The life of a typical young boy is nothing compared to the daily routine of 11-year-old Farm Service Agency (FSA) Youth Loan recipient, Tanner Johnson.
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The day starts and ends by hand mixing hog feed, feeding and watering farm animals, and working with swine to prepare them for livestock shows. With a true desire to be a farmer himself, Tanner eagerly becomes his father’s side-kick on the family owned farm. He enjoys helping with all aspects of the livestock and row crop operation.
Tanner is an honor roll student at Gallatin R-5 School District and an active member of the Gallatin "Knee-Hi" 4-H Club. Through the leadership provided by 4-H club leader Alisha Chrisman and project advisor West Strange, this youth has gained further knowledge and skills needed to have successful and rewarding 4-H projects. This year’s projects have included livestock showing, robotics, woodworking, arts/crafts, photography, welding, astronomy and curing ham. In addition, Tanner used a roadside stand to market sweet corn and strawberries as his 4-H entrepreneurship project. This youth proudly shares his educational experiences gained from these diversified projects and admits livestock showing has been his favorite. This can be observed in the smile on Tanner’s face when around his hogs.
Tanner had a dream of someday acquiring a better quality of show animals. This dream became reality upon discovering a loan program administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). The Rural Youth Loan Program offers operating loans to youth age 10 through 20 to establish and operate agricultural income-producing projects. Financing was pursued through this loan program, allowing Tanner the means to purchase quality show breeds and enhance his showing potential.
Through the FSA Rural Youth Loan program, this 11-year-old has gained knowledge and experience with business practices including financing, repayment obligations, maintaining secured property, production agriculture, and the importance of record-keeping.
Parents Mike and Colleena Johnson continue to provide guidance and support to their son’s 4-H projects and agriculture endeavors. Tanner’s grandfather Dave Gray, a sheet metal worker, also contributes by utilizing his skills to construct needed show supplies such as feeders, waterers and a proudly-displayed show box.
Tanner’s future goals are "to be the best at livestock showing" and "acquire as many plaques and ribbons as possible." Some achievements thus far have included showmanship, champion Berkshire boar, reserve grand champion boar, grand champion Berkshire boar, reserve champion Yorkshire, reserve champion Duroc, reserve champion Hampshire, and reserve champion Berkshire.
Like interests of many other sixth graders, Tanner enjoys basketball, baseball, fishing and hunting. He plans to be active in FFA and attend college after his high school graduation.
"It’s been very rewarding to see this youth take on responsibility and pursue a dream," said Teresa Akers, FSA Farm Loan Officer. "The Rural Youth Loan program provides financial assistance and business planning to help rural youth get a start on their futures, while ensuring the future of family farms."
For additional information on FSA’s Rural Youth Loan Program persons may visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov or contract their local USDA Service Center. The office serving Daviess, DeKalb, Harrison, Gentry and Worth Counties is located in Bethany, and can be reached at 660-425-765, ext. 2.