's just I mean that's life that's how it goes that's farming but what they did get picked was great and I mean they were picking up rocks the size of me with these skid loader buckets and just zooming around I'm saved I don't know like five days worth of walking around and they did it in a couple hours with a skid loader

well then they come back out and they're finally there to pick the rocks in between harvest and trying to get winter wheat on the ground they sneak in the perfect time but then the skid loader starts having issues so they only get like three quarters of what's supposed to be picked that's just I mean that's life that's how it goes that's farming but what they did get picked was great and I mean they were picking up rocks the size of me with these skid loader buckets and just zooming around I'm saved I don't know like five days worth of walking around and they did it in a couple hours with a skid loader

So, yeah, this is a cool company.

So, yeah, this is a cool company.

It was – no. Wait. Well, it was in a field before they picked it because I was combining the beans so that they could come. Yeah. So, hey, if they would have been there last year to get it picked, I wouldn't have had that problem. I wouldn't have had the breakdown. I wouldn't have had the expense.

It was – no. Wait. Well, it was in a field before they picked it because I was combining the beans so that they could come. Yeah. So, hey, if they would have been there last year to get it picked, I wouldn't have had that problem. I wouldn't have had the breakdown. I wouldn't have had the expense.

No, and in northeast Missouri, we really don't have many rocks at all. This was an old— And the glacier didn't make it down there. It's a reclaimed coal mine ground, so there's 500 acres, and it's just peppered with rocks. And if you get the rains, you can have a good crop, but it's just thin topsoil, just on the rougher end of things.

No, and in northeast Missouri, we really don't have many rocks at all. This was an old— And the glacier didn't make it down there. It's a reclaimed coal mine ground, so there's 500 acres, and it's just peppered with rocks. And if you get the rains, you can have a good crop, but it's just thin topsoil, just on the rougher end of things.

So, man, it is the perfect place for TerraClear to come do some work. Yeah.

So, man, it is the perfect place for TerraClear to come do some work. Yeah.

Right. Just having the map, because that's what my plan is on the rest of it. They weren't able to pick with the skid loader. I still have the map. I go right after those rocks. It's marked, and that rock's not moving. So I can go there whenever I want and get them.

Right. Just having the map, because that's what my plan is on the rest of it. They weren't able to pick with the skid loader. I still have the map. I go right after those rocks. It's marked, and that rock's not moving. So I can go there whenever I want and get them.

We get it every now and then, but nothing like they do up north. This was my first experience pushing snow. So I got a buddy with a landscaping company. He needed help pushing snow because his business has blossomed. And down in St. Louis, he's running like 17 skid loaders in a snowstorm. Well, it was me and three other ones. And we got sent to a hospital complex.

We get it every now and then, but nothing like they do up north. This was my first experience pushing snow. So I got a buddy with a landscaping company. He needed help pushing snow because his business has blossomed. And down in St. Louis, he's running like 17 skid loaders in a snowstorm. Well, it was me and three other ones. And we got sent to a hospital complex.

We showed up Friday night at 11 p.m. And we left Monday at 6 p.m. And we slept in our pickup for about four hours during that. It was miserable by the end of it.

We showed up Friday night at 11 p.m. And we left Monday at 6 p.m. And we slept in our pickup for about four hours during that. It was miserable by the end of it.

Yeah. The new wore off so fast.

Yeah. The new wore off so fast.

Yes. Which made it even worse because you're just sliding everywhere. Yeah.

Yes. Which made it even worse because you're just sliding everywhere. Yeah.

Yeah. The ones we were using were spring trip. I was looking at them just because I was curious what they cost. He's running a dozen of these things. They're like $10,000, $15,000 for a used one, $20,000 for a new.

Yeah. The ones we were using were spring trip. I was looking at them just because I was curious what they cost. He's running a dozen of these things. They're like $10,000, $15,000 for a used one, $20,000 for a new.

What we need to do is just wait until someplace that always gets snow doesn't get snow for about four years and all those guys liquidate because they don't have any snow to push. Then we can get them for a dime.

What we need to do is just wait until someplace that always gets snow doesn't get snow for about four years and all those guys liquidate because they don't have any snow to push. Then we can get them for a dime.

Have you ever had a snowstorm start in the day? Because I got to talk to him. He's like, every time we push snow, it starts in the middle of the night. Yeah, our last one did. Our last one did, yeah. It did?

Have you ever had a snowstorm start in the day? Because I got to talk to him. He's like, every time we push snow, it starts in the middle of the night. Yeah, our last one did. Our last one did, yeah. It did?

8 a.m. That's so much nicer than showing up at 11 p.m. I was trucking corn all day.

