ÍáÍáÂþ»­

When I was 16, and a week before the start of my senior year in high school, my brother Paul was born. I had two sisters — one two years younger than me, the other four years younger — but the late addition of my first and only brother brought special joy. He's given me joy countless times since then.

Now Paul is doing it again. After many years as a successful shop foreman for a company in the Fargo, N.D., area, he returned to our hometown, McVille, North Dakota, to farm our family cropland. He's farming in conjunction with his brother-in-law, a fine and experienced farmer who's farmed the Knutson land in recent years. Paul will be a full-time, year-round employee who also rents his brother-in-law's equipment, providing Paul with high-quality machinery that otherwise he wouldn't have access to. The brother-in-law, in turn, gets a much-appreciated source of additional help for his farm. They've talked numerous times about the arrangement, creating good mutual understanding.

It's not an uncommon situation in this part of the country, especially as farm equipment becomes bigger and costlier.

Paul will be the fourth generation of Knutsons to operate the farm founded by Halvor and Mathea Knutson, grandparents of our father, Robert. He and our mother, Helen, still live in McVille.

Paul's wife, their college-aged daughter and their high school freshman son are on board with the move. My sister-in-law will retain her work-from-home job, providing invaluable medical insurance.

And my nephew will help on the farm in an evolving, still-to-be determined role. It's tempting for me to picture him someday being the fifth generation of Knutsons to farm the land. But no pressure from me, nephew. Be yourself and follow your heart.

That's what Paul has done. Sticking with his former job would have been simpler and safer. But less satisfying, too. So he followed his heart and accepted the challenge.

If you're uninterested in family farms or family businesses in general, you're not reading this column. But if you are interested, you already understand the attraction of multi-generation farms: the continuity, the shared experiences of ever-improving farm equipment and crop inputs, drought and floods, economic downturns and occasional boom years. The connections include failures and frustration, yes, but also success and pride — a mosaic never fully understood but always appreciated. Were I a better writer, I could better express the appeal of family farms

Some readers are asking themselves, "Hey, retired Agweek columnist guy: Will you help out on the family farm?"

Sadly, no. Cancer and associated health ailments forced me to retire early from Agweek. They've discouraged me from attending family events such as confirmation and high school graduation because my weakened immune system is at greater risk of infection. And now my health prevents me from helping my brother on the farm in any meaningful physical way.

I try hard to stay positive, but there are times I really hate this blankety-blank cancer.

I'm a good listener, though, and do my best to provide moral support. Paul talks with me about what needs to be done, especially financially, and the best ways to accomplish his goals. I most certainly am no expert, but I interviewed many ag economists, ag bankers, extension officials and successful farmers through the years. So a few times I can offer semi-useful insights. But my main role is saying, "You're asking really good questions, Paul. Now find the right people to get good answers" -- which of course he would do anyway.

I hope this column offers two main takeaways. The first is that Agweek news staffers have strong, personal connections to ag. It's not just a job; it's a way of life that matters greatly to us. Even though I'm now just a lowly columnist, no longer a full-time professional, my own connection has been refreshed and reinforced.

The other takeaway is my appreciation for Paul once again bringing me joy. Thank you, brother.

Jonathan Knutson is a former Agweek reporter. He grew up on a farm and spent his career covering agriculture. He can be reached at packerfanknutson@gmail.com.