Producer
Yetter Farm
Contact: Jarod Armstrong
City: Lewistown, PA,
About Us
Our farm was first owned by my family when my great-great-grandparents, Irvin and Margareta Yetter, purchased 230 acres in 1893 for the grand sum of $1,400. The farm was sold out of the family 30 years later. After passing through several owners, in 1973 my grandparents, Nelson and Ruth (Yetter) Brannan, were able to bring the same farm on which her father grew up, back into the family. Today I have the privilege of being the owner and steward of the family farm. At approximately 100 acres of its current size, I decided to officially name it the “Yetter Farm” to honor my family’s long history here. Growing up just a half mile away, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ farm and I knew early on that a career and life in agriculture would somehow be in my future.
Practices
My formal education in agriculture began at Penn State University where I majored in Agronomy, the science of crops and soil. Shortly thereafter, I began a career in sales and consulting with growers as to the perfect blend of fertilizer, correct seed variety, and the best technique or pesticide to kill whatever insect or weed was causing their problems. I like to believe that my philosophy and beliefs on what is in the best interest of our soil, our animals, human health, and our environment as a whole, have been constantly evolving.
I have always had a sincere interest from early on in my career with educating my customers. Combining that with my interest in working with younger generations and seeing them become successful, I made the career switch to becoming a high school agriculture teacher. In this career I became increasingly interested in the subject of Sustainable Agriculture, and have made it part of the curriculum. My traditional agriculture education and experiences, along with what I continue to discover and learn about the sustainability of agriculture, provide the foundation of what we implement at the farm.
Some of my core beliefs about agriculture:
Soil should not be left uncovered.
Diversity is good on many levels.
Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, which lead to healthy animals.
Animals deserve to have access to the outdoors with fresh pasture.
Pasturing animals results in a higher quality end product.
Good farmers deserve to make a respectable profit.
Using fewer pesticides in agriculture is something all farms should strive for.
Proper incorporation of animals into agriculture is a positive thing for the soil and the environment.
The future is full of challenges. As we try to produce the best food possible, I hope that you’ll give our products a try.
I have always had a sincere interest from early on in my career with educating my customers. Combining that with my interest in working with younger generations and seeing them become successful, I made the career switch to becoming a high school agriculture teacher. In this career I became increasingly interested in the subject of Sustainable Agriculture, and have made it part of the curriculum. My traditional agriculture education and experiences, along with what I continue to discover and learn about the sustainability of agriculture, provide the foundation of what we implement at the farm.
Some of my core beliefs about agriculture:
Soil should not be left uncovered.
Diversity is good on many levels.
Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, which lead to healthy animals.
Animals deserve to have access to the outdoors with fresh pasture.
Pasturing animals results in a higher quality end product.
Good farmers deserve to make a respectable profit.
Using fewer pesticides in agriculture is something all farms should strive for.
Proper incorporation of animals into agriculture is a positive thing for the soil and the environment.
The future is full of challenges. As we try to produce the best food possible, I hope that you’ll give our products a try.