The farming operation continued to grow, as did both daughters in building their professional careers and getting married; but both still found themselves back on the farm helping their parents.
Living and farming in Noble County, daughter Mindi Troyer and her husband Spencer help on the farm when they can, along with their girls Sadi (4) and baby Maci. Mindi works part time as a registered nurse and alongside her husband on his family farm.
The Hoffman family is committed to taking care of their land and their community. Kirk is passionate about leaving the farmland in better condition than when he received it.He incorporates cover crops, field tile, and maintains ditches along all their fields. He has been cautious to not expand too much so the farm can truly operate as a family farm. The entire family, grandkids included, are heavily involved in their community through volunteering with 4-H and FFA events, and at a local fall festival where they volunteer their time and equipment to help put on a demolition derby and NTPA tractor pull to raise funds for in-need organizations and the community.
Another touching example of the Hoffman Family’s passion for their community includes their participation in local Christmas parades with their “decked out” farm equipment. In memory of daughter Jodi passing away during harvest of 2021, the family decided to do something special to share the story of agriculture and spread joy to others the way Jodi did for every person she met. “It warms our hearts to see kids (and adults) smile and point to the lights on our tractor,” states Kirk. “We even added a big bubble machine this past year,” he says.
Diversification remains a central theme on the farm, with maple syrup production being a product added into the mix in recent years. “Dad learned the ins and outs of maple syrup production from a local farmer over thirty years ago, and now he is passing that knowledge on to my family. My husband Tayler and I bought our own evaporator system so we can cook at our house or my parents,” Kelli says. Sons Kaden (10) and Kole (8) are all in when it is time to tap the trees and make the syrup. “Just like our farming operation, we work together as a family to collect, cook, bottle, and sell our fresh maple syrup,” says Kelli.
Another major new enterprise is now in the making with Kelli coming to the farm in 2024 to run a custom chemical spraying business – via drone! “Dad has always spearheaded change on the farm but coupled with my years of teaching agriculture and credentials, he encouraged me to initiate the next change for the farm and my career,” Kelli says. On yet another leap of faith, Kelli left her teaching career of 15 years to spearhead the custom spraying business designed to fill a spraying niche on fields in her community. She also dreams of continuing to share her love of agriculture and passion for education through agritourism on their family farm one day.
The early beginnings of Kirk Hoffman & Family Farms were not easy yet could provide inspiration for future generations. “Mom talks about shaking pennies out of piggy banks to make payments and sewing our clothes. Our farm today is built on that foundation of hard work and perseverance. My parents had a dream, and they took a leap of faith to chase it. As we talk with people about farming, I hope telling our story inspires others to do the same.” Kelli concludes.