Flexibility Defines Family Farm in Circle

WRITTEN BY REBECCA COLNAR PHOTOS HOVES FAMILY

Amanda Hove has come full circle in the agricultural world. She grew up near Judith Gap on a small ranch with cattle and sheep. She attended school in Judith Gap while raising registered Columbia ewes, and her income from the 4-H Livestock sales helped her afford college at MSUBozeman, where she got a degree in nursing and met husband, Bryce Hove. Her husband, an engineer, designed highways and Amanda worked as a nurse in Great Falls. When Bryce’s grandfather passed away and the Hoves were expecting their second child, they decided to move to the farm. Together with Bryce’s parents, Mark and Gina, they formed Hove Family Farms. And thus, Amanda’s lifestyle returned to agriculture. (Amanda still works when needed in the McCone County Clinic in Circle and will fill in as a lab tech.)

“We’ve gained a lot of leased land and had opportunities to buy property. We farm between 8,000 and 9,000 acres, growing spring wheat, winter wheat, lentils, flax, chickpeas and yellow peas,” Amanda said. “We do a wide variety of crops on a rotation. When you rotate your crops, it is better for soil health. We also implemented no-till farming, which means we don’t plow up the ground.”

Today, the Hoves have three children; Ava is 11, Emma is 9 and Cora is 7. The children love joining their parents, grandparents and hired hand, Chad Richardson, with the farm chores.

“When they were little, I would strap the car seat into the buddy seat of the tractor. Today, as long as they have a lunch box, a water bottle and something to play with, they’re good for the day; although they are always excited to see what Papa Mark packed in his lunch.”

The children have learned work skills, independence and responsibility. The family took out an old fence line last year and built a new fence; the kids had the fencing pliers, put on all of connectors and measured out the posts.

“Ava can help us move equipment. She will drive the side-by-side or pickup. When it gets chaotic during harvest and I’m out in the field all day, it becomes a team effort. I pack lunches and put a meal in the crockpot and the girls will bake cookies after school to help out. Grandma Gina also makes and delivers meals, when necessary, after working her full-time job in town," Amanda said. “The kids are good with household chores when I am not around. They like contributing; it gives them purpose. Of course, they know their homework has to be done.”

When there are things to do, the family pitches in. During the school year, the kids are involved in sports including basketball, gymnastics, softball and rifle shooting.

“They are very familiar with handling a gun and how to do it correctly and safely,” noted Amanda.

In the summer, the children ride their bikes, go out on adventures and build tree houses.

The young Hoves learn to spend time traveling, as well. Billings is three hours away and there is a WalMart in Miles City which is 100 miles away.

The farm mom noted that many people in suburban areas don’t realize the complexity of farming in the 21st century.

“Our tractors have GPS which can analyze a field and, for instance, give us the information so we can adjust our fertilizer rates and plan our crop rotations. No-till is an excellent improvement on the soil which keeps the topsoil down so we’re not losing it.”

Hove says, “You can have a plan and then the tractor breaks down so you need to change plans. You can have the kids ready and supper planned, then that all changes. You need to move on and keep going. The versatility and perseverance of the people growing food is incredible.”

Rebecca Colnar is Director of Public Relations for Montana Farm Bureau and a freelance writer from Custer, Montana.