Here at Farm Press, we strive to always honor the farmers of our country by sharing their stories and experiences in the pages of this magazine. The men and women who put on their boots every morning and spend long days in the field producing the world’s food and fiber. 

With Veteran's Day at hand, we also want to honor the men and women among us, who at one time or another, put on a military uniform and served to protect our country, our liberty, and our lives. 

A farmer veteran is a bit of a rare combination. Veterans currently represent less than 10% of the U.S. adult population. Farmers make up just 2%. Someone smarter than me can figure out the exact statistics, but it’s apparent it takes a special type of person to commit to both farming and military service. 

In Bill Sellers, 75, from Obion, Tenn., we found such a person. A man who has spent a lifetime in agriculture and who also sacrificed for his country by serving in the U.S. Air Force. In addition, Sellers has volunteered untold hours to his church, his community and multiple agricultural organizations. 

Veterans will tell you a mission-driven mentality is vital to military success. When faced with adversity, never accept defeat, commit to completing the mission. Growers will tell you that same type of commitment is often necessary to face the challenges and difficulties that come with farming. 

This fall Sellers will complete his farming mission as he harvests his last crop. He’s retiring after this season. He hopes to enjoy time with his wife, Barbara, and maybe finally be able to get his boat out on the water. 

While most of us can never truly understand the sacrifices made by veterans like Sellers, we can express our gratitude and honor them by sharing their story. 

Sellers will be auctioning farm equipment on December 18, 2021. The auction will take place at Sellers Seed in Obion, Tenn.

Early life 

Sellers grew up on a dairy and row crop farm in northwestern Tennessee. Although he has fond memories of helping his father on the family operation as a young boy, he says he didn’t plan to become a full-time farmer. He was working on his master’s degree in plant breeding at the University of Tennessee, when his country came calling. 

“I was in Knoxville for one quarter when Uncle Sam decided I needed to see the world,” Sellers recalls.  

When he came home at Christmas, he discovered his name was at the top of the draft board’s list, so, he volunteered for the U.S. Air Force. 

Military career 

Sellers spent the next four years with the Air Force. After training and officer school, he became a flight facilities officer and was sent to Palgongsan, Korea. There he was in charge of air traffic control and 43 men on that remote, mountaintop defense location. Sellers recalls harsh conditions and months of bitterly cold weather as artic winds turned the region to a frozen wasteland. 

 “In the winter, the water we were getting from a mountain stream would freeze,” he recalled. “When that happened, we had to haul water up the mountain on trucks. To conserve our limited supply, we were only allowed one, two-minute shower per week.”  

Beyond the physical toll, Sellers said one of the hardest parts of military service was the time spent away from family. By that time, he had married his wife, Barbara. Their oldest daughter was born while he was stationed overseas. 

“Unless you’ve done it, you really can’t understand what it’s like to be thousands of miles from home and missing your family. It’s a terrible feeling.” 

Barbara and Bill Sellers at their home in Obion, Tenn.

Farming life 

Sellers didn’t return to school to complete his degree after his military discharge. He now had a family to support. He started farming full time.  

“Things were going well for a while, then the 1980s hit,” Sellers said. “Interest rates were as high as 19%, and prices were cheap. 1983 was the worst year. We probably averaged 10 bushels per acre soybeans and sold them at $4.75 a bushel. Even with 1980s prices, there wasn’t any money in that.” 

Around that same time, Sellers lost his father. He says those were some of his darkest days. Somehow, he and his family found a way to carry on. 

“Relying on God and family got me through,” Sellers said. “And back then we had local bankers. They believed in us and didn’t give up on us.” 

Eventually things turned around. In the 1990s, Sellers and his brother opened Sellers Seed, a seed cleaning operation, which later transitioned to a Unisouth Genetics seed dealership. He continued to farm, growing close to 1,000 acres of row crops and raising 100 head of cattle, plus sheep. 

“Without the military, I probably wouldn’t be farming. It certainly wasn’t always easy,” Sellers said. “But overall, farming is a good life, and a farm is a good place to raise children.” 

While he no longer has livestock and has scaled back his row crop operation, at age 75 he still farms 700 acres of corn and soybeans — mostly by himself. Even this fall he would drive the combine, dump into a grain truck, then hop off the combine and onto the truck to unload. Whatever it takes to complete the mission at hand. 

Sellers at Ervin Feed and Grain. Pictured left to right, Donna Ervin, Greg Ervin, Sellers and McKenze Gregory.

Farmer veteran aims to serve

Sellers has never shied away from serving his community. He’s been a leader in agricultural organizations like Farm Bureau, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board and Farm Service Agency. He works actively with his church and the Cloverdale Community Center. Extension specialists have long relied on him for variety test plots. He’s been a great advocate for agricultural programs for youth, particularly the 4-H sheep project. 

“You won’t find a better person than Bill Sellers,” said neighbor and friend Greg Ervin. “Bill will stop what he’s doing to help someone else. He’s done more for our community than most people realize. They don’t make them like him anymore.” 

“More and more it seems people are only concerned with “me” instead of being willing to help others,” Sellers said. “They will tell you something needs to be done, but they don’t want to do it.” 

“Whether it’s serving in the military, or serving in your community, somebody’s got to do it. I’m not sure how we motivate others to serve, but I do know that individually, we can’t solve all the problems we have, but working together we can affect change.” 

Thank you 

To all of our veterans we say thank you, and to Mr. Sellers, congratulations on a well-deserved retirement.