Travis Horkey says he was born a farmer and simply by no means stop.
That’s why he and the Horkey Brothers’ Farm in Dundee the place he works had been thrilled to win the coveted Grasp Farmer Award from the Michigan Vegetable Council.
The award was offered final week on the Nice Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo in Grand Rapids. The council confirmed a video concerning the Horkey’s rising and profitable vegetable operation as a part of the award presentation.
The award is given in recognition of excellent farming practices, in addition to cooperation with MSU researchers and extension educators and management roles within the vegetable business and area people.
Brothers Doug and Travis Horkey together with their father, George Jr., and their uncle, Carl, are homeowners of Horkey Brothers. They and a number of other different relations all work laborious to make the farm a profitable operation, mentioned Greg Hen, a spokesman for the council.
“Hundreds of individuals drive by a few of the Horkey Brothers’ fields on daily basis and possibly don’t notice the extent of produce being grown so near a freeway,” Hen mentioned in an electronic mail.
The Horkey farm raises greens on greater than 1,000 acres in and round Dundee. The farm grows quite a lot of produce, together with spherical white potatoes, candy corn, bell peppers, cabbage, pumpkins and laborious squash. The household harvests, washes, packs and cools all the produce.
Doug Horkey served 9 years on the council from 2010 to 2018, together with the final two as its president. Travis, a full-time farmer at Horkey Brothers, recalled how his grandparents began the farm within the late Fifties once they moved to the world from Royal Oak.
“He was an legal professional, however farmed on the aspect,” Travis mentioned. “He was going to retire, however nonetheless dabbled in greens.”
Doug mentioned collectively his father and uncle helped develop the enterprise to the dimensions it’s right now. Potatoes and candy corn are the 2 largest greens grown by the household on about 350 acres for every crop. Additionally grown are about 120 acres of cabbage, 45 acres of squash and 35 acres of peppers.
David Smith of Erie grew potatoes simply down the highway from the Horkeys and in addition was current when the household accepted the award. Smith acquired the identical award in 1993 and mentioned he acquired to know the household when he was a director and former president of the council.
“It’s been spectacular for me to see George’s sons, Travis and Doug, take the lead within the enterprise,” Smith mentioned. “To achieve success in these instances, it’s a must to develop a crop the market calls for they usually’ve carried out a great job of adjusting the crops. Additionally they perceive the function analysis and training performs and have cooperated with MSU researchers and educators for a few years.”
Doug mentioned labor stays one of many greatest challenges going through the farm. He mentioned switching to the H2A program “helped tremendously.”
“We nonetheless battle to seek out truck drivers and forklift drivers,” Doug mentioned. “Being on the council and having a friendship with Dave actually helped us see a whole lot of points going through the business and we acquired concerned in these.”
Smith mentioned the award not solely acknowledges growers for good farming practices, it additionally acknowledges their service to the business and group.
“Doug was on the council for 9 years and Travis presently is president of the Michigan Potato Business Fee that funds analysis and promotes potatoes,” Smith mentioned. “Travis is also a trustee on the Dundee Township Board. Each of them have fairly important roles and been robust advocates for vegetable growers and points affecting the business. Their essential aim is to make it doable for the following technology to proceed farming.”
Hen mentioned the Horkeys have a household wholesale terminal market at Detroit Jap Market. “Which means that many nights every week, George Jr. hundreds up the truck and heads for Detroit,” Hen mentioned. “The wholesale market is the place the distribution of produce occurs for the totally different meals channels that feed the inhabitants of better Detroit.”
Ruhlig Farms in Carleton additionally acquired the award in 2005, mentioned Smith, who retired as government director of the council in 2018.
