6 minute read
CO-OP CORNER
RYAN JENKINS: A PASSIONATE CO-OP CUSTOMER FEEDING
BY TIFFANY LESTER
In the heart of Santa Rosa County, Florida, Ryan Jenkins and his father Rennie lead Jenkins Farms. His sons make it a fifth-generational, family-owned operation specializing in row crops including peanuts, corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and oats, which has become synonymous with agricultural success.
Growing up with farming in his blood, Jenkins knew from an early age that he wanted to follow in his grandparents' footsteps. “I grew up loving farming and knew that’s what I wanted to do when I got older. After I graduated high school, I started renting some of their land and began what is now known as Jenkins Farms. And now today, we farm around 2,000 acres of all non-irrigated land,” said Ryan Jenkins.
“I love every part of it. The number one thing I love about farming is that no two days are the same. I don't have an office job where I go in, sit down and do the exact same thing every day, or I go to an industrial-type job and I do the exact same task every day. Another thing I love about farming, is at the end of the day, you are always helping people. I'm not doing it for anybody else, for them to pat me on the back or anything like that. I do it absolutely for the love of my fellow man and for the love of working with God's creation, for being outdoors all day long. I've worked hard all my life, but I've never really worked a day in my life.”
Lying near the Gulf of Mexico, Jenkins Farms benefits from timely afternoon storms that provide necessary rainfall for exceptional yields. “We rival people that farm irrigation land with our yields,” added Jenkins. But that’s not to say there aren’t any problems. Jenkins explains they still deal with pests, disease, and fertility issues, and that’s where his relationship with his local Co-op comes into the picture. He says the collaboration with Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative has been essential to his farming success.
“I bleed Co-op colors when I bleed. Everything I do is through Jay Co-op. It's just a huge family feeling. As a whole, the Co-op and all the different divisions have been a great part of our success at Jenkins Farms for several years now,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins works closely with Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative General Manager Ryan Williams, outside sales representative Bae Lamastus, and GreenPoint Ag agronomy professionals Drew Schrimsher, Tyler Holley, Amy Winstead and Trey Colley.
“They are truly invested in my success. They want to make sure I succeed. And it doesn't matter what it takes for that to happen. They understand that the farmer's success is directly proportional to their success. Without the farmer's success, all these other companies' success wouldn't be there. It’s that feeling of ‘my problem is our problem,' ‘my success is our success.' Farming can be a lonely job sometimes and you can feel that the problems that arise, you're out there all alone trying to figure it out. But not when you have this big Co-op family. Everybody gets on board until we find out an answer to our problem. I'm 100% Jay Co-op and honestly, I don't even shop around for prices or anything. I am huge on relationships. That's why I do my business there,” Jenkins explained.
It’s a partnership the Co-op also values wholeheartedly. “We appreciate Jenkins Farm and their loyalty to Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative. We look to continue to provide them with premier customer service to advance their farming operation,” said Jay Peanut Farmers Cooperative General Manager Ryan Williams.
Jenkins was recently awarded the prestigious 2023 Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award for the lower Southeast region. This recognition solidifies his commitment to excellence and serves as a testament to his dedication to sustainable farming practices.
“I was very surprised. I would have never just applied for that. But Libby Johnson, who served as our Extension agent, nominated me and asked me to please apply, so I did. I really couldn't believe it because we're competing against Florida, Alabama, and Georgia in this region. I really couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it,” laughed Jenkins.
Even after winning such an honor, Jenkins believes there’s always room for improvement. “I'm not saying don't be thankful for what you have, but I don't think you should ever be satisfied with whatever your outcome is. You make 6,000 pounds of peanuts, then I want to know why can't I make 7,000 pounds of peanuts,” he explained.
Sometimes it’s all trial and error with a lot of educated guesses. “Break the mold, try something differ- ent. It might not work, but it might,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins says just applying for the Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award has been beneficial to him and encourages other farmers to take the leap and apply. “Fill it out and really see where you are with things. We all know roughly how much it costs per acre to do this or that. But this really forces you to sit down and put a pencil to every single thing you do regarding your peanut crop. And it's so neat to be able to actually see real numbers down to the penny, down to the pound of what you've done and how could you improve on that.”
Beyond farming, Jenkins is a passionate advocate for agriculture. He uses various platforms including social media and podcasts to connect people with the source of their food and fiber, aiming to foster understanding and appreciation for the vital role of family farms in feeding and clothing the world.
“Years ago, everyone was connected in some way or another. Your grandparent farmed or your uncle or you name it, somebody a generation ago, somebody you knew – they farmed. And nowadays, the greatest part of the population is greatly removed from agriculture. So, I really work hard on a daily basis trying to tell our story. It's family farms like ours that are feeding and clothing the world. I just really want people to understand that, and to know that, hey, we're on the same team. There's not a better steward of the environment than a farmer.”
Feeding and clothing the future – made possible through determination, innovation, the love of farming and a strong partnership with the local, quality Co-op.
