In an ever-changing world, two things are for certain: we need food, and we need hard-working, driven people to grow it. Derrick Young and his uncle, Thomas Armstrong, are fourth and third generation farmers respectively, and their hope is that their passion for agriculture is passed down for many more generations to come. But they know that this passion isn’t inherent, it’s inherited.

From left to right: Derrick Young and Thomas Armstrong stand in front of their irrigation pit reservoir and crop fields (Photo by Claire Kausch)

Being Raised on Hard Work

The pair own and operate Armstrong and Young Farm Services, LLC in Brinkley, Arkansas, more than 1,941 acres of land, but their experience with farming goes all the way back to their childhoods. Both were born and raised on a farm and told stories of long, arduous hours spent working on their family operation and waking up early on weekdays to complete farm chores before they were dismissed to go to school. 

Young and Armstrong started their LLC after Young retired from his impressive two-decade career with the United States Marine Corps.

“When I reflect on the leadership aspects that were expected of me in the military, I realize that my grandfather already instilled many of them in me at a young age: waking up early, rising to the occasion to do the work that was needed,” Young explained. “The Marines had just fine-tuned those traits that were already there.”

Young and Armstrong are implementing irrigation practices through NRCS programs to help accomplish their farming goals (Photo by Claire Kausch)

Sharing Values with the Youth of Today

Rising to the occasion is what Young and Armstrong now empower future generations to do, wanting to pass these values of hard work and ambition that they learned in childhood and early adulthood down to the youth of today. They are doing this the way they know best: through agriculture. The family held a field day on their land for school children from Marianna, Forrest City, and Helena to visit their farm, see their equipment, and learn about what it means to be a farmer or landowner. They plan to host another field day soon.

“We hope that the next generation can look at the technological improvements in agriculture in the last several years and realize that agriculture isn’t what it used to be—it’s been innovated,” Armstrong said.

He explained that he’s noticed a decline over the years in the number of kids that have an affiliation with agriculture in their families in comparison to the community he grew up in. He believes that, without familiarity with the industry, it’s less likely a child becomes a farmer when they grow up. But by introducing the youth to agriculture at their field days, Armstrong and Young have already noticed that excitement being reinvigorated in the younger generations in their communities—even claiming to know a 13-year-old that said he wants to farm now that he’s been to their field day.

“Farming is the backbone of America. You have to have farmers. So, our hope is to encourage the next generation to take on agriculture,” said Young. “At one point (this land here was in rough condition), but we’ve transformed it into a thing of pride, and we plan to hand it off to the next generation as something that’s better, more efficient, and more productive.”

NRCS field staff pose with Thomas Armstrong and Derrick Young on the farmers’ operation (Photo by Claire Kausch)

Leaning on Local Resources

Such a transformation takes time, money, and a lot of hard work. For the pair, these obstacles were overcome by teaming up with the Monroe County Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). With their assistance, Armstrong and Young secured Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts to help cover the costs of Irrigation Pipeline (430), Irrigation Reservoir (436), Irrigation Water Management (449), Pumping Plant (533), and other practices to help protect, conserve, and improve the land.

“We couldn’t have done this without the NRCS,” said Young, looking out at their land.

“It’s a collaborative effort,” added Armstrong. “And at the end of the day, everyone’s goal is to do what’s best for you and the land.”

From right to left: Monroe County District Conservationist Derinda Applewhite provides technical assistance to producer Derrick Young (Photo by Claire Kausch)