8 a.m. That's so much nicer than showing up at 11 p.m. I was trucking corn all day.

Yeah. But they were struggling. We get a lot of those two- and three-inch snows. It's only every couple years we get eight or ten like we got.

Yeah. But they were struggling. We get a lot of those two- and three-inch snows. It's only every couple years we get eight or ten like we got.

Yes, and that made it more difficult than anything because we're trying to push snow, and then you've got a layer of ice, and then it snows again, and then it sleets again, and it just was not working. And you couldn't get a very big bucket full. Like you said, because you're tracks.

Yes, and that made it more difficult than anything because we're trying to push snow, and then you've got a layer of ice, and then it snows again, and then it sleets again, and it just was not working. And you couldn't get a very big bucket full. Like you said, because you're tracks.

Yeah, well, the tracks, and it's just that ice is so much heavier than fluffy snow, so you can't push it very far, so you've got all these little piles everywhere.

Yeah, well, the tracks, and it's just that ice is so much heavier than fluffy snow, so you can't push it very far, so you've got all these little piles everywhere.

Yep. Grace is the YouTube queen. She's good at it. I've never got into editing. How's it been going?

Yep. Grace is the YouTube queen. She's good at it. I've never got into editing. How's it been going?

Which Grace has a girl from home, Allie, that helps out, and then Brianna, she edits.

Which Grace has a girl from home, Allie, that helps out, and then Brianna, she edits.

Other than the primer didn't go on very well the first time.

Other than the primer didn't go on very well the first time.

Or not primer, paint. You can tell the story.

Or not primer, paint. You can tell the story.

Yeah, it was late by the time we got it prepped.

Yeah, it was late by the time we got it prepped.

Five hours, bobtailing, single axle. She was broken.

Five hours, bobtailing, single axle. She was broken.

84.

84.

Negative comments always are louder than the positive ones also. I mean, there's a lot of truth to that. Twitter's been the worst lately. Everything else is so positive. Twitter's like, man, there's just a group of people that want to be angry at the world for no reason.

Negative comments always are louder than the positive ones also. I mean, there's a lot of truth to that. Twitter's been the worst lately. Everything else is so positive. Twitter's like, man, there's just a group of people that want to be angry at the world for no reason.

Do you think it happened on accident? No.

Do you think it happened on accident? No.

I don't think I've ever blocked anybody.

I don't think I've ever blocked anybody.

I really don't.

I really don't.

Not really because it would be a waste of time. People's biggest gripe on there is that they think I'm doing it strictly for engagement because I'm getting paid. It's like I've never made a dollar off of Twitter. Now, I've made money on other platforms. I've never made a penny. Twitter is like my dad and grandpa.

Not really because it would be a waste of time. People's biggest gripe on there is that they think I'm doing it strictly for engagement because I'm getting paid. It's like I've never made a dollar off of Twitter. Now, I've made money on other platforms. I've never made a penny. Twitter is like my dad and grandpa.

So if I want to know something about farming, something of repair or agronomic question, that's where I go with that. And I think I'm just like baiting for engagements. I just like either Twitter or New Ag Talk. That's like my go-tos if I want advice.

So if I want to know something about farming, something of repair or agronomic question, that's where I go with that. And I think I'm just like baiting for engagements. I just like either Twitter or New Ag Talk. That's like my go-tos if I want advice.

Yeah, a little bit. Probably more so than someone that's not making the content, I would say for sure. But that just comes with it at the same time.

Yeah, a little bit. Probably more so than someone that's not making the content, I would say for sure. But that just comes with it at the same time.

Yeah, that's what it is. I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

Yeah, that's what it is. I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

Have you noticed that? Everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, we shouldn't have to be doing that.

Have you noticed that? Everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, we shouldn't have to be doing that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

At the same time, every generation goes through it. So I'm not even 30 yet. I'm only 27. So these guys that are 50 and 60 and 70, they all went through the same stuff. I mean, they were working hard and doing other things to make ends meet while they built the farm. And now they're finally to the age where they've got that asset that they can rent out for retirement.

At the same time, every generation goes through it. So I'm not even 30 yet. I'm only 27. So these guys that are 50 and 60 and 70, they all went through the same stuff. I mean, they were working hard and doing other things to make ends meet while they built the farm. And now they're finally to the age where they've got that asset that they can rent out for retirement.

And they deserve every penny they can get because they worked their whole life for it. I just got to figure out how, you know, our generation's version of that. Is it going to look the same as theirs or different?

And they deserve every penny they can get because they worked their whole life for it. I just got to figure out how, you know, our generation's version of that. Is it going to look the same as theirs or different?

Yeah, I've been force-feeding myself Dave Ramsey content, which I don't know if it's good or bad.

