Farming in Van Wert County since 1852

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff

The Heffelfinger family is going on the sixth generation to farm in Van Wert County. The Liberty Township farm, established in 1852 by Adam Hertel, has been passed down through the generations. Currently, Mike and Kevin Heffelfinger, who are fifth-generation, are running an operation that includes soybeans, corn, and wheat. The Heffelfinger brothers had a swine farrowing operation several years ago. With sixth-generation family members showing interest in returning to the operation, the brothers are once again considering livestock.

“Luke, my son, recently graduated from Ohio State ATI and is enthusiastic about farming,” Mike said. “He loves cattle, but he also knows that industry is tough to get into with the high prices right now. He had some professors at ATI that said not to be pigeonholed into one species. You need to be open to any opportunity that is out there, they told him.… Continue reading