The Bass Family: Raising 3 Sons on the Farm

Knox and Crawford Bass race down the dirt path that runs in front of their family’s hog houses. Crawford, who is currently 5, outruns his younger brother who is almost 3. Not winning any races any time soon is baby brother Zane who is only a few months old.

The Bass boys are right at home on the hog farm—racing, playing in the dirt, checking on the pigs, climbing feed bins. For them, this is what they’ve grown up with and know. This is their element. What they don’t realize, however, are the lessons they’re learning on the farm. Their parents, though, are hopeful that between the dirt path races, tractor rides, and farm play, something bigger is happening in their sons’ lives.

Tyler and Janna Bass met in college at NCSU. Tyler majored in agronomy, while Janna studied business and marketing. Tyler had a clear plan of his future—farming. Janna’s future didn’t have farming in it; that is until she met Tyler.

“When I met Tyler, he said ‘I’m a farmer,” and I remember thinking that I really didn’t know much about that lifestyle and  I had no idea what it took to run a farm and the business aspect behind the operation,” Janna recalled.

Janna grew up right outside of Raleigh in an urban area, and the move to the farm in Sampson County was an adjustment. Even after being married for 10 years, there are times where it is still an adjustment. That’s not to say that she doesn’t like the farm life. She has embraced the farm and the farming community. She actually works with farmers now as the Marketing and Financial Service Manager with Cape Fear Farm Credit, an agricultural lender.

“We assist farmers of all shapes and sizes, new farmers or farmers who have been farming for generations, and we help them obtain the financing they need to start, continue or grow their operation and to ensure its success for the future,” said Janna.

Janna loves her job and working with the agricultural community. She also loves watching the passion her husband has for his job and feeding the world. 

The Bass farm was started by Tyler’s grandad, and later taken over by his dad and uncle. After college, Tyler knew exactly what he wanted to do—come back to the farm. He had always wanted to be a farmer, after all.

“I’ve always wanted to farm ever since I was a little boy. I can remember playing in dirt paths with my trucks and tractors,” Tyler said.

After college, Tyler started to build chicken houses and bought hog houses since then as well. The Bass farm currently grows and raises crops, produce, chickens, cattle, and hogs. Tyler’s favorite part about being a farmer is being outside, watching things grow, and knowing he is helping feed others.

His least favorite part about farming is also Janna’s least favorite aspect—the time it can take away from family. Farming is 24/7, especially when livestock is involved, and the sun-up to sun-down hours can be hard.

“Many a night during planting or harvesting season we are sitting around the table, and he’s not able to be there, or I tuck the children in bed and he’s not home yet because he’s still in the field,” shared Janna.

Janna and Tyler aren’t trying to downplay the good in farming. They are simply acknowledging the hardship that is their reality. And yet, in that hardship and challenge, is a lesson for their sons.

With the long hours and hard work, their sons get a front row seat to lessons on a good work ethic. While it may seem that they are simply playing, young children tend to notice more than we realize.

“I hope they observe the work ethic behind what goes into a farm, the dedication, and just the humility that comes along with it,” Janna said. “Farmers are humble and honest, but they really put serving others in front of themselves. I hope my boys see that and apply that to every aspect of their lives.”

Whether or not Crawford, Knox, and Zane choose to become farmers, they are learning values that transcend the farm. Humility, hard work, dedication, and service are all traits that any parent hopes their child will learn.

And if the Bass brothers want to become the fourth generation to farm, well, the farmers that came before them have and are putting in the work, sun-up to sundown, to make sure that the farm is able to welcome the next generation on to it’s lands.

“If my boys choose to farm, I hope ag will still be able to sustain them and their families in the future. I hope I can continue to build on the farming foundation my dad and granddad set for me, to pass on to my boys – if that God’s plan for them,” said Tyler of what he hopes for his sons. 

The farm is filled with lessons, and for those who are lucky enough to grow up on the farm, they may not even realize that they are learning at the time. It is doubtful that Knox, Crawford and soon Zane Bass realize that as they check on pigs or ride the tractor with their dad that they are learning life lessons.

While family farms are about providing food, fuel, and fiber for the world, they are also all about raising the next generation. Tyler and Janna Bass are striving to do their part,  to raise Godly, kind, humble, hardworking boys on the farm.

And perhaps in 20 years, the Bass brothers will remember a time where they raced down a farm path and climbed feed bins, smile and realize that they learned so much on the farm. 

"Farm"schooling During COVID-19: Lessons from the Farm

Farms are providing more than a steady food supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also aiding in the education of youth home bound due to school closures. For farm families, the farm is more than chores and a job that needs to get done. It is an opportunity for their children to learn valuable lessons, develop life skills, and a chance to spend some additional time with their family.

Lessons from the farm encompass many school subjects—math, science, art, etc. We asked folks to send photos of their kids on the farm during this quarantine and let us know what they were learning. All we can say, is the farm is a wonderful teacher.

Farmschooling in NC

Ryley Herring learns all about nutrition, feeding the pigs. Ryley’s had a great time lending an extra hand on the farm while out of school, but he’s still learning lessons. Did you know that pigs get a specialized diet created by nutritionists? Photo: Chad Herring of Mount Olive.

Learning all the basics! Quinn may need to grow into his coveralls a bit, but that doesn’t stop this little farmer from checking on the pigs and helping where needed. Work ethic and animal science is definitely being learned here. Photo from Eric and Carmon Short of Rose Hill.

These brothers’ mom says that they are working on math, small engine preventative maintenance, soil science, and environmental stewardship while irrigating at the hog farm. Photos from the Linton family of Mount Olive.

“We studied environmental sciences and agronomy. Environmental stewardship is practiced everyday on my farm. This valuable lesson will be passed down to the next generation.” -Marlowe Vaughan regarding her daughter Kivett of Goldsboro.

The farm also teaches creativity. Whether that is using what you have to fix something or getting the perfect photo. Gideon Linton practices creativity by getting just the right angle for the photo lower right.

“Visiting daddy at the hog houses. On these nice days, we are gonna be here a whole lot!! It’s just a short walk from our house, so getting in that awesome sunshine!”- Shawn Norville

It’s hard to beat fresh air and sunshine. I think we can classify this as a bit of PE for the day.

Crop and soil sciences are learned in the field. The Shooter family is subsoiling before corn gets planted.

Sarah Hobson snapped this photo of her kids making the world a better place by picking up litter that had blown into their fields. Raising considerate humans that care is so awesome!

“This morning our School lesson took a different turn other than acedemics. Environmental Stewardship and acting responsible for God's beauty! These young men got A's!” Morris Murphy

PSA…Don’t litter.

Some kids are getting to just explore the nature on the farm. Amanda Gardner took her grandkids on a nature hunt on the farm!

The photos and lessons continue as kids everywhere continue to learn despite the Coronovirus. For many, social distancing is life enriching.

We hope these photos bring light and happiness to a difficult time. Happy farmschooling everyone!