Yeah, I've been force-feeding myself Dave Ramsey content, which I don't know if it's good or bad.

People just went off on it. My mentality's definitely changed on it because, see, when I started farming in 2017, we've not had a we didn't have great years, but we didn't really have a bad year and prices were always going up and everything was inflating. So like you couldn't make a wrong move. And I'm the first to admit, I've made some mistakes in that time period too.

People just went off on it. My mentality's definitely changed on it because, see, when I started farming in 2017, we've not had a we didn't have great years, but we didn't really have a bad year and prices were always going up and everything was inflating. So like you couldn't make a wrong move. And I'm the first to admit, I've made some mistakes in that time period too.

So I'm trying to figure that out and navigate the world where stuff is now dropping like a rock in value and situating myself where I can at least survive that. Cause I still don't, I don't, I own the two acres I live on and that's it. So navigating this environment we're in on a,

So I'm trying to figure that out and navigate the world where stuff is now dropping like a rock in value and situating myself where I can at least survive that. Cause I still don't, I don't, I own the two acres I live on and that's it. So navigating this environment we're in on a,

crop share and only cash rent basis you know how how do you do that so looking at specialty crops figuring out what you can how to run lean without cutting too many corners right it's next couple years are gonna be tough yeah what about you grace

crop share and only cash rent basis you know how how do you do that so looking at specialty crops figuring out what you can how to run lean without cutting too many corners right it's next couple years are gonna be tough yeah what about you grace

Homemade beef tallow.

Homemade beef tallow.

We'll be kicking out ribeyes and hamburger.

We'll be kicking out ribeyes and hamburger.

Yeah, tie it all together. I can't even eat popcorn right now.

Yeah, tie it all together. I can't even eat popcorn right now.

Yeah, I'm doing that carnivore diet thing. Oh. Popcorn turns out is not meat.

Yeah, I'm doing that carnivore diet thing. Oh. Popcorn turns out is not meat.

Oh, my God. They popped.

Oh, my God. They popped.

Wow. This is neat.

Wow. This is neat.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Popcorn's non-GMO. I mean, you can't get any more closer to nature than that.

Yeah. Popcorn's non-GMO. I mean, you can't get any more closer to nature than that.

38 to 44X is what that expands.

38 to 44X is what that expands.

Well, if you eat the whole kernel without it popping, you might.

Well, if you eat the whole kernel without it popping, you might.

I've never examined. Don't know.

I've never examined. Don't know.

And then the ones that just kind of splinter open but don't fully explode.

And then the ones that just kind of splinter open but don't fully explode.

You can. It's just moisture. The ones that splinter open but don't fully explode, it's just because they're a little too wet. So if you can bump your – the trouble is you can't store it as long as real dry popcorn. So you're going to have to sell it quicker. But, yeah, it's only moisture. It's like the popcorn that splinters but doesn't fully explode is probably 16% or 17% instead of 13.5%.

You can. It's just moisture. The ones that splinter open but don't fully explode, it's just because they're a little too wet. So if you can bump your – the trouble is you can't store it as long as real dry popcorn. So you're going to have to sell it quicker. But, yeah, it's only moisture. It's like the popcorn that splinters but doesn't fully explode is probably 16% or 17% instead of 13.5%.

That's the only thing that makes it do it.

That's the only thing that makes it do it.

Old maids, could be a couple things. It could be way too dry, could be way too wet, or could have a scratching of that skin. Because if there's just a little bit of a nick in that kernel's skin, all of that pressure can escape. It'll never explode. That's what makes popcorn explode is that the, what is that, pear cap? I should know that as a popcorn farmer. The moisture can't escape.

Old maids, could be a couple things. It could be way too dry, could be way too wet, or could have a scratching of that skin. Because if there's just a little bit of a nick in that kernel's skin, all of that pressure can escape. It'll never explode. That's what makes popcorn explode is that the, what is that, pear cap? I should know that as a popcorn farmer. The moisture can't escape.

It holds it in. It's so thick and so hard. That's what makes popcorn.

It holds it in. It's so thick and so hard. That's what makes popcorn.

Makes it explode as it keeps it in until the last second.

Makes it explode as it keeps it in until the last second.

So you've got to be real careful, real gentle when you're combining it, because if you scratch those kernels or nick them at all, it's not going to pop.

So you've got to be real careful, real gentle when you're combining it, because if you scratch those kernels or nick them at all, it's not going to pop.

Any big partnerships? We've got a planter to restore. I've got to pick that up. We're going to go pick that up after the weather quits. But it's an old one. We're going to restore an old John Deere 7000. Oh, yeah. Yep, that'll be cool.

