Meet the Smalls

We had a chance to visit with Randy and Nicole Small at 2S Land and Cattle, where they farm their own land, as well as tenant farm on land leased from landlords. In total, they work more than a dozen parcels. They grow wheat, soybeans, and corn, as well as tend to their cattle.

Theirs is a family operation. Both Nicole and Randy grew up in farming families and are proud of the fact that the land they work now, even as tenants, was once farmed by their grandparents. Their two sons help on the farm, and are the sixth generation in their families to do so.

But growing up, continuing the farming tradition wasn't exactly encouraged by their families. There was drought. Land prices were outrageous.

"It was tough," Nicole explained. "We were the generation whose parents didn't want us to come back to the farm."

Both Nicole and Randy went to college—Nicole to Oklahoma State University, where she studied animal science, and Randy to Kansas State University, where he studied agronomy with a focus on range management.

This easy-going couple laughs readily as they talk about their farm life. From checking on cattle at all hours during calving season to participating in their kids’ activities, their passion for farming and ranching sustains them.

That passion is being passed along to their children. In addition to helping out on the farm, their two boys are active in 4-H.

“They learn so much responsibility,” Nicole said. “It’s good to see them progress and set goals for the next year.”

The entire family shares their expertise and gets involved in the agricultural community. Their older son Dexter recently did a presentation on heifers at school for 900 of his fellow students. Randy has served on various committees and boards, attending rancher meetings throughout the state and even in Washington, D.C. Nicole, in addition to leading 4-H projects, blogs at Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom and writes a column for a local paper.

Writing is like therapy, she says.

She recalls a tricky calf delivery a few years back. She took pictures and posted about it to help her process it. Since then, more than 5,000 people have seen the post.

Making those connections—especially to people outside of the farming community—is vital, she says.

"We all have the same issues," she says. "You're still a mom or a dad and you want what's best for your kids."

So, do they want their kids to take over the farm someday?

"We want to give them the opportunity, but we don't want to force them," Randy says.

For his part, Randy can’t imagine life if he wasn’t working the land or cattle. He recalls attending a recent conference in a large city. Most of the presentations took place in the basement of a hotel. Not being able to see the sun or watch what the weather was doing made him miserable.

Randy is happy being his own boss out on the land. As the saying goes: If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.

Yes, the hours are long. And as Nicole puts it, “There is absolutely no typical day.” But the Smalls love what they do, and wouldn’t have it any other way.