While working on a local farm in his hometown of Aberdeen, Miguel developed his love for agriculture and farming. He was quickly hooked and set a course for the future to someday own a farm.
After earning a degree in Agribusiness, Miguel started a career in agriculture lending in order to learn more about finances and how to run a successful operation.
In 2017, Miguel married Camas, a city girl from Boise that had never been exposed to farming. Camas attended Carroll College and joined the Idaho Air National Guard in 2015.
Miguel’s passion was contagious and soon Camas was hooked on the idea of starting their own farm. Shortly after getting married, their dream came true when they purchased 20 acres in Wilder, Idaho. They spent all their free time working on improving the land.
After acquiring their first 20 acres, they quickly expanded and now farm 320 acres in the Wilder, Idaho area. They now have two daughters that they are thrilled to be raising on the farm.
What Camas and Miguel have accomplished is quite incredible. You see farmers and ranchers make up less than 2% of the population and less than 25% are young and beginning, meaning they have been part of an operation for less than 10 years.
25% of all farmers are beginning farmers (in business less than 10 years); their average age is 46.
-American Farm Bureau Federation
There are many challenges facing our young and beginning producers including competition for land, cost of equipment and inputs, and living in an area that is become more urbanized. It is extremely difficult to start your own farm without having some type of family support. Camas and Miguel have worked incredibly hard to follow their dreams.
Both are extremely optimistic about their future and acknowledge the tremendous help they have had along the way. They are thankful for a great lender at FSA and their field representatives that believed in them and also shared knowledge.
In their spare time, both are very engaged with their community. They serve on the Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Board and Miguel has a seat on the Canyon County Planning and Zoning Commission. The reason for their involvement is to be sure they have a voice in the community and to give back.
On their farm, Camas and Miguel raise sugarbeets, corn, wheat, and potatoes. Miguel always wanted to grow sugarbeets. He loved the crop as a kid and his favorite part is watching the beets emerge from the ground and the smell at harvest time.
Another reason they wanted to raise sugarbeets is because they saw the success of Amalgamated Sugar Company and wanted to be a part of it. We are so proud to have them part of the sugarbeet family!