Any big partnerships? We've got a planter to restore. I've got to pick that up. We're going to go pick that up after the weather quits. But it's an old one. We're going to restore an old John Deere 7000. Oh, yeah. Yep, that'll be cool.

Gosh dang it. Oh, man.

Gosh dang it. Oh, man.

Marketplaces.

Marketplaces.

Yeah. And the 12 rows bring more than the 16 rows do.

Yeah. And the 12 rows bring more than the 16 rows do.

Yeah, I got a 16 row box fill.

Yeah, I got a 16 row box fill.

I mean, they're good planters. They're amazing planters.

I mean, they're good planters. They're amazing planters.

But planters have all been on the market so long, everyone's got their design perfected pretty well.

But planters have all been on the market so long, everyone's got their design perfected pretty well.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

It's got a different style of lift and twist, but yeah.

It's got a different style of lift and twist, but yeah.

You go the total opposite end of the spectrum. I've got a friend from home that just bought a used DB60. That's the 47 row 15 inch.

You go the total opposite end of the spectrum. I've got a friend from home that just bought a used DB60. That's the 47 row 15 inch.

So you don't need to replant anything. You just go plant it once. And if you have to redo it, do the whole field.

So you don't need to replant anything. You just go plant it once. And if you have to redo it, do the whole field.

Instead of doing the little nooks and crannies.

Instead of doing the little nooks and crannies.

But those aren't bringing nothing.

But those aren't bringing nothing.

I mean, the big anything resales junk right now.

I mean, the big anything resales junk right now.

He's going to surprise you with it like an engagement ring.

He's going to surprise you with it like an engagement ring.

I was told... I wish I could... give the credit to who told me this because i really like the quote but they said the cheapest thing about a semi truck is the purchase price it's after that they get expensive cheapest day anything to do with that semi truck's the day you bring it home then they start nickel and diming you which that's yep i feel like that's all there's always something wrong yep

I was told... I wish I could... give the credit to who told me this because i really like the quote but they said the cheapest thing about a semi truck is the purchase price it's after that they get expensive cheapest day anything to do with that semi truck's the day you bring it home then they start nickel and diming you which that's yep i feel like that's all there's always something wrong yep

Always. I've got one right now that I can't haul grain unless Grace cranks it over for me. Cause I got to hold pressure in the fuel tank to get it to prime. Cause I changed the fuel filter and it lost prime. I must've cracked a hose somewhere. Leave it for 15 minutes.

Always. I've got one right now that I can't haul grain unless Grace cranks it over for me. Cause I got to hold pressure in the fuel tank to get it to prime. Cause I changed the fuel filter and it lost prime. I must've cracked a hose somewhere. Leave it for 15 minutes.

So yeah, that's a two person job.

So yeah, that's a two person job.

100%.

100%.

Maybe. Yeah. Farm show for sure. We were talking to Dawn this morning, maybe Commodity Classic, which I really like that show.

Maybe. Yeah. Farm show for sure. We were talking to Dawn this morning, maybe Commodity Classic, which I really like that show.

We've only been once, so I don't have anything else to compare it to.

We've only been once, so I don't have anything else to compare it to.

Nothing new we got going on.

Nothing new we got going on.

You going to be at the grain bin again?

You going to be at the grain bin again?

couple guys are starting to do it up on the flats but we've got a real tight clay hard pan so they're doing real small tile super close together it's shallow like 15 feet apart or 20 feet apart and little bitty tile but it's not very common at all you wouldn't need much of a machine for for that No, they bring in full-size ones, but I don't think you do. But we've got a weird soil type.

couple guys are starting to do it up on the flats but we've got a real tight clay hard pan so they're doing real small tile super close together it's shallow like 15 feet apart or 20 feet apart and little bitty tile but it's not very common at all you wouldn't need much of a machine for for that No, they bring in full-size ones, but I don't think you do. But we've got a weird soil type.

And the guys that are doing it, I don't know. They've got big square fields, and it's like right where the glaciers stop. So it's pancake flat. If you work the dirt wrong, you're back in water up on a quarter section. It's just pancake flat. And then you get into the hills and hollers, my stomping ground, just south of there. But a few of them are doing it, not a lot.

And the guys that are doing it, I don't know. They've got big square fields, and it's like right where the glaciers stop. So it's pancake flat. If you work the dirt wrong, you're back in water up on a quarter section. It's just pancake flat. And then you get into the hills and hollers, my stomping ground, just south of there. But a few of them are doing it, not a lot.

No, they're in the northwest. What a wild thing that is.

No, they're in the northwest. What a wild thing that is.

We've got to do it every couple years and see how we all keep progressing.

