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Like many area farm families, Brad Ribbe’s family comes from German stock. They headed over to the new world to make a better life and to help feed the world. Now their descendants are carrying on the tradition, even though farming looks dramatically different than when they first arrived.
How long has your family been farming?
We can trace it back to at least five generations, and I’ve been farming on my own for about five years.
Where is your farm operation?
I’m based out of St. Joe but farm by Sidney, Gifford and over in Vermilion County.
How and why did your family come to this area, and where did they come from?
My family came from Germany to northern Illinois, then moved south to buy land, drained it via tile and waterways. Five Busboom brothers came from Germany. Some settled in the Flatville area, and a couple moved to Nebraska.
What does your farming operation consist of? Is it strictly a grain operation, or do you also have livestock?
I do corn, beans, wheat, cow/calf and feeder calves. Custom hay and a small goat herd.
How many people in the family does the operation support?
Four people are involved in the operation, including my wife, Simone, and I and my parents, Delores (Busboom) Ribbe and Doc Ribbe.
Do you have any members of the family in the farm operation also working other jobs?
Yes, I work in the construction industry. Also I’ve been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years, and my wife is a nurse. The other two are retired.
How have you seen farming change over the years?
Row size, population, GPS, auto steer, field practices and the size of operations.
Your farm equipment: Green (John Deere), red (Case IH) or other?
I am diversified in all colors, green, red, Case orange. I do lean towards the red side because that’s what I grew up with on my grandparents’ farm.
What makes farming such a good vocation?
Being out in nature, the satisfaction of seeing your hard work of planting turning to harvest. You get to see the fruits of your labor.
What soil conservation practices do you employ on your farm?
I am very diversified in this area. I do a multitude of things. I do everything from working the ground in the fall and spring to cover crops and no-till, depending on the ground conditions and the slope of the farm.
If you could change one thing about farming, what would it be?
Unfortunately, there’s not much we can change here. We are in the hands of Mother Nature. Also, the cost of getting started.
What’s the best time of year to be on the farm?
Fall is my favorite time. We finally get to see what we’ve been blessed with and reap the product of your rewards — getting to see what all the hard work and stress has provided.
