A labor of love

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Neva and Bill Johnston, Pine Township farmers, can't imagine a life without farming. Though both have off-farm jobs, they love working with the land and animals – including their dog Mollie – too much to give it up. (Carol Ann Gregg/Allied News)

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February 17, 2010

Though hard work, farming proves rewarding

Anonymous Allied News Wed Feb 17, 2010, 05:18 PM EST

By Carol Ann Gregg

Allied News Staff Writer

Across the country and right here in Mercer County, farmers come in all shapes and sizes. They have different philosophies and work in different circumstances. Most farm owners don’t fit the Old McDonald stereotype.

Many years ago, if someone was farming and also worked off the farm, the farm was labeled a “hobby farm.” The owners were considered “not really” farmers.

But as the economy changed, agriculture changed: Many farmers and their wives began taking off-farm jobs so they could continue farming – which they truly love to do. In the 21st century, these farms have become major contributors to the agriculture economy.

Local farmers Bill and Neva Johnston of Pine Township both have off-farm jobs. Johnston is a foundry product engineer in Hubbard, Ohio. He had worked in the foundry at the former Cooper Bessemer in Grove City until it closed.

Mrs. Johnston is a high school teacher in the Union Area School District, Lawrence County. She has been teaching environmental science the last three years. Before that, she served 20 years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

With all this other experience, why do they remain in agriculture?

“We’re crazy!” Johnston said. Following a pause, he added, “No, (it’s because) I’ve lived here all my life.”

“We love it. We like to see things grow,” Mrs. Johnston said. “It’s good for our children. We’ve always been involved in agriculture.”

They have a flock of Horned Dorset sheep with 32 ewes and 3 rams.

“We market our sheep mostly through the local auction,” Johnston said. “We have the flock divided into two groups. The first group gave birth to their lambs around Thanksgiving with about half of them delivering twins. The second group is lambing now with a lot of twins and triplets.”

“We aim for the Easter market,” Mrs. Johnston said. They sell some as breeding stock to other sheep farmers who want the Horned Dorset breed for their flocks. They also sell lambs to 4-H members wanting to show them.

Part of the farm is divided into paddocks – or small pastures – and used for rotational grazing with their cow-calf beef herd. They have been selling their feeder calves to the same feed lot for several years. They also sell some to customers who want beef for their freezers.

“We don’t use the paddocks for sheep because we have had problems with dogs,” he said. “So we keep them in a lot near the barn.”

They also grow corn, rye and oats using conventional plowing.

“We also grow a mixed seeding that is planted in mid to late summer and rolled into round bales as winter feed for the cattle.”

The mixed seeding includes sorghum, Sudan grass, forage peas, soybeans and oats.

Johnston’s dad still lives on the farm and helps out when he can.

“He has things ready to go when I get home from work,” he said.

“There aren’t very many other kids out here,” Mrs. Johnston said. “So, our kids are in activities in town – dance, scouts and youth group.”

Their son Terry is 17 and daughter Abbie is 14. They both belong to the Rebel Riders 4-H club, and show their horses and market sheep and rabbits.

“We are really homebodies,” Mrs. Johston said. “There are lots of opportunities to do things here.”

Published February 10, 2010 in Allied News. Pick up a copy at 201A Erie St., Grove City.

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