Severson Farms
Dick Severson is finally living his boyhood
dream
by Julie Pederson
Dick Severson has a passion for farming.
And after 36 years, several careers and raising a family
in Springfield, Oregon, he has finally realized his dream of
becoming a full-time farmer. Severson Farms has been in full
production for four years and Dick’s life-long love of farming
has only continued to grow in that time.
Dick was not raised on a farm and his
parents were suspicious of his love for something they knew only
as begrudging labor. “As a small boy, I always had an attraction
to farming and curiosity about what was going on in the
countryside,” says Dick. “My parents discouraged farming as a
career though. They grew up on farms and there was nothing
romantic about it.”
Although Dick spent his childhood and
college years as close to agriculture as possible – working
summers in the fields and canneries surrounding Salem – he
heeded his parents warning when considering career options. “I
decided the practicalities of farming as a career were pretty
unlikely and I realize now that I was wise to make that decision
when I was young. It would have been a hard life,” Dick said.
While confident he made the right decision,
Dick has a great respect for young farmers today and admires
their courage and sacrifice.
Deciding against traditional farming as a
career did not deter Dick from staying as close as possible to
agriculture when searching for jobs. He worked 23 years in
fisheries, most of which were spent with Ore-Aqua, a private
salmon ocean ranching business that became the largest in Oregon
during its operation. It was during his time here that Dick
became familiar with the Agri-Business Council of Oregon and
eventually served nine years on the executive committee,
including a three