For Colton and Molley Hasenour, farming isn’t just a career; it’s the foundation of their lives. The couple knows a life in agriculture is built on a legacy of hard work, honesty and the support of trusted community partners.
Having grown up with cattle on family farms and their shared heritage is so pivotal, Colton even asked Molley to marry him in the cattle barn. This deep connection to farming instilled a powerful work ethic in both Colten and Molley. They credit much of this discipline to 4-H, an organization that defines their history. “We’re both 10-year 4-H members,” Colton said. For Molley, 4-H taught her and other young people how to be hard workers, but it also instilled honesty and integrity, the essential characteristics of a good leader.
The Long-Lasting Value of 4-H
Molley, who has worked for Purdue Extension for almost a decade, continues to see the transformative power of 4-H. “I love getting to see light bulbs go off and kids have moments where they learn a new skill, they develop and they grow,” she shared. This mindset was part of her own upbringing, where her parents encouraged her to be a leader on their farm and gave her opportunities to try new things.
The couple is now focused on passing this heritage to their own daughter, Demi. Molley fondly remembers spending time on equipment with her grandma and grandpa on their farm, an experience they are recreating by having their daughter with them in a farm car seat. “People joke that our daughter has got to love cows or no other option,” Molley said, highlighting their daughter’s early exposure to agriculture.
Partners in Financial Growth
Just as their personal lives are rooted in agricultural traditions, their professional growth is supported by the cooperative nature of Farm Credit Mid-America. Molley’s family began working with Farm Credit Mid-America in 2007 to add to her father’s family farm. As a result, she’s seen the value of a trusted partnership first-hand. While Colton was the first in his immediate family line to work with Farm Credit Mid-America, he has many other relatives who have worked with the customer owned cooperative.
The couple highlights their relationship with their Financial Officer, Troy Mason, and the ease he has brought to their operation. “Farm Credit Mid-America is full of familiar faces and it's just more comforting when you go to talk about farm financials because you trust that they understand,” Molley shared.
Learning and Growing at Know to Grow®
The couple recently attended Farm Credit Mid-America’s Know to Grow®* conference as members of the Growing Forward®* program. Know to Grow provided both Colten and Molley with valuable networking opportunities with other young and beginning farmers and key financial literacy skills. The couple noted that since they both work off the farm full-time, the conference was a worthwhile and critical experience for their operation’s future success.
A group leader walked them through an in-depth balance sheet scenario. “It was eye-opening,” Molley said. She realized that by learning to complete the document more accurately, she could make fewer phone calls to Troy and streamline her processes.
Learn more about how Farm Credit Mid-America can support your operation and create a legacy of hard work like Colten and Molley.
*Growing Forward® and Know to Grow® are registered trademarks of Farm Credit Mid-America.