We've got to do it every couple years and see how we all keep progressing.

I think it's going to be a long time before Korn gets a seven. I bet someone gets a ring before then. Oh, look at you. Wow.

I think it's going to be a long time before Korn gets a seven. I bet someone gets a ring before then. Oh, look at you. Wow.

That would be great if Korn went to seven.

That would be great if Korn went to seven.

all right cool so what's what's going to be at the end for for gavin what are you going to have at the end besides a ring on her finger the end of this year yeah i would love to get some grain storage of my own i've either been hauling it into town at harvest or i've been renting neighbors bins and i want to buy a couple acres and put up some dedicated storage for efficiency's sake and just

all right cool so what's what's going to be at the end for for gavin what are you going to have at the end besides a ring on her finger the end of this year yeah i would love to get some grain storage of my own i've either been hauling it into town at harvest or i've been renting neighbors bins and i want to buy a couple acres and put up some dedicated storage for efficiency's sake and just

A couple weeks ago on Twitter, maybe just a week ago, I love grain systems. She can vouch for me. We go on a road trip, I'm taking back roads to see grain systems because I call them castles. They're like the farmers, you know, that's their thing.

A couple weeks ago on Twitter, maybe just a week ago, I love grain systems. She can vouch for me. We go on a road trip, I'm taking back roads to see grain systems because I call them castles. They're like the farmers, you know, that's their thing.

Yeah, it's that farmer's legacy. It's that giant castle. It's got all these different sized towers on it. I mean, they just look like castles on the hillsides. And I'm like redesigning how I want mine to look. That's what I want. Obviously, I'm not going to start with that. Sure. But I want to lay the foundation for it.

Yeah, it's that farmer's legacy. It's that giant castle. It's got all these different sized towers on it. I mean, they just look like castles on the hillsides. And I'm like redesigning how I want mine to look. That's what I want. Obviously, I'm not going to start with that. Sure. But I want to lay the foundation for it.

Not at all.

Not at all.

Really?

Really?

I did not know that. First generation farmers.

I did not know that. First generation farmers.

I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

I'm not surprised.

Did you have him labeled?

I would say we both have our own chores that we handle at our own houses. But, like, if Grace has been spending more time in Missouri than I have in Kentucky, if I'm trucking all day, she ends up surprising me by having all the laundry done and the kitchen's clean. I'm like, I walk in like, this is so nice.

Or, like, she's got, like, mac and cheese cooked. I'm so hungry. Like, this is perfect, you know. It's great.

Yeah.

Yeah. So are you guys living together now? Not really.

Yeah. When I'm in Kentucky, I stay at her house because where else am I going to stay? When she's in Missouri, she stays at mine.

Google Maps says five. It's four and a half.

When you're going on 64 across Illinois, you just find whoever's driving the fastest, and you get right behind them, and you just follow them the whole way.

Well, we're still dating. We ended up getting a show on Acres TV.

Been to a ton of farm shows together.

Still not tired of each other.

We're working on a Mack truck restoration that's going to the Mack Museum.

Nope.

So Grace has got it in my shop, and she's going to finish repainting it. We'll put everything back together and take it out to Pennsylvania.

um not really i've we repainted a semi at the farm a few years ago and um our main tractor we repainted that too but that's really all i got i'm not hardcore restoration when i started farming i mean if i was buying used junk i can't i'm fine running old stuff but it can't be ugly so i'd rattle can it or fix it up put new wear parts on just basic stuff what was the grain cart

Oh, yeah, the grain cart. Oh, I forgot about that. I forgot we did that. We do a lot. Yeah, I have an ugly. I love Parker grain carts, but it was old and rusty. It never spent a day inside in its life. So, like, two weeks before harvest, I was like, we're going to paint that block.

Yeah, probably.

That cart's nice. I mean, everything about it was immaculate. It had new flighting, good tires. We put a new tarp on it. Just the paint was so ugly. It was so embarrassing to drag that behind a nice tractor next to a nice combine. So we spent a couple days, and I was able to make a YouTube video out of it for Grace's channel because she was needing some content. Harvest hadn't started yet.

We totally restored a grain cart. Completely forgot about that.

Yeah, it was green and rusty orange, whatever. But yeah, now it's pitch black. Got new decals for it from the John Deere dealership and slapped those on and put a rear view camera. The only thing it doesn't have is a scale, but it's got the rear view camera. We ran a monitor into the cab for all the road travel.

Gosh, I think it's about the same size. I've dropped some acres to the south and picked up some acres to the north, but as far as total acre size, it's pretty well right where it was.

Yeah, the being spread out thing, I mean, you pick up what you can where you can find it, but I'm going too many different directions. And with going down to Kentucky, you can only do so much.

