“Getting started in farming is not easy for anyone of any size.” -Leon Adams

Leon Adams is a sixth-generation farmer whose father and father-in-law are his partners. Farmers need all the help they can get, he says, especially when starting out.

“Getting started in farming is not easy for anyone of any size. My wife Andrea and I were only married a year when we had the opportunity to buy our first farm,” says Leon, of Jefferson County, Illinois. “We took advantage of that opportunity and soon realized that when you’re starting out on your own, debt management has to be a major focal point of your operation.”

Embracing Technology 

Managing innovation and finances is as important a part of successful farming as managing one’s fields, Leon says. As a young farmer, he embraced technology and planted the best hybrids prescribed for each of his farms’ variable soils. Now, as a Pioneer seed dealer, Leon encourages his peers and customers to consider the latest innovations.

To keep his financial rows straight, Leon relies on a team of trusted advisors to review critical business decisions, always with one eye on the bottom line. Farm Credit is a trusted advisor. 

“Farm Credit has some great programs that help young farmers be fiscally responsible while growing their business and taking care of their family in the process,” says Leon. “The ultimate goal is to … manage our money and to continue to build the family farm for the next generation.”