Returning daughter still learning to become a farmer
Staff writer
When Kimberly Metcalf returned to her family’s farm in fall 2024, she expected to help care for her mother after the death of her father.
What she did not expect was how much she would have to learn about farming.
Metcalf grew up on the land but had been away for 45 years while serving in the Air Force and raising a family. Returning to Marion County meant stepping back into an operation that had changed significantly since her childhood.
“You don’t know what you don’t know until you figure it out,” she said.
The farm includes typical pasture and tillable ground used for the usual commodities like wheat and corn. Like many operations in the region, the land relies on crop rotations to maintain soil health, sometimes alternating wheat with crops such as soybeans or alfalfa.
Understanding those decisions, when to plant, how crops affect soil, and what practices best protect the land has been part of Metcalf’s ongoing education.
Rather than trying to manage everything alone, she relies on advice from neighbors, family members, and agricultural agencies.
“If someone doesn’t know the answer, they’ll tell you who does,” she said.
Depending on the issue, Metcalf may turn to the Farm Service Agency, extension agents, neighbors, or a farmer who sharecrops part of the land.
Questions about pasture rent, conservation programs, crop rotations, or fencing often go to different people with experience in those areas.
Learning when to ask questions has been one of the biggest challenges.
“The hardest part is sometimes not even knowing what to ask,” Metcalf said. “But people have been incredibly willing to help.”
That support, she said, reflects the strength of rural communities.
“The most rewarding part has been what I call a harvest of friends,” she said. “When people see you trying to do the right thing, they step up and share their knowledge.”
Modern farming also involves navigating regulations, conservation programs, and detailed recordkeeping.
Metcalf has spent considerable time learning about programs tied to crop protection and soil conservation, as well as the bookkeeping needed to track farm activity and taxes.
“There’s a lot to keep track of,” she said. “You have to write things down and stay organized.”
Despite the learning curve, Metcalf feels a responsibility to continue the work her father invested in maintaining the land.
“My dad worked very hard to keep this farm,” she said.
Looking ahead, Metcalf hopes the property will serve more than just her family.
“I want the farm to bless others,” she said.
For now, she is focused on learning, asking questions, and leaning on the experience of the farming community around her.
“People have been generous with their knowledge,” she said. “That’s what makes it possible.”