A Skip-Generation Farmer

Clint Gorden proudly calls himself a “skip-generation farmer,” embracing a tradition that traces back to his grandfather’s resilient hands, while his father chose a different path.

“My favorite part about farming is watching the crop grow and how we can manipulate that growth to produce the best quality product we can,” Clint said.

With the support of Clint’s family and friends, his passion for farming prospered into a full-blown operation farm producing corn, soybeans and wheat.

“I was so excited when I got the opportunity to farm,” he said. “I couldn’t contain myself.”

A Bright Future

Clint’s farming journey began with a call to Farm Credit. Since then, Farm Credit has provided resources to help Clint navigate the nuances of running a farm business and expand his operation for long-term success.

“What Farm Credit has to offer is something truly special with all their incentives and programs to help us learn how to run a business,” he said.

One resource Clint finds invaluable is the Farm Financials workshops offered by Farm Credit Illinois.

“Learning the balance sheet, that’s a tremendous task that I almost look forward to every year to see where I’m at, and how I’m doing, and how I’ve done, and what I need to do going forward.” Clint said.

Gaining Recognition

In 2024, Clint received the Farm Credit Illinois Director’s Cup, a competition that celebrates young and beginning farmers committed to continuous learning and intentional living for a brighter future for their farm family business and community.

“To me, getting the Directors Cup is the final piece of that to show that I did retain some information and operating to the best of my ability financially and business-wise,” he said.