No. I need to get a low boy. Yeah.

Have you noticed that everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, why? We shouldn't have to be doing that. You know, what is going on?

Yeah, there's some days where Jaron and Shannon will be harvesting, and I'm down in Kentucky. So there's stuff happening at my farm, and I'm not even around town.

As long as a job gets done. Doesn't matter who does it. Yeah.

Yeah. Had to be a record year for you.

Beans were like right on average. The earlier the beans were planted, the better they did. But every planting date they got later, you just watched the yield monitor drop. So our beans were super average. But corn, like we were cranking out 250 bushel corn. We've got 130 bushel county averages. It's like, we're not going to see that for another decade. Right, yeah.

Yep.

Yep. And every one of those bushels counts in a year like this.

Yeah. We call it bushel on our way out.

I had a couple fields beat my APH or T yield or whatever, and I still had a claim on them because of the revenue difference from spring to fall. So that was weird. That's never happened before for me. So what did you do with all the crop? Did you just go right to town? A lot of the corn went to town. I was forward selling some of it because I still don't have a bunch of grain storage.

But then I rented a few bins off of neighbors for seed beans, growing seed beans for two different companies now. So half of them have gone to town. The other half are still in the bin.

This past year I didn't because we got so much in the warehouse I was able to just keep selling what I had. But then this spring we'll plant some again.

Yeah, and honestly, I've focused much less on it because the row crop operation's grown 100x of what the popcorn has. But now with the climate that we're in with crop prices, I might go back to focusing on it some more. Cause I really enjoy it, but it's such a small portion of my income now that it's like, it doesn't even exist. I just do it. Cause it's what I've always done.

Yeah. Oh yeah.

Do you grow yellow or white popcorn?

Yellow? Okay, that's what I've got. So it would be a fair comparison.

It's finicky. I've got guys I sell kettle corn kernels to and if they're just heating up for the day, that first batch is almost junk. They throw it out. You need it heated evenly all the way across and then that second batch, world of difference.

The lady that I buy crap insurance from, her husband swears by coconut oil. Really?

No? It's not coconutty, you know, when you're eating it.

Another Kettle Corn customer. I don't taste any coconuts. They swear by Corn Oil. I think it's Mazzola, or I don't know what the brand name is. It's a yellow bottle. You get it at Sam's. They buy it in bulk.

How are you going to do it? I haven't decided yet. I want it to be memorable. It's got to be memorable.

Oh, no.

Yeah, they came out and picked rocks. And it was like, I loved it. TerraClear is awesome. What they're doing is great. It was cool. I've got a farm with a ton of rocks. What they did was great. But they were sweating bullets the whole time because it was like one mishap after another the entire time.

Yeah. But I enjoyed it. Like, okay, you want me to just start from the very beginning? Okay. So they send out a company that flies a drone and maps it and finds all of these rocks, right? Well, they came out. They were running it fine. Well, then they had some trouble with the drone. And then right at dark, one of the guys lost a drone.

And he's from the city. So I'm like, well, I'll help you find it. So, like, we meander down. It's in the woods.

way in the middle of the woods he's scared to death because he's from the city I'm like come on we're like we are apex predator nothing like everything's scared of us not the other way around but he's like shivering as we're walking through the woods with our phone flashlights finally find the drone it's in a million pieces so they can't finish flying the drone so there's a couple fields that didn't get mapped

well then they come back out and they're finally there to pick the rocks in between harvest and trying to get winter wheat on the ground they sneak in the perfect time but then the skid loader starts having issues so they only get like three quarters of what's supposed to be picked that's just I mean that's life that's how it goes that's farming but what they did get picked was great and I mean they were picking up rocks the size of me with these skid loader buckets and just zooming around I'm saved I don't know like five days worth of walking around and they did it in a couple hours with a skid loader

So, yeah, this is a cool company.

It was – no. Wait. Well, it was in a field before they picked it because I was combining the beans so that they could come. Yeah. So, hey, if they would have been there last year to get it picked, I wouldn't have had that problem. I wouldn't have had the breakdown. I wouldn't have had the expense.

No, and in northeast Missouri, we really don't have many rocks at all. This was an old— And the glacier didn't make it down there. It's a reclaimed coal mine ground, so there's 500 acres, and it's just peppered with rocks. And if you get the rains, you can have a good crop, but it's just thin topsoil, just on the rougher end of things.

So, man, it is the perfect place for TerraClear to come do some work. Yeah.

Right. Just having the map, because that's what my plan is on the rest of it. They weren't able to pick with the skid loader. I still have the map. I go right after those rocks. It's marked, and that rock's not moving. So I can go there whenever I want and get them.

