The Connection Between Agriculture, Technology, and Community: My Journey with John Deere

Come with me on a journey to a small county in Western Kentucky, where farming isn't just a profession or a hobby but a way of life. I grew up in Ballard County, surrounded by a tight-knit community that was deeply rooted in agriculture. Early on, my family had a farm, and as a child, I eagerly helped my grandfather and father with the soybean harvest each fall. I can still feel the excitement of jumping straight from elementary school to the fields, even if it was a Gleaner instead of a Deere ??. And don't get me started on the joy of cleaning the combine's windows or the smell of fresh-turned dirt; those were the days.

But farming was only part of what made this community so special. It was the sense of belonging, the connection, and the genuine care for each other that made us stand out. At Gage Grill and Bluegrass, locals gathered to catch up and share a quick meal. And sure, the occasional slow-moving tractor or sprayer caused a traffic jam, but that was just a reminder of how important agriculture was to our community's lifeblood.

My family stopped farming when I was in middle school, but I never forgot my love for it. In 2018, I decided to start from scratch and grow alfalfa hay to sell to horse owners. Being new to forages, I wanted to use every technological advantage available and involve my father to reignite the nostalgia and build something bigger for my son to be a part of while learning the hard work ethic required.

The journey wasn't easy, though. We faced untimely weather, not-so-fun breakdowns, and even flipped over a trailer load of alfalfa bales (it's one of those stories you'll have to ask me about). But we kept pushing forward, and our hard work paid off. We sold our hay across the country and even made it to the finals of the World Dairy Expo's Forage Superbowl in 2019. But the real success wasn't just in sales or awards; it was in the memories we made and the experience we shared.

Eventually, we transitioned to traditional row crops of corn, wheat, and soybeans. And those that know me will understand how dead-set I was to continue using John Deere equipment and all the cutting-edge technology that came with it. Thanks to the help of our local dealer, Hutson, Inc. , the transition went smoothly.

And now, I'm a part of the 约翰迪尔 herd in enterprise data and analytics. I lead a group of talented engineers all over the world who are dedicated to building internal platforms that enable us to run so that our dealers and customers can leap forward. We're developing platforms for computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and it's amazing to see the positive impact these technologies can have internally at Deere, and the downstream effects on the agricultural industry, even in small counties like Ballard. John Deere's customer-facing precision agriculture technologies have certainly made a difference in our community.

But even with all the technological advancements, the heart of our community still beats with a genuine and solid connection to the land and each other. I'll never forget the times I saw our community rally to help a neighbor during harvest time, or the moments I spent riding with my dad and grandfather delivering grain to our local elevator, Kevil Grain, and grabbing a bag of peanuts from the smiling face of the owner, Malissa.

This journey continues to be incredible, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work in both agriculture and cutting-edge technology through John Deere while pursuing my passion for farming on the side.?

I'm not alone in this connection to farming and the impact that John Deere has had on the industry. There are many others out there who have similar stories and experiences, and I encourage you to share your own. What are your fondest memories of growing up in a farming community? How has John Deere made a difference in your life or those around you?

Let's celebrate the strong bond between agriculture and technology and the amazing impact that they can have when they work together.