Schwietermans are Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker

by Michele Boy | March 21, 2022

Jess and Laryce Schwieterman had the great honor of becoming one of the youngest couples awarded the title of Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker.
On Friday March 11th, the family traveled to Manhattan, Kansas to receive the award.
Jess said, “We are the second youngest couple to receive this award. And we are humbled. The audience was filled with people I knew and respected - professors and former professors. We couldn’t do this without all our help - Casey Hatcher, Kyle Dupree, Angel Moreno,  Amy Norton, Craig Norton and Treg Hatcher. We appreciate them working like they do to help provide food for a growing planet. And Krista Norton who helps so much with Avery.”
The last time a Hamilton County farm couple received this award was George and Lola Fox in 1987.
What is the Kansas Master Farmer award? The story begain in 1927, by then-Kansas Farmer publisher Sen. Arthur Capper. A year later, the Farmer’s Wife magazine, which is no longer in print, started the Master Farm Homemaker Guild, with help from Kansas State University. In the early days, the two programs operated separately, and the honorees were individuals rather than couples.
Since the beginning, more than 400 farm couples have been recognized and become members of the Kansas Master Farmer Association and the Kansas Master Farm Homemakers Guild. The goal was to publicly honor excellence in farming, homemaking, farm living and rural citizenship.
In 1953, Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service took on the duty of the selection process and coordination of the annual honor banquet.
Today, K-State Research and Extension and Kansas Farmer magazine co-sponsor the program, with financial support from Kansas Farm Bureau, Frontier Farm Credit and American AgCredit. 
The Schwietermans were a young couple fresh out of college when Paul Burkhart offered them an opportunity: By working for him for a couple years, he would transition his land to the couple. 
At 25 years of age, the couple took on 3,000 acres. Since then, the couple has expanded JL Farms through the use of no-till and other conservation practices, as well as sound business management.
For Jess and Laryce Schwieterman, both graduates in animal science from Kansas State University, tthey feel their education is key to their farm’s success.
“We both believe our educational experiences have helped prepare us to be successful in farming and our community by teaching us that there is always something new to learn and ways to improve.”
Jess and Laryce’s farm did not begin right out of college, however. After graduating, Jess worked at a local feedlot and Laryce at a hog farm.  
“In a farming community, many times relationships are everything, and in 2003, after Larry Dikeman passed away from cancer, we had the opportunity to start farming for his family.”
Over the next few years, the Schwietermans doubled their operation. However, it has not been an easy journey for the family.
As the couple was preparing to purchase better quality irrigated land, Jess was diagnosed with cancer. While fighting the disease, and with the help of Laryce’s parents, the couple continued to purchase more dryland acres.
Today, the operation has grown and includes many different crops. And then irrigated land as well. They expanded their operation to include becoming a  seed dealer for Hoegemeyer.
Recently, they have been interviewed by Kansas Farmer and Agriculture Today. 
On the Agriculture Today podcast with Eric Atkinson, Jess and Laryce shared their love of Hamilton County and agriculture.
Laryce said to Jess, “Remember what your grandpa (Walter) used to say, ‘It’s either so good you don’t want to leave or so bad you can’t afford to get out of town. And that could be on the same day.”While working the farm, the Schwietermans believe continuing education in agriculture is a must. 
Jess has served on boards including the Syracuse co-op, the K-State Research and Extension Professional Development Committee in Hamilton County, and the Hamilton County Farm Bureau Board.
In their community, both are heavily involved in their church. She is  the church choir leader and does their books. 
Laryce also serves alongside Jess on the Kansas Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee for Farm Bureau. She emphasizes the importance of attending as a woman in agriculture.
“Many conferences held have a majority of men, but I want women to see they play a vital role in the success of the farm.”
Faith and family are keystones in their life. They have one daughter, Avery, who has cerebral palsy. She is a great blessing to them. 
“This child, who is dependent on others for everything, has shown us this is a precious gift we have…The people who have come into our lives because of Avery have made us better versions of ourselves. We hope our love and devotion to her is a light to others when things don’t work out the way you had planned.”