We get it every now and then, but nothing like they do up north. This was my first experience pushing snow. So I got a buddy with a landscaping company. He needed help pushing snow because his business has blossomed. And down in St. Louis, he's running like 17 skid loaders in a snowstorm. Well, it was me and three other ones. And we got sent to a hospital complex.

We showed up Friday night at 11 p.m. And we left Monday at 6 p.m. And we slept in our pickup for about four hours during that. It was miserable by the end of it.

Yeah. The new wore off so fast.

Yes. Which made it even worse because you're just sliding everywhere. Yeah.

Yeah. The ones we were using were spring trip. I was looking at them just because I was curious what they cost. He's running a dozen of these things. They're like $10,000, $15,000 for a used one, $20,000 for a new.

What we need to do is just wait until someplace that always gets snow doesn't get snow for about four years and all those guys liquidate because they don't have any snow to push. Then we can get them for a dime.

Have you ever had a snowstorm start in the day? Because I got to talk to him. He's like, every time we push snow, it starts in the middle of the night. Yeah, our last one did. Our last one did, yeah. It did?

8 a.m. That's so much nicer than showing up at 11 p.m. I was trucking corn all day.

Yeah. But they were struggling. We get a lot of those two- and three-inch snows. It's only every couple years we get eight or ten like we got.

Yes, and that made it more difficult than anything because we're trying to push snow, and then you've got a layer of ice, and then it snows again, and then it sleets again, and it just was not working. And you couldn't get a very big bucket full. Like you said, because you're tracks.

Yeah, well, the tracks, and it's just that ice is so much heavier than fluffy snow, so you can't push it very far, so you've got all these little piles everywhere.

Yep. Grace is the YouTube queen. She's good at it. I've never got into editing. How's it been going?

Which Grace has a girl from home, Allie, that helps out, and then Brianna, she edits.

Other than the primer didn't go on very well the first time.

Or not primer, paint. You can tell the story.

Yeah, it was late by the time we got it prepped.

Five hours, bobtailing, single axle. She was broken.

84.

Negative comments always are louder than the positive ones also. I mean, there's a lot of truth to that. Twitter's been the worst lately. Everything else is so positive. Twitter's like, man, there's just a group of people that want to be angry at the world for no reason.

Do you think it happened on accident? No.

I don't think I've ever blocked anybody.

I really don't.

Not really because it would be a waste of time. People's biggest gripe on there is that they think I'm doing it strictly for engagement because I'm getting paid. It's like I've never made a dollar off of Twitter. Now, I've made money on other platforms. I've never made a penny. Twitter is like my dad and grandpa.

So if I want to know something about farming, something of repair or agronomic question, that's where I go with that. And I think I'm just like baiting for engagements. I just like either Twitter or New Ag Talk. That's like my go-tos if I want advice.

Yeah, a little bit. Probably more so than someone that's not making the content, I would say for sure. But that just comes with it at the same time.

Yeah, that's what it is. I can farm full time now and get the opportunity to work with these great companies that have products that they want to show off.

Have you noticed that? Everyone is like, how can I make more money to supplement the farm? It's like, we shouldn't have to be doing that.

Yeah.

At the same time, every generation goes through it. So I'm not even 30 yet. I'm only 27. So these guys that are 50 and 60 and 70, they all went through the same stuff. I mean, they were working hard and doing other things to make ends meet while they built the farm. And now they're finally to the age where they've got that asset that they can rent out for retirement.

And they deserve every penny they can get because they worked their whole life for it. I just got to figure out how, you know, our generation's version of that. Is it going to look the same as theirs or different?

Yeah, I've been force-feeding myself Dave Ramsey content, which I don't know if it's good or bad.

People just went off on it. My mentality's definitely changed on it because, see, when I started farming in 2017, we've not had a we didn't have great years, but we didn't really have a bad year and prices were always going up and everything was inflating. So like you couldn't make a wrong move. And I'm the first to admit, I've made some mistakes in that time period too.

So I'm trying to figure that out and navigate the world where stuff is now dropping like a rock in value and situating myself where I can at least survive that. Cause I still don't, I don't, I own the two acres I live on and that's it. So navigating this environment we're in on a,

crop share and only cash rent basis you know how how do you do that so looking at specialty crops figuring out what you can how to run lean without cutting too many corners right it's next couple years are gonna be tough yeah what about you grace

Homemade beef tallow.

We'll be kicking out ribeyes and hamburger.

Yeah, tie it all together. I can't even eat popcorn right now.

Yeah, I'm doing that carnivore diet thing. Oh. Popcorn turns out is not meat.

Oh, my God. They popped.

Wow. This is neat.

Yeah.

