Happy 50 Beautiful Years Farmer Andy

Farm News

Our amazing farmer, Andy, is celebrating 50 years young this week, and we are in such awe of his work as a farmer, father, brother, son, friend, husband and creature of deep intentionality with meaning, purpose and mission beyond words.

His heart and soul for farming started 25 years ago after college in his hometown in Minnesota, but his love and joy of the natural food system and tending and preserving to the ecosystems on earth have been always a part of him.

It is thought that most of us have two mountains to climb in our life. The first one is about making your mark, building the ego, tending to family, work necessities and aspirations. The second mountain, one hopefully much greater, is giving back an important service and moral joy, pursuing an ideal in which you are connected to a cause of making others lives better. I think after 30 years of knowing Andy, he has been on this second mountain from day one, changing the way we see not only the food system, but bridging gaps to foster a collective place for good food, healthy soils, safe and empowering work environments, and above all, the constant sense that we are here to make it better.

Now, that is not to say it has been easy, and the constant breaking down of old tractors and trucks, digging immense ditches for flooding, trying to organically problem solve in the natural world that can be absolutely unforgiving, and knowing that you may never make a dime doing it was exactly what he intended for, but it is where he has truly shone!

Similar to teachers, Andy has always felt a noble and endearing obligation to farmers and farming. He has spent extensive time with the older farming generation understanding the past geography of our land and its capabilities as well as its inherent pitfalls. He has had the heart and courage to work with a diverse labor community providing well beyond the paycheck. Working late into so many nights when he is staring down the elk munching on his corn, he recognizes the dance and the beauty of trying to work it all out so everyone can win!

I could continue for days praising Mr. Stout, but the simple and short of it is: Love the veggies; love the farmer, cheers to 50!!

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram @fullcirclefarms.

– Wendy