Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Straughn.
Hi Kyle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Fourth generation farmer. Born and raised in Archer Florida, agriculture has always been very important to our family. My Grandfather Alto Straughn started the blueberry farm over 30 years ago and hopefully my son will take it over one day. There is something that I find very rewarding about being outside in nature with my hands in the dirt. I have been working at Straughn Farms for 20+ years. and will farm until I am unable. We produce blueberries, watermelons, we have cow calf operation and we manage about 4000 honeybee hives. We operate with about 60 employees.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finding reliable labor consistently presents a significant challenge.
Weather is an ever changing variable in farming.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Straughn Farms LLC?
We are working on opening a blueberry upick. What sets me apart from others is the scale of the projects that we do. We are not farming just a couple of acres. We manage 2000+ acres just in Alachua county and we have been doing it consistently for 30 years. Our product is like no other. It has a short shelf life, but it is high is nutritional values which is so important.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I worked on the farm on weekends and summers until I was in college and old enough to hold a position. I am 1 of 6 kids. The oldest boy.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/StraughnFarms1
