#99: Working Full Time While Building Her Farm Dream with Brenna Beard
“Some years you're going to make more money than other years and I think as long as you don't outpace your budget, then you'll end up being just fine.”
Starting to farm isn't easy, especially when you're juggling a full-time job. But for Brenna Beard, a beginning farmer from central Indiana, the pull of continuing her family's 200-year farming legacy was too strong to ignore.
Finding Her Way Back to the Farm
Like many farm kids, Brenna grew up helping on her family's farm and showing livestock. But her path back to farming wasn't straight. Initially planning to become a nurse like her mom and sister, she quickly realized during her clinical rotations that healthcare wasn't for her.
"I'm not a quitter," Brenna says, "but after seeing a few surgeries, I knew nursing wasn't my thing."
She switched gears and headed to Purdue University, eventually finding her way into agricultural sales. After graduation, she took a position as a Pioneer territory manager in North Dakota, overseeing seed sales representatives. While the job was rewarding, being away from home – and unable to farm – wasn't part of her long-term plan.
Making Room for the Next Generation
In 2020, Brenna moved back home and joined Corteva AgriScience, which allowed her to start farming on the side. But coming back to the family farm wasn't as simple as showing up and asking for land.
"My dad and I have a unique relationship – we say what we want to say, no holding back," Brenna shares. "Maybe it was more of me telling him I'm coming back than a discussion. I just said, 'Dad, I really would like to get involved on the farm and start farming on my own and have stake in the game.'"
Her father sacrificed some of his acres to help her get started. Her first year, she farmed 35 acres split between two fields. "Did he give me the lowest quality ground? Maybe," she laughs, "but it's been fun learning as I go, figuring out what I can do to improve that ground year after year."
Growing Slowly but Surely
By her second year, Brenna doubled her acreage to 75 acres and expanded from just corn to include soybeans in her rotation. Recently, she reached a major milestone: purchasing her first piece of family farmland.
But growth comes with challenges. Brenna lives 45-50 minutes from the farm and doesn't own any equipment. She relies on her dad and neighboring farmers for custom work, from spraying to harvesting. This means careful planning and coordination, especially during busy seasons.
"During spring and fall, I use some of my vacation time from my full-time job," she explains. "When that window of opportunity to plant or harvest opens, you just have to get it done."
Looking to the Future
Brenna's vision extends beyond just growing crops. She's focused on preserving her family's farming legacy while bringing new ideas to the operation. She's not afraid to try different approaches, like adding fungicide treatments that her dad hasn't used before.
"Although I'm 100 percent behind doing the basics and doing them right, I think some added things can take you that next step further," she says.
Her ultimate goal? Keeping the family farm going strong for future generations. She dreams of eventually hiring her brothers (one's a mechanic who'd be first on her list) and rebuilding various aspects of the operation, including their grain storage system.
"Farming's just in your blood," Brenna reflects. "It's not just a job or a career. It truly is a way of life. I hope that I'm lucky enough to have children one day and they're able to have children one day, and it's just a preserved way of life."
For those just starting out, Brenna's advice is simple: "Have faith and keep working at it little bits by little bits. Eventually, it'll pay off big."
Want to follow Brenna's farming journey? Find her on Instagram and YouTube.
More from Farming on Purpose
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About your host:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the stories of agriculture from generations past, preserving the skills and lessons learned along the way, and ensuring the best of that is passed onto those who will continue to lead the way into the future of production agriculture.
I’m so glad you’re here and I hope you’ll take a moment to join the conversation with me and other listeners on social media.
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