Mark and Lacey Wray are two young farmers operating the Wray Farm in Franklin and Miami County. The Wray's are no-till farmers, growing corn, beans, wheat, rye, sorghum, and cover crops used for grazing. They also raise cattle for beef. Check out this month's Farm Feature blog to learn more about the Wray family and their farm!
1) Tell us about your farm.
Mark and I farm with his parents, John and Brenda Wray. Our farm is located south of Ottawa and we farm land all across Franklin and parts of Miami County. Our farmland is used to grow corn, beans, wheat, rye, sorghum, as well as some other cover crops used for grazing. All of our ground is No-Till, and because of this, we have reduced water runoff, chemical runoff, and compaction, as well as increasing organic matter, soil moisture, yield, and overall health of our ground. We also have a cattle side to our operation. We manage cattle at all stages from our beef cow herd to our cattle on feed.
2) How long have you farmed?
Mark grew up on the farm here in Ottawa and has been driving tractors and doing chores since he learned to put on his own boots. John also grew up on our farm and has put in many hours caring for the land an animals since he was young. Mark's grandpa, Jack Wray, also farmed. Jack was the one that began our farm where it is today when he started purchasing land in Franklin county in the 1960's. I the last couple of years, Jack has been tracing our family ancestry. He has traced our family back 7 generations to Pennsylvania and has discovered that we are the 7th generation of farmers in the family.
3) When did you first decide to become a farmer?
Mark has always known that he would someday fill the shoes of his father and grandfather. I also grew up on a farm in Uniontown, KS and always knew that I wanted to be involved in the industry in some way. I guess you could say, we were born into agriculture.
4) Tell us about what you grow/raise/produce.
As I mentioned in the first answer, we raise row crops and cattle. We will also raise the occasional meat goat for Amanda's (Marks sister) 4-H project. We always grow in rotation on our farm ground, because of the advantages for the soil and yield. In the winter, we try to rotate in some form of cover crop or wheat. It is also very advantageous to grow a winter crop that can also be grazed by our cattle because it puts pounds on the livestock while adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Mark and I farm with his parents, John and Brenda Wray. Our farm is located south of Ottawa and we farm land all across Franklin and parts of Miami County. Our farmland is used to grow corn, beans, wheat, rye, sorghum, as well as some other cover crops used for grazing. All of our ground is No-Till, and because of this, we have reduced water runoff, chemical runoff, and compaction, as well as increasing organic matter, soil moisture, yield, and overall health of our ground. We also have a cattle side to our operation. We manage cattle at all stages from our beef cow herd to our cattle on feed.
2) How long have you farmed?
Mark grew up on the farm here in Ottawa and has been driving tractors and doing chores since he learned to put on his own boots. John also grew up on our farm and has put in many hours caring for the land an animals since he was young. Mark's grandpa, Jack Wray, also farmed. Jack was the one that began our farm where it is today when he started purchasing land in Franklin county in the 1960's. I the last couple of years, Jack has been tracing our family ancestry. He has traced our family back 7 generations to Pennsylvania and has discovered that we are the 7th generation of farmers in the family.
3) When did you first decide to become a farmer?
Mark has always known that he would someday fill the shoes of his father and grandfather. I also grew up on a farm in Uniontown, KS and always knew that I wanted to be involved in the industry in some way. I guess you could say, we were born into agriculture.
4) Tell us about what you grow/raise/produce.
As I mentioned in the first answer, we raise row crops and cattle. We will also raise the occasional meat goat for Amanda's (Marks sister) 4-H project. We always grow in rotation on our farm ground, because of the advantages for the soil and yield. In the winter, we try to rotate in some form of cover crop or wheat. It is also very advantageous to grow a winter crop that can also be grazed by our cattle because it puts pounds on the livestock while adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
5) What makes your farm special? What are you most proud of?
We actually don't consider ourselves special. We are the normal family farm that prides ourselves on doing things right. Every farmer and rancher is working hard to feed the families of Kansas, and we are doing just the same. We have focused on diversifying our operation, and we grow everything from wheat to meat. This diversification is hopefully what will allow our operation to continue strong so that we have something worthwhile to pass down to our children.
