Narrowing down your farming experience to one piece of advice may seem difficult, but it is something this year’s Master Farmer class was tasked with doing at the Indiana Master Farmer awards ceremony held July 17.

Master Farmers are selected for their leadership, experience and dedication to agriculture, so gleaning advice from them could be useful for others just beginning their farming journey. The 2024 Indiana Master Farmers include Ron and Sherry Cash, Greencastle; Troy and Lisa Furrer, Wolcott; Tim Gauck, Greensburg; and Keith and Darla Schoettmer, Tipton. Honorary Master Farmers are Steve Nichols, Delphi, and Harry Pearson, Hartford City.

Here are the key pieces of advice these farmers want to share.

Ron Cash: Don’t be afraid to try something new. But also, don’t be afraid to admit that you were wrong.

Troy Furrer: Just find something you love and stick with it. I’m thankful God has blessed us very much. I always wanted to farm, so that’s something I had the opportunity to do. But I would say just stick with it. You’ve heard the saying, “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

Tim Gauck: Surround yourself with good people who can be of help to you and can be dependable. As far as farming goes, if you have a profit, take it. Don’t compare yourself to everybody else to see if you’re the best. It’s what your record says that makes you successful.

Related:Master Farmers have mentors

Keith Schoettmer: You can do it. There’s so much opportunity out there, and the world has a way of limiting one’s imagination on what can be done. You just must believe that you can do it and not listen to those who say the odds are against you.

Steve Nichols: Know where you came from and appreciate your roots. There’s a lot of kids who would like to go to college and don’t get that opportunity. So, appreciate what got you there and realize at an early age that life is not a level playing field. Some people have been given a lot of resources and fell into some opportunities that other kids never had the chance to get. But nobody ever said life is going to be fair. So, you must accept what the good Lord gave you and make the best of it.

Harry Pearson: Never stop learning. There’s always going to be learning paths ahead. I know a lot of people think that what they learn in school is all they need to know, but that’s just the beginning. You’ll be learning throughout your life. If you’re going to be working with somebody, find somebody who’s compatible. Do what you do best and hire the rest.