Aubrey and Adam Bolender grew up on farms, so they’ve always understood the importance of family farming. But, when they took over Adam’s grandfather’s farm, they saw a unique opportunity to blend their passions for agriculture and education to build a thriving direct-to-consumer cattle operation.
“I was a school teacher for seven years, so I always valued education,” Aubrey said. “I always tell people that if they want to know about their food, they should connect with a farmer.”
The Bolender Family Farm has about 120 brood cows. They oversee the entire process, from raising the cattle to finishing and packaging. The direct-to-consumer model puts them in the driver’s seat of their operation - and they’ve been excited about the opportunity to tell their story.
The Boldenders host tours for small school groups, customer families, Girl Scout groups and anyone in the community interested in learning more about their farm.
“I always say kids won’t remember a single trip to the grocery store, but they’ll never forget a trip to the farm,” Aubrey said. “There’s nothing like seeing a kid light up when they see a cow. It reminds me that we’re doing something pretty important. Letting people experience this firsthand is critical to the future of our farm.”
Given their passion for agriculture, the Bolenders value partners who share their vision. This is what makes the partnership with Farm Credit Mid-America a perfect match.
“You need strong partners in agriculture,” Adam said. “It’s clear our Farm Credit Mid-America team wants us to succeed. They’re a part of our community and understand what we’re building.”
“Farm Credit Mid-America, above anybody else, understands agriculture, they pay attention to your growth, where you started, how far you’ve come and they don’t care if you are a small farm or a large farm. They treat you with the same respect,” Aubrey said.
Ultimately, the Bolenders goal is to preserve the family farm and inspire the next generation, especially their children, who they are raising on the farm.
“We want to give our kids opportunities on the farm,” Adam said. “We honor our past by caring for the farm, trying to grow it and maintaining it so that the next generation can take it in the direction they see fit.”
“The children can take their experiences from the farm and share it with the world,” Aubrey said.
Watch the video below to hear more about the Bolenders' story.
Interested in growing your own operation? Learn how Farm Credit Mid-America could help finance your dream.
