Guetterman Brothers Family Farms: Rooted in Family and Faith
At Guetterman Brothers Family Farms, strong roots go deeper than the wheat, corn and soybean plants they grow.
Nick Guetterman, his mother and father, three older brothers, along with their spouses and children, all work on the family farm, which was established in the 1960s. Though much has changed since then, their values have remained steady: Faith, family and a no-till system continue to be their guiding principles.
Back in the early 1980s, Nick’s father, Paul, hoping to preserve the soil and reap as much longevity for the farm as possible, became one of the first farmers in the Bucyrus area to begin the practice of no-till. Today, Nick has the same passion for soil protection. He focuses on building organic matter to maintain the strongest environment possible.
“Soil is a limited resource. We want to promote its health and keep it alive for future generations,” he said.
With erratic Kansas weather affecting every aspect of their livelihood, the task is daunting. Unpredictable seasons make planning incredibly challenging. In fact, the only constant in Nick’s day is checking the weather on his phone each morning.
But he holds his faith close and trusts everything will work out as divinely planned.
“The uncertainty is where faith comes in,” he said. “The soil is a gift from God, so you have to trust His process. We want to be good stewards of what’s been given to us. If we live by that belief, our crops will grow and we’ll be successful.”
Their strong conviction and family bond drives the Guetterman brothers to be the best they can be. Each family member plays an individual role, which creates an ideal ecosystem when combined.
When asked what it was like to work so closely with his brothers, Nick chuckled.
“It’s challenging and rewarding,” he said. “But when you work with family, there’s a trust factor you can’t get anywhere else. I know when one of my brothers says they’ll do something, I don’t need to worry about it because it’ll be done well. Chances are, probably even better than I would have done it.”
Nick enjoys spending time outdoors and reveling in the details.
“I love to see God’s creation,” he said. “When you sit back and look at it, it really is a miracle to watch a corn seed come out of the ground. It shows the gift of life.”
And while he doesn’t know what each day will hold for their crops, he’s certain faith and family will keep them rooted in tradition and able to provide for generations to come.
Learn more about tilling — and no-tilling — here, and check out the Guetterman Brothers’ website.
