Featured Grower - Hank Bergen-Henengouwen

Meet Hank Bergen-Henengouwen!

Hi, my name is Hank Bergen-Henengouwen and I farm with my son, Scott, brother Arnie and his son Todd.  Our farm name is Bergen Farms Ltd., and we grow sugar beets, soft wheat, red spring wheat, barley, hay and canola.  I have been farming since 1986, which is also the first year I had a beet contract.  We have 225 acres of sugar beets and another 1,000 acres of mixed cereals. 
 
What brought you into farming? 
I am a second-generation farmer and it was my dad who brought me into farming.  He purchased the operation in 1965 and I now live on the same family farm that I grew up on, but things have definitely changed quite a bit.  
 
What is the most difficult and most satisfying part of farming for you? 
The most difficult part is probably dealing with the weather, which has made the beet harvest tough the past couple of years.  The most satisfying part is getting the harvest done and being able to see things grow and mature. 
 
How have advances in technology, equipment, and farming practices impacted your operation? 
The Roundup ready beets have advanced things substantially here.  We used to spend days and days cultivating and spraying and now we have way simpler and way safer practices. The GPS systems have also made things easier and more precise, saving time and fuel. 
 
How do you see your role in the community? 
I love to support things locally and I’ve also served on a few Boards and local groups.  
 
What would you say to people who believe that agricultural practices are harmful towards the environment?  
With our new practices, we are able to save more fuel and time.  Not only is the science there to say it’s safe, but we are stewards of the land and we must do our best to look after it.