The crops have been growing in the fields for decades and generations, but for two local farmers, it’s a year of firsts.

Colin Wittmer and Devin Yost are following in a family business to start their own farms in Freeborn County.

Yost is the fourth generation in the Yost family to become a farmer. Yost said he’s farmed since he was old enough to drive a tractor, and he’s done similar work at his parents’ home mowing the lawn.

Wittmer, 25, farmed about 35 acres of soybeans last year, but expanded to about 98 acres of soybeans and 26 acres of corn this year. Wittmer owns some of the land and rents the rest from his grandfather Orren Olson.

Wittmer hopes to buy some more land from family and neighbors in years to come.

“It’s expensive. Farmland is expensive. Rent right now is pretty high. It’s good to rent from grandpa right now because it seems to be a fair price,” Wittmer said.

Wittmer’s grandfather, Harlan Wittmer also farmed.

Wittmer has worked as the county household hazardous waste technician and county feedlot officer for about three years. Working for Freeborn County has helped Wittmer build up the capital to get started.

“The overall goal is to be full-time someday. I’m a long way from that,” Wittmer said.

Until that time, Wittmer said he plans to make small expansions each year. In the next three to five years, Wittmer said he wants to buy a tractor.

Wittmer said he uses vacation time at the county during harvest, because harvest is typically a slower time at his job.

Yost works with his father, Don, but owns his own land. When farming Don’s land, Yost said he works as his father’s employee. When farming his own land, Yost said he works with Don and uses Don’s equipment, and he also pays him an operating fee.

Yost, 21, recently graduated from South Central College in Mankato, where he earned a two-year degree in production with an agronomy emphasis.

Yost said college taught him to cross his T’s and dot his I’s. One example of that, Yost said, would be selling the grain at the right time, rather than waiting too long for another deal, because the market can fluctuate frequently.

Similarly, Wittmer said he’s learned a lot about marketing. He said if a deal looks profitable, it can be better to pull the trigger rather than wait for a better deal.

To start as a farmer, Yost said he needed to have a lot equity and credit built up because a lot of money is needed to start in the business. Yost said he took out a loan to start up.

The economy “changes from week to week and day to day.”

The business aspect of farming is important, and Yost said he spends a lot of time dealing with banking and financing.

“There a lot of things you can control and a lot of things you can’t You’re better off being financially smart than just going out and hoping to make money,” Yost said.

Another key to being successful is keeping up with the technology, Yost said. Being a recent college graduate gives him an edge in being familiar with the new technology. At the same time, Yost said he would not be able to farm now without the help of his father.

Wittmer also said his farm wouldn’t be where it is now without the help of his grandfathers and David Ausen. Wittmer works for Dave Ausen, who farms near Manchester. That connection is beneficial because Wittmer can use Ausen’s equipment to farm his own land.

“It would be pretty much impossible to get started from having nothing. I had a few things going for me,” Wittmer said.

He said working with his father is an advantage because he can use his father’s equipment, and he can buy in larger quantities as well.

“It saves me a lot of money and ultimately makes me a better farmer,” Yost said.

Yost also said this allows him to be more aggressive.

“Instead of just sitting on a fence and waiting for an opportunity to come, go out and find something,” Yost said.

“The plan is to always keep growing and get bigger,” he added.

While Wittmer has experience farming, he said it’s different now that he farms his own land.

“It’s a sense of pride you get out of doing it on your own stuff and on my grandpa’s stuff,” Wittmer said. “It’s just enjoyable. It’s one of those things that started out as a goal and it’s fun to be able to realize your goals.”