6) What do you love the most about farming?
We really love being able to see the end result and knowing that we got there by doing things right. It is really fulfilling to be able to harvest a crop from the tiny seed we planted and to see a baby calf born from a semen straw. In farming, you don't always get rewarded for hard work because of all of the variables. However, when your sweat equity pays off, there is no better feeling in the world. We also really love that farming is a family activity. Family is very important to us, and it is wonderful to have your family beside you in bad and good times.
7) What has been the hardest thing about farming?
The variable prices that our products are sold for and consumer perception. It is very difficult to work in an industry where you can't control what price you get for the product you sell. We are constantly battling the fact that you can't really plan ahead or count on a certain income. We also really struggle with the negative perceptions out there. It is very hard for us to work all through the day trying to save a sick calf, only to watch the news that evening and see that our consumers don't believe in what we are doing. It is heartbreaking! Mark and I work very hard to share and spread information about what we do and why we do it. We LOVE the land and our animals. We lose sleep when one is sick and go to all odds to produce a safe and healthy product for your family. Our own family consumes the products we raise, and believe in the way we go about producing it. I absolutely believe that consumers have the right to information, but I want it to be the correct information. There are so many misconceptions out there that are being spread and promoted by those that haven't ever assisted a cow in a difficult birth, or driven a grain cart in and out a field 100 times in one day. As farmers and ranchers, we encourage consumers to find out where exactly their food comes from and how it is raised! Anyone is more than welcome to come help us gather calves and ride in the combine! We love to tell you about what we do because we LOVE what we do!
8) What makes Kansas a great place to farm?
THE PEOPLE! I truly believe that there are no kinder, sweeter, more caring, or more dedicated folks anywhere! We are all neighbors and help each other out no matter the cost. It is amazing to meet a producer from the opposite side of the state and then feel as though they are family in less than 5 minutes. It also helps that Kansas is the home to the Kansas State Wildcats and no other state can top that!
We actually don't consider ourselves special. We are the normal family farm that prides ourselves on doing things right. Every farmer and rancher is working hard to feed the families of Kansas, and we are doing just the same. We have focused on diversifying our operation, and we grow everything from wheat to meat. This diversification is hopefully what will allow our operation to continue strong so that we have something worthwhile to pass down to our children.
6) What do you love the most about farming?
We really love being able to see the end result and knowing that we got there by doing things right. It is really fulfilling to be able to harvest a crop from the tiny seed we planted and to see a baby calf born from a semen straw. In farming, you don't always get rewarded for hard work because of all of the variables. However, when your sweat equity pays off, there is no better feeling in the world. We also really love that farming is a family activity. Family is very important to us, and it is wonderful to have your family beside you in bad and good times.
7) What has been the hardest thing about farming?
The variable prices that our products are sold for and consumer perception. It is very difficult to work in an industry where you can't control what price you get for the product you sell. We are constantly battling the fact that you can't really plan ahead or count on a certain income. We also really struggle with the negative perceptions out there. It is very hard for us to work all through the day trying to save a sick calf, only to watch the news that evening and see that our consumers don't believe in what we are doing. It is heartbreaking! Mark and I work very hard to share and spread information about what we do and why we do it. We LOVE the land and our animals. We lose sleep when one is sick and go to all odds to produce a safe and healthy product for your family. Our own family consumes the products we raise, and believe in the way we go about producing it. I absolutely believe that consumers have the right to information, but I want it to be the correct information. There are so many misconceptions out there that are being spread and promoted by those that haven't ever assisted a cow in a difficult birth, or driven a grain cart in and out a field 100 times in one day. As farmers and ranchers, we encourage consumers to find out where exactly their food comes from and how it is raised! Anyone is more than welcome to come help us gather calves and ride in the combine! We love to tell you about what we do because we LOVE what we do!
8) What makes Kansas a great place to farm?
THE PEOPLE! I truly believe that there are no kinder, sweeter, more caring, or more dedicated folks anywhere! We are all neighbors and help each other out no matter the cost. It is amazing to meet a producer from the opposite side of the state and then feel as though they are family in less than 5 minutes. It also helps that Kansas is the home to the Kansas State Wildcats and no other state can top that!