Teen Succeeds With Specialty Crops Business

Teen Succeeds With Specialty Crops Business 33-6-8 Just out of high school, James Goebbert, Hampshire, Ill., has tapped into the huge specialty crop market in Chicago. For the past several years he has grown about 10 specialty crops like dill and parsley on 50 acres. He started building his business, called Go-Ro Fresh, when he was just a freshman in high school. At the same time, he participated in high school sports but his real passion was farming. He markets his crops at the Chicago International Produce Market, a wholesale market for local grocers. He now owns four tractors, a precision seeder, a semi truck with a refrigerated trailer, two ice machines, tillage implements, and irrigation equipment. Goebbert comes from a marketing-oriented family. The Goebbert family has been known for its pumpkin production. FARM SHOW published a photo and story on the family 14 years ago (Vol. 19, No. 6). They have a striking, eye-catching display on their farm û a giant pumpkin sitting atop a silo. This year he bought 18 improved acres including a house and a number of outbuildings, which will be the base for his operations. Next year he expects to expand to 150 acres and grow even more vegetables, including parsley root, leeks, knob onions, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, and beets. This year he employed some 20 workers. Even with his youth he finds no difficulty in managing the workers. "I sign the checks, and the workers respect that. Things have worked out well," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Goebbert, 42W813 Reinking Rd., Hampshire, Ill. 60140 (ph 847 464-0105).

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