33 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | December 2024 home mom now,” she says. “I used to farm full-time with Luke. Now, I still pick up the slack when needed on the buggy or do office work and parts runs.” Katie also stays busy with community involvement. She sits on the Durham Soil and Crop board of directors, the Blackstock Fair board, and the nursery school board. The Groves value family involvement and communication within their farming lifestyle. Why do you love being a farmer? Luke: I guess my favourite part is being able to work closely with our young family, and I like being around the equipment. I love the flexibility during the slower times and being able to spend more time around my family. When it is busy, I love the rush. Katie: The best part is the flexibility and being able to bring our family along. What is a goal for your farm? Luke: Over the next five years, I would say our biggest goal is maintaining profitability. When looking at futures prices and the current market, we want to maintain profitability and find new ways to do that. We are also reviewing what things cost on the farm and what they are worth. Your biggest farming challenge? Katie: The weather. Luke: Everything is a challenge in one way or another, but to narrow it down, my biggest challenge would be maintaining equipment to push the acres through them every year. It’s a lot of figuring out what’s wrong with it when it’s not moving in the winter and making sure we don’t have any breakdowns in the first couple hundred acres. I would say that’s my biggest challenge. UP CLOSE GUARDIANNETWORK.CA REGISTER FOR A GUARDIAN NETWORK SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING TODAY Georgia is happy to join Katie in the cab of the tractor. Katie Grove photo
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