Staff writer
They say the average age of current farmers in the U.S. is around 60, so it is always encouraging to find young people who are interested in a future in agriculture.
Brian Burhoop of Burdick is one of those. He graduated from Centre High School in 2011 and is a freshman at Kansas State University, majoring in agricultural economics.
Burhoop recently was named the District Star Farmer of the South Central FFA District. The district encompasses 27 chapters in the heart of the state, stretching from Centre in the north to Arkansas City in the south and west to Great Bend.
Burhoop will compete at the state FFA convention at the end of May for the Kansas Star Farmer award.
Burhoop began his career in agricultural production as a freshman in high school when he launched his Supervised Agricultural Experience with the purchase of 12 bred cows from his father, Enno.
He has increased his herd each year and now has 43 spring-calving cows, eight fall-calving cows, and two bulls.
As a sophomore, he added to his agricultural entrepreneurship by renting 48 acres of land from his father. He now rents 125 acres, producing mainly wheat and soybeans.
This was the second year Burhoop applied for the District Star Farmer award. He submitted five years of records and was interviewed March 6 in Newton. He was awarded with a plaque on April 16 at the district banquet in Arkansas City.
He said the award provided recognition for the hard work he has done the past five years and brought recognition to Centre High School.
Burhoop credits his father for giving him the opportunity to get started in farming. Father and son work together in their operations, and Burhoop uses his father’s machinery.
He said he probably will farm full-time after graduating from college.
“I’ve been raised on agriculture, and it’s enjoyable,” he said. “I enjoy being outside. I had a job last year and I didn’t enjoy it very much. That’s what made me want to come back to the farm.”