Skip-Generation Farming: Clint Gorden’s Path Back to the Land

Send us Fan MailClint Gorden, a central Illinois farmer, joins the Patio Pondering Podcast to discuss what it means to be a skip-generation farmer—connected to farming through grandparents, but without a parent actively farming to provide day-to-day guidance. Clint shares how he built his path through farm work, the seed business, and the relationships and mentorship that helped him earn opportunities in agriculture.Jim and Clint explore the realities of modern Midwest farming, including aging farmers, larger operations with “more zeros,” the increasing importance of strategy in farming decisions, and how technology and broader networks influence learning, efficiency, and risk management.Topics covered:What “skip-generation farmer” means in today’s agricultureGetting started in farming without a prior generation in the cabSeed sales, cold-calling, and building credibilityAging farmers and generational transitionWhy farming has become more strategic as operations growCommunity involvement: Farm Bureau, Corn Growers, Lions ClubRecording note: This conversation ends earlier than planned due to a technical interruption. Jim and Clint plan to reconnect and continue the discussion in a future episode.