A Legacy of Hard Work 

The Mattive family has been farming in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado for generations, and their story is one of resilience, growth, and a deep commitment to their land and local community.  

What started with Bob and Gail Mattive’s vision to build their farm has evolved into a multi-generational operation that includes their sons, Reid and Grant, and nephew, Matthew Smart. Today, the family farms 2,000 acres of potatoes, a crop they take immense pride in. 

 From Seed to Success 

The Mattive family specializes in certified seed potatoes, beginning with a single plant cultivated in their tissue culture lab. This plant is then carefully propagated into tens of thousands of plants. 

“We start from one plant and then just go from cloning that one plant and just cutting your 30,000 plants,” said Gail Mattive. “You’re just watching those little plants grow.” 

This process ensures their crops are healthy and yield high-quality potatoes, but their commitment to farming doesn’t end there. They continually adapt their practices to meet changing conditions and promote long-term sustainability and soil health. To support this, the Mattives have embraced crop rotations and innovative soil management techniques.  

“Most farmers, especially in this region, rotate crops. The traditional rotation was potatoes, barley, potatoes, barley,” Grant said. “We had to do something different.” 

After a severe drought in 2002, the family began experimenting with Sudan grass to help restore soil health. They incorporate this grass back into the soil to improve its biology. 

“Everything we do with our rotation crops is to make our potatoes better,” he said.  

A Partner in Growth 

Financial support from Farm Credit of Southern Colorado helped Bob and Gail first take the leap into ownership in 1982. 

“When Bob and I first came back, we borrowed from Farm Credit,” Gail said. “We were able to jump into the farm as an owner, instead of just being an employee.” 

Today, the family continues to rely on Farm Credit’s expertise and resources. 

“Farm Credit is steeped in agriculture,” said Matthew “They understand the workings of how agriculture needs to move differently with prices going up and down and how the commodities change.” 

Farm Credit employees – from the CEO to the loan officers – have extensive agricultural knowledge and a commitment to helping their customers succeed. 

“We all understand agriculture, and we understand what our customers are going through,” said Chad, the family’s loan officer.