Scott Neubauer, HN’s nephew and probable heir to the farm, has become the black sheep in his workforce. The average age of an United States farmer is 57, leading the 28-year-old Scott to be an outcast among his fellow farmers. While he may be young in age, he offers a different view on farming that is hard to obtain. I was able to question the young farmer on what his thoughts were for the future of the farming industry and the approaching departure of his aging coworkers.

After climbing into his tractor, Scott pointed to a GPS screen installed directly next to his driver’s seat. Thanks to advancements in the field of technology, GPS is responsible for steering tractors to ensure farmers that their crop fields are producing at the highest level of efficiency. By producing more crops, farmers will be able to generate a higher income level for their families.

There is a “drawback” for these advancements, as technology disallows farmers from advertising how “straight” their rows are. For this reason older farmers, which are the vast majority of farmers, believe technology has destroyed the art of farming. While a farmer could take pride in his hand-made rows back in the day, I do not believe that technology has destroyed the art of farming. A reason why these “straight” rows were desired among farmers was due to the inclination that they would be able to produce more crops on their land. Therefore farmers should embrace the technology that assures a better utilization of their land, not critique it for destroying an art that was largely based on making money.

While farming is definitely an old man’s game, Scott proves to me that the future is not as bleak as older farmers have painted it to be. Young farmers are willing to make advancements in technology regarding agriculture, allowing them to be more productive in their “art” than their predecessors. My only concern is if there will be enough young farmers to replenish the fields after the older generation is no longer a viable option.