The Beck family of Burley, Idaho, epitomizes traditional farming values, dedication, and hard work. Their family farm is nestled in the heart of the Gem State’s agricultural landscape in Burley, Idaho. The Beck’s have been growing sugarbeets for five generations now, passing down their expertise and love for the land from one family member to the next.
Ty and Matea have five beautiful children (Mia 19, Zettalie 16, Raef 13, Taft 10 and Auvay 7) and together they farm 850 acres. They grow sugarbeets, beans, wheat, corn, and hay on their operation. For the Becks, farming is not merely a livelihood; it’s a way of life that binds the family together in purpose and passion. Each member of the family plays a role in their success.
Farming has always been a passion for Ty. When he was in Kindergarten, Ty brought a sugarbeet to his class for show and tell day at school! He cut it open and thought that sugar would pour out. Ty loves growing sugarbeets since it is such a stable crop. It is definitely the staple crop on their farm.
He always loved farming with his dad, and it was something that he wanted to do with his children. One of the things he loves most about farming with his children, is that it teaches them responsibility and how to work hard. Because they do it together, the family has a strong bond. They are all very close.
When Ty and Matea were introduced by friends, they hit it off. Matea would come ride alongside Ty in the baler at night. That is true love! They just celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary.
Another thing they love about farming is taking pride in their product. It is exciting that they play a role in feeding the world with the crops they grow right on their farm. The general public just assumes that food will always be available at the grocery store. One of the lessons that hopefully came out of the pandemic was that food comes from a farm or ranch and our supply chain is fragile.
One of the concerns that Ty has is protecting small family farms. The average size of a farm in Idaho is 505 acres. The latest ag census released in February showed that Idaho lost 2,119 farms between 2017-2022. Farmers face a variety of challenges including razor thin margins, uncertain policy on both a state and federal level, the weather, cost of inputs, and commodity prices. All of us need to do everything we can to protect the American farmer. Our national security depends on it.
Ty, Matea, and their daughter Zetta traveled to Washington DC last month to lobby on behalf of the sugarbeet industry. It is so important to have family farms represented and sharing their story to policy makers.
In an age of rapid change and uncertainty, the Becks stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of family farming, where hard work, dedication, and love for the land are the true measures of success. As they look to the future, they do so with hope and optimism, knowing that the legacy they’ve built together will endure for generations to come.
Keep up the good work. We used to grow sugar beets in Ohio but it is now history. I agree they where a very dependable crop.