Colton Whitworth speeds down the track at the Henry, Illinois event.
Partnership is on full display at Whitworth Farm, a corn and soybean farm located in Worthington, Missouri. Colton Whitworth began farming on his own in 2014, but continues to also farm with his father, Scott, who he first joined on the family farm in 2010. While each maintains a unique and important role on the family farm, they attribute much of their success to their strong partnership. The father-son farming duo recently applied this partnership mentality to a different kind of challenge, as they hit the road as team “Bin Buster” and “The Yield Express” to compete in a series of tractor pulls in states throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. And they had another partner supporting them, throughout both the challenging crop season and their tractor pull competitions — NK Seeds.
“From working closely with them, I’ve noticed that Scott and Colton really feed off each other’s strengths, and that’s what makes them not only strong partners on the farming operation, but also a dynamic duo in the tractor pulling world — not to mention, they’re darn good friends,” says Val Oberbroeckling, sales representative for NK Seeds.
“Farming is a legacy; if you ask any grower or producer why they do what they do, it’s because they want to pass the farm down to the next generation — so for a father and son to share that is really something special.”
Oberbroeckling sees other parallels between the Whitworths’ farming and tractor pull successes. “Whether you’re working on farming equipment or at a tractor pull, you can always have a breakdown or something goes wrong,” she says. “As farmers, their challenges this season came in the form of heavy rains in May, which led to some replants — but they worked together to overcome challenges and overall, their crops are looking good (as of Aug. 19 interview).”
Colton and Scott Whitworth (left and right) with Samantha DeRyke (center).
The Whitworths hosted farmer groups after several of the tractor pull events, and Oberbroeckling says they fielded lots of questions about their NK® products. Both Colton and Scott were quick to share their experience with the brand, which they attribute to great yield potential and strong support over the years.
“It was really great to get out there into the community and talk to farmers and other community members about today’s NK,” says Oberbroeckling. “On a more personal note, it brings me lots of joy to work with farmers like the Whitworths. They are great farmers and stewards of their land, but they’re also fine neighbors and wonderful people — I appreciate their business and I’m proud to see their successes, both on and off the farm.”
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