farm and land
RE THE
’S NOWHERE
I would rather be
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN WALKER | EVEN THOUGH SHE’S ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, ALLI RHODERICK IS ALREADY MAKING A CONTRIBUTION ON THE FAMILY FARM. WITH HER FATHER, CURTIS, BY HER SIDE, ALLI LOVES TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE CHICKENS, FEED THE HEIFERS AND GATHER STRAW. CURTIS, 29, HIS BROTHER NATHAN, 27, AND SISTER MALORIE, 31, ALSO STARTED WORKING ON THE FAMILY FARM IN MOUNT AIRY, MARYLAND AT A YOUNG AGE.
“It’s a great place for kids to grow
farm, Wayne and Cindy both have taken
When Wayne and Cindy purchased
the other side of ag
up,” says Wayne Rhoderick, Malorie,
on leadership roles in their community.
the farms with their sons, they set up
Curtis and Nathan’s father. “The kids
Cindy has been a member of 4-H
a shared bank account for expenses,
took care of the goats they raised for
leadership for 15 years and secretary
but they handed the responsibility for
4-H before school, then helped with
of the Holstein club for 12 years. Both
the finances of those farms over
milking and driving the tractor after
of them are active in the Farm Bureau
to Curtis and Nathan. “We want them
school,” he adds. “You learn a lot of
and will be joining committees and the
to be prepared to handle all aspects
valuable lessons that you carry with
board respectively this fall.
of the farm after we decide to stop
you throughout your life, like how to
Although dairying can be tough
farming,” explains Wayne. “We contribute
in today’s tight market, diversification
some money to the account, but they’re
offers additional sources of income.
the ones who pay all the bills and
of Wayne and his wife Cindy’s life.
Other farmers in the area turn to Wayne
take care of decisions like choosing
Wayne’s maternal grandparents bought
for advice and help with a wide range of
insurance. They’re accountable, so when
the family farm in 1937, then sold
projects, from equipment repair and soil
things go right, that’s because of what
the operation to Wayne’s parents in
preparation to wrapping silage. “We’ve
they’ve done, not something I’ve done
1965. In the 90s, Wayne and Cindy
been blessed with a lot of good people
for them.”
purchased the farm from his parents.
in our life,” says Wayne.
manage your responsibilities.” Farming has always been a part
Since the beginning, it’s been a dairy
Careful financial management
Looking toward the future, Wayne is considering switching his
operation. The Rhodericks currently
is also an important key to the
operation to beef next year. “Dairy is
have 60 head of full registered Holsteins
Rhodericks’ success. “Before they
so unpredictable,” he says. “And it
and milk 20 cows.
make any financial decisions, Wayne
requires you to stay close to the farm
and Cindy always put pencil to paper
at all times. There really aren’t days
management, with the Rhodericks
and run the numbers,” explains Farm
off. Switching to beef would give us
owning more than 300 of those acres,
Credit loan officer Mary Jane Roop,
the flexibility to visit Malorie and our
including farms that Curtis and Nathan
who has worked with the family for
three granddaughters, which is hard
purchased with their parents. In addition
14 years. “They assess all opportunities,
to do now.”
to dairying, they also grow hay, corn,
like purchasing the farms with Curtis
soybeans, and wheat. Curtis and Nathan
and Nathan, very carefully.”
The farm includes 500 acres under
While he’s considering switching the focus of his farm, he’d never
Mary Jane adds, “Good financial
switch jobs. “What I like most about
handles the milking. Malorie and her
stewardship is something that Wayne and
farming is that I’m not working for
husband are also dairy farmers, with a
Cindy have taught their children as well.
someone else,” says Wayne. “I have
farm in Iowa where they have a large
It’s not very common for us to lend money
the freedom to set my own schedule
scale milking operation with 4,700 cows.
to people in their 20s, but Curtis and
and priorities. There’s nowhere I’d
Nathan are responsible and very savvy.”
rather be than on our farm.”
help with the crops, while Wayne
In addition to their work on the
10
| VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 | mafc.com
l
