Continuing a Legacy: Georgia Teen Takes Over His Family Farm After His Father’s Passing

Waylon NeSmith says continuing the operation is a way to carry on the lessons and legacy his father left behind.

TIFTON, Ga. (Farm Monitor) — Most teens are still figuring out what they want to do in life. However, for one young Georgia farmer, that answer came early after an unexpected loss changed the future of his family’s farm.

High school student Waylon NeSmith has taken over his family’s operation following the passing of his father.

NeSmith says that farming alongside his dad was never just about getting work done. It was time spent together and lessons learned through everyday moments in the field.

“I remember that there was never a dull moment with him. He was always joking. It was never serious. We just always played around, but we got stuff done, but we always made a good time doing it.”

Now, with support from his family and community, he is continuing the work his father started.

Nesmith says the farm is no longer just part of his family’s history, but has become his future.

Related Stories
Malone, Senior Director of Trade Execution at Bunge, emphasized the importance of spaces where women can engage in meaningful conversations about global trade, supply chains, and leadership opportunities.
The USDA is working with 14 different states, including Georgia, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
The decline in production marks the second consecutive year of contraction in the U.S. turkey industry.
We caught up with Karen Braun, Chief Market Analyst at Zaner Ag Hedge, at the Women in Agribusiness to discuss the data behind commodity trading.
Weston Brown joined us on Monday in the RFD-TV Studios in Nashville to share how he is preparing for the upcoming National FFA Convention & Expo.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Taxation expert, Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, joined us Monday to break down the changes and explain what producers should know.