Yeah. Popcorn's non-GMO. I mean, you can't get any more closer to nature than that.

38 to 44X is what that expands.

Well, if you eat the whole kernel without it popping, you might.

I've never examined. Don't know.

And then the ones that just kind of splinter open but don't fully explode.

You can. It's just moisture. The ones that splinter open but don't fully explode, it's just because they're a little too wet. So if you can bump your – the trouble is you can't store it as long as real dry popcorn. So you're going to have to sell it quicker. But, yeah, it's only moisture. It's like the popcorn that splinters but doesn't fully explode is probably 16% or 17% instead of 13.5%.

That's the only thing that makes it do it.

Old maids, could be a couple things. It could be way too dry, could be way too wet, or could have a scratching of that skin. Because if there's just a little bit of a nick in that kernel's skin, all of that pressure can escape. It'll never explode. That's what makes popcorn explode is that the, what is that, pear cap? I should know that as a popcorn farmer. The moisture can't escape.

It holds it in. It's so thick and so hard. That's what makes popcorn.

Makes it explode as it keeps it in until the last second.

So you've got to be real careful, real gentle when you're combining it, because if you scratch those kernels or nick them at all, it's not going to pop.

Any big partnerships? We've got a planter to restore. I've got to pick that up. We're going to go pick that up after the weather quits. But it's an old one. We're going to restore an old John Deere 7000. Oh, yeah. Yep, that'll be cool.

Gosh dang it. Oh, man.

Marketplaces.

Yeah. And the 12 rows bring more than the 16 rows do.

Yeah, I got a 16 row box fill.

I mean, they're good planters. They're amazing planters.

But planters have all been on the market so long, everyone's got their design perfected pretty well.

Mm-hmm.

It's got a different style of lift and twist, but yeah.

You go the total opposite end of the spectrum. I've got a friend from home that just bought a used DB60. That's the 47 row 15 inch.

So you don't need to replant anything. You just go plant it once. And if you have to redo it, do the whole field.

Instead of doing the little nooks and crannies.

But those aren't bringing nothing.

I mean, the big anything resales junk right now.

He's going to surprise you with it like an engagement ring.

I was told... I wish I could... give the credit to who told me this because i really like the quote but they said the cheapest thing about a semi truck is the purchase price it's after that they get expensive cheapest day anything to do with that semi truck's the day you bring it home then they start nickel and diming you which that's yep i feel like that's all there's always something wrong yep

Always. I've got one right now that I can't haul grain unless Grace cranks it over for me. Cause I got to hold pressure in the fuel tank to get it to prime. Cause I changed the fuel filter and it lost prime. I must've cracked a hose somewhere. Leave it for 15 minutes.

So yeah, that's a two person job.

100%.

Maybe. Yeah. Farm show for sure. We were talking to Dawn this morning, maybe Commodity Classic, which I really like that show.

We've only been once, so I don't have anything else to compare it to.

Nothing new we got going on.

You going to be at the grain bin again?

couple guys are starting to do it up on the flats but we've got a real tight clay hard pan so they're doing real small tile super close together it's shallow like 15 feet apart or 20 feet apart and little bitty tile but it's not very common at all you wouldn't need much of a machine for for that No, they bring in full-size ones, but I don't think you do. But we've got a weird soil type.

And the guys that are doing it, I don't know. They've got big square fields, and it's like right where the glaciers stop. So it's pancake flat. If you work the dirt wrong, you're back in water up on a quarter section. It's just pancake flat. And then you get into the hills and hollers, my stomping ground, just south of there. But a few of them are doing it, not a lot.

No, they're in the northwest. What a wild thing that is.

We've got to do it every couple years and see how we all keep progressing.

I think it's going to be a long time before Korn gets a seven. I bet someone gets a ring before then. Oh, look at you. Wow.

That would be great if Korn went to seven.

all right cool so what's what's going to be at the end for for gavin what are you going to have at the end besides a ring on her finger the end of this year yeah i would love to get some grain storage of my own i've either been hauling it into town at harvest or i've been renting neighbors bins and i want to buy a couple acres and put up some dedicated storage for efficiency's sake and just

A couple weeks ago on Twitter, maybe just a week ago, I love grain systems. She can vouch for me. We go on a road trip, I'm taking back roads to see grain systems because I call them castles. They're like the farmers, you know, that's their thing.

Yeah, it's that farmer's legacy. It's that giant castle. It's got all these different sized towers on it. I mean, they just look like castles on the hillsides. And I'm like redesigning how I want mine to look. That's what I want. Obviously, I'm not going to start with that. Sure. But I want to lay the foundation for it.

Not at all.

Really?

I did not know that. First generation farmers.