Working cattle is a young man's game for Mason Mayer
Apr. 19—EDITOR'S NOTE — According to the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture, the average age of American farmers that year was 57.5. That went up to 58.1 in the 2022 Census. Only 9% of farmers were under 35 years old in both the 2017 and 2022 Censuses. Agweek and the Mitchell Republic are highlighting young farmers and ranchers in the industry to look at what the future holds for agriculture.
FULTON, S.D. — There are projects to work on inside Mason Mayer's house and right outside his door on the farm.
The 27-year-old Hanson County resident knows the to-do list never really gets shorter when agriculture is the profession. A new deck is being constructed. The upstairs of the house is under a remodel. Calving is in full swing. And planting is just a blink away.
Mayer is among the youngest farmers in the area, according to the most recent
Census of Agriculture report
. In 2022, Hanson County had 311 farms with 611 producers, with 50, or 8 percent, under 35 years old, the census showed.
Mayer credits neighbors and some of his family for helping here and there, but he spends most of his time alone learning the ropes of what can otherwise be a career full of hurdles.
"There are a lot of things you just have to figure out how to do by yourself," said Mayer, who runs a cattle and grain operation. "Is it always the safest or smartest? Probably not. But sometimes you just have to put down a little elbow grease and get it done."
His farm is located just northwest of Fulton, South Dakota, where his great-grandfather bought a quarter of land in the 1940s. The kitchen, dining room and bedrooms of his home are the framework of the original house from his great-grandpa that has since been expanded and continuously being updated.
There's a lot of history in the house and the farm, he said. And he's proud of that.
Mayer's entrance into farming came from the influence of his late grandfather Don Blumenberg, who farmed and fed cattle until 2009.
He died in November 2020 at 86 years old.
But there are daily reminders and memories of Mayer's grandpa etched on the farm, including a beautiful red barn with the white wording "Blumenberg Farm" painted across above its sliding door.
"When I told grandpa I was interested in farming, he'd say I'd starve and then he'd contradict himself and talk about the fun times in farming," Mayer said.
In September 2020, after a few years working for
Nutrien Ag Solutions
, he decided to farm full time. He was 25.
Then, following a meeting with his grandpa, mom and aunts, he was all-in. It's a far cry from the banker life that Don Blumenberg wanted for his grandson, Mayer said.
"Farming is super stressful, weather, financial, breakdowns, whatever always seems to be working against you," Mayer said.
The problems are manageable with a network of family and friends who are there when needed. Mayer credits nearby producers who help him with harvest or headaches.
And he's already been somewhat seasoned through challenging weather. A couple drought years got him going. Then was the winter of 2023.
While Mayer says he doesn't often get overly stressed, the constant snowfall that filled the cattleyard was more than exhaustive. Like many farmers in the area, he felt like he moved snow all day and never actually got caught up. At the same time, there was a newborn in the house.
"Working all day pushing snow, cleaning lots out, and I'd come inside and see my little girl's face, that made it all worth it," he said. "And just the other day, I was having kind of a bad day. Had a cow that lost a calf, I realized this was broken and I had to fix this. Then you come inside and your little girl runs into you. That's the best. That's the biggest release ever. You can't ask for something better than that."
Mayer loves working cattle, which he says comes from his grandpa. He's really enjoyed this warm calving season compared to past years. On Monday morning, he strolled out to a field and put ear tags on twin calves born that morning.
There's always chores to get done, but Mayer says priority goes to the family. And that's because it's family that led him to this life.
His wife Ashley of two years is unbelievably supportive, he says. Ellie, their daughter, is now 1 1/2 . Their house is filled with girl toys and family photos.
Spending time with his family checking cattle in the Ranger or his "crappy, pride-and-joy pickup" is among his favorite activities to decompress.
"I don't know what it does, but in the summertime if you've had a bad day, you hop in the vehicle, run through the pastures and just look at cows," he said, "you realize it's not as bad as you think."
