When the idea of writing this story first emerged, I thought it might pivot around the idea of retirement. More specifically, a life-long farmer retiring. I’ve always paid close attention to people that are of retirement age, wanting to know why some can retire early and others will never be able. It seems rare to even hear the two words, farmer and retire, together in the same sentence. How does a farmer just…retire?

Upon meeting Vernon Yoder, one trait quickly stood out. He thinks before he speaks. When he speaks, he has something to say, it has substance, and it is well thought out. You don’t run into discipline like this every day. It earns respect, especially from a father that often reminds his two children that you learn a lot more listening than you do talking.

In addition to farming, this Plain City native is a devout Christian, active in his community and a member of the Haven Fellowship Church.  It was through these commitments he met his wife, Valletta. At age 21, Vernon went to Arkansas for his church to work as an orderly in a nursing home. He met a girl from Kansas who had also grown up on a dairy farm. Their friendship lasted a few years before he got serious and pursued her to be his wife. They married in August of 1980 and made a home in the Plain City area where they had the privilege of renting a 200-acre hog farm. With help from his wife, daughter Kaylene, and several young fellows from the community, they produced and sold about 1500 feeder pigs per year.

Their daughter, Kaylene taught at a Christian Mission School in Ontario, Canada for 2 years before returning to Plain City. She married Alex Graham and blessed the Yoder’s with 3 grandchildren, Kenny, Katie, and Annie. Vernon cherishes time with his grandchildren and hopes to pass down a few of his values, beliefs, and farming practices.

On the subject of farming practices, Vernon is one of about a dozen farmers in the Plain City area that farm organically. You may think a grounded 69-year-old, life-long farmer would be pretty set in his ways, however Vernon remains innovative and open to trying new things on the farm. In 2009, after being invited to a neighborhood meeting about organic farming, he made the decision to start farming organically. He liked the philosophy behind it and at the time felt there was a financial advantage. “I just can’t enjoy spraying Roundup anymore,” he tells me. It takes 3 years to convert farm ground from conventional to organic. Converting his ground to certified organic paints a true picture of Vernon’s diligence. He once had 54 acres ready to be approved but unknowingly used the wrong kind of molasses in a fertilizer mix during a corn re-plant. To have a clear conscience, Vernon told the inspector, hoping he would just get a slap on the wrist. They made him start the entire 3-year process over again for those acres! He says if he were 20 years younger he would still be organic, but also add no-till practices to the mix.

When he’s not farming you may find Vernon handling maintenance requests for the Plain City Library. He took this part-time job more than 20 years ago and still does it today. Other times you could find him digging holes at his church’s cemetery plot. No matter the day, one constant when you bump into Vernon, he’ll be wearing an aged-leather holster on his right hip. His weapon of choice, a simple pair of pliers. They don’t scream innovation, nor does the 1986 Honda 3-wheeler he uses to ride around his property. I guess that’s what makes Vernon Yoder so unique. At first glance you wouldn’t suspect such a forward thinking, big picture, mindful, organic farmer.

So, has he retired?

In December of last year, he did sell most of his equipment at auction. He’s rented his home acres to a family member, at least for this season. Another piece of ground he was farming recently sold at auction. Vernon may or may not have told the new owner that he’d be happy to farm it for them, if it were an option. Right now, it doesn’t look like he’ll be responsible for too many acres this year.

We hope Vernon’s roots in Plain City continue to thrive under his foundation of faith and good practice.

06/19/23 – NJR