Name: Benny McWilliams
Parents: Elmer and Brenda McWilliams
Member of: Carl Junction FFA and Spring River 4-H Club
How are you involved in agriculture?
Agriculture is a major part of Benny McWilliam’s life. His family farms nearly 3,000 acres in Barton and Jasper counties. They grow row crops and forage crops, bale and sell hay and straw. They also raise registered Gelbvieh cattle and crossbreeds, as well as registered Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire hogs and crossbreeds. Away from home, Benny is involved in 4-H and FFA, and he shows both hogs and cattle in each organization.
What are your future plans?
“I would like to go back to the farm and work with my dad,” Benny said. Benny is a freshman in high school this year, and knows that there are a lot of things that could change, with many decisions that are still to be made.
What have you learned from growing up on a farm?
“Responsibility,” was Benny’s quick answer. He explained that no matter what else is going on, he “has to get chores done. It helps me keep track of time and get things done.” Time management and hard work are especially important while the family tries to harvest wheat, bale straw and double crop all at the same. They also have 15 sows and they only farrow in January and February, so during this time his family has many busy days that often don’t end until 2 a.m.
Why should young people get involved?
“If you didn’t have farmers, there wouldn’t be any food,” Benny said. He also recognized the need for his generation to be active in agriculture, and he understood the problems farmers face and the hard decisions that must be made especially when input costs are high and the markets are volatile. “Four dollar diesel fuel makes it hard,” Benny said. When conditions are difficult, Benny realizes the need to make adjustments. While fuel and fertilizer costs were high, his family shifted the way some of the land was used and replaced costly row crops with pasture ground.
By Adam Stratton
