Farm4Profit Podcast
F4F - Michael Bergen - 1st Gen Farmer & Ultra-Marathoner
Episode Summary
Our special guest today, Michael Bergen. has a strong presence on social media and a passion for agriculture. Michael brings a unique perspective to the table as he is a 1st generation farmer. We'll explore his farming journey, family life, and his dedication to trade associations. Not to mention, he has completed ultra-marathons by running 100 miles! Plus, we've got some fun word association and a glimpse into the future of farming.
Episode Notes
@michael_bergen Instagram: ___ TikTok: ___ YouTube: ___ Twitter: 4.8k
- Catch Up
- Where are they from, what do they farm, how did they get into farming
- How’s the family - do they farm with family?
- Aurora, NE
- Started adult life <10 miles from where he grew up
- Father, husband, coach
- 1st generation Nebraska row crop farmer
- Family owned and operated farm -- Irrigated corn and soybeans for biofuels
- Childhood → Now
- 2 yrs old - pushed John Deere tractors across the floor
- 2006 - graduated from UNL → planted 1st crop on 145 acres
- Now: ⅔ corn, ⅓ soybeans
- Farms on top of the world's largest source of water, the Ogallala Aquifer - irrigate crops during summer
- Utilize center pivot irrigation, subsurface drip irrigation, and a smaller amount of flood irrigation
- Corn stored on farm in grain bins - haul during winter/spring
- 95% of our corn used for biofuels. *huge supporter of biofuels
- Stewards of the land, water, and air
- Fun facts: 100 mile runner, Future author
- Trap shooting - with his son, uncle, nephew
- Wife is the executive director of Aurora Development Corporation
- Broke ground on $20M chemical manufacturing plant - 8/11/23
- 2 Twin Sons
- One has special needs (I’m not sure how willing he is to talk about it but posted on twitter)
- Worked 8 weeks before fair to show his animals
- Other son plays baseball
- Started to let him drive the tractor on his own
- Michael coaches high school track
- Hamilton County Corn Growers President
- Leadership Academy - what did this include? Who attended?
- Attended Commodity Classic
- A delegate for Nebraska Corn growers fro Corn Congress General Session
- Harvest
- Drought and intense heat ruined some of his crops - Ahead of schedule
- If you were an animal, what do you think you would be?
- If you could make anything bigger on your body what would it be?
Word association
Twitter Trap-Shooting Irrigation Biofuel
Milk Love Popsicle Mitten
Rainbow Zoo Bracelet Submarine Whiskey Embarrassment Disgust Science Taxes
- What’s next for them?
- What can our listeners do to help?
What do you like most about being a farmer or about farmers ?