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Two Nebraska ag students look forward to farming

The struggling farm economy hasn’t dimmed the optimism of two ag students from northeast Nebraska.

Cody Young and Caleb Zohner are ag majors at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Both plan to return to their family farms. Young says farming is something he’s always wanted to do.

“I just love the aspect that I’m my own boss,” Young says. “I get to be outside. I get to help grow and feed the world. It helps me feel like I’m part of something.”

Despite the soft farm economy right now, Young says he’s optimistic about the future.

“I hope in the next couple of years it will turn around and prices will start going back up—and I’ll be able to start farming and be able to make a living off of it.”

Zohner says his biggest concern is the cost of production.

“That’s what scares me the most—with the seed and fertilizer and equipment, that all costs a lot of money,” he says.

Zohner says he hopes to grow the livestock side of the operation.

“I do plan to have some cattle to help out with the crops side of things. In fact, I have six of my own cows right now to help out there,” he says.

We visited with Young and Zohner, along with Northeast CC ag instructor Mike Zierke, at the recent Northeast Nebraska Farm & Equipment Show in Norfolk.

AUDIO: Mike Zierke, Cody Young and Caleb Zohner