From Farm Fields to 4-H: Hayden’s Journey
By Keri Sanne
For the Bartling family, farming is more than just a tradition – it’s a legacy where the health of the land and livestock comes first. For the past 125 years, they have nurtured their commercial swine operation by having each generation pass on knowledge and skills to the next.
From Johann and Johanna Bartling’s first steps on Nebraska soil in the late 1800s to 11-year-old Hayden Bartling learning the ropes today, the focus has always been on bettering the practice. That’s how you uphold tradition for six generations while evolving to utilize the latest in sustainable agriculture. By working with his grandpa on the farm and learning lessons in 4-H, Hayden is the next generation of the Bartling family.
From Horse Power to Horsepower
Hayden’s great-great-grandpa started the farm by plowing and harvesting the fields with horses. With each generation, the Bartling family farm has thrived through innovation. When his great-great-grandpa invested in a 50-horsepower tractor, it revolutionized their operations. Fast forward to today, and Hayden’s great-grandpa marvels at a 320-horsepower tractor guided by satellite auto-steer technology. The family farm’s journey is a testament to embracing change while honoring its roots.
Despite today’s technological advances, owning livestock is a constant process of daily feeding and care. Hayden takes pride in the adventures and lessons learned from his time growing up on the farm with his family.
“My favorite thing to do on the farm is to help wean and do chores with my grandpa,” Hayden said. His uncles and cousins make these experiences memorable for him. Chores are a daily occurrence on the farm. For Hayden, feeding, watering, and weaning the pigs twice a week can never go undone.
Exploring Life Lessons with Grandpa
Hayden has already learned the importance of hard work; however, he always finds a way to explore each corner of the farm. Not only does Hayden’s family raise commercial hogs, but they also grow corn and soybeans.
They later use the corn to feed their pigs. During harvest, Hayden and his cousins get to ride in the combine with his grandpa and great-grandpa. “I love to be able to go out there and help my grandpa and run around on the farm,” says Hayden. “I love exploring!” Moments like this are the ones he enjoys the most.
“My grandpa and mom grew up doing 4-H, so they got me started in it,” said Hayden, enthusiastically adding, “I have loved doing it since!”
Family Traditions to Personal Passion in 4-H
Hayden’s connection to agriculture is further enriched by his involvement in 4-H, a program that strives to include hands-on learning and community engagement. Hayden has been in 4-H for three years, and so far, he has learned more about how to pay close attention to his pigs to make sure they don’t get sick.
Along with making sure the pigs are healthy, Hayden feeds, waters, and washes them. Keeping the pigs in a clean environment is extremely important, so he makes it a priority to clean the pig pens when necessary. Hayden explains, “I know how to raise and take care of our animals. But also, I learn the hard work farmers put in every single day to feed everyone!”
The Next Generation
From the first generation to the sixth, Hayden’s small-town Nebraska roots continue to grow with the knowledge of the generations that came before him. “We all get to go down and ride the combine with grandpa or great-grandpa during harvest, and that’s always fun!” As the seasons change, they bring not only new tasks on the farm but also a cherished sense of continuity and connection to Hayden’s family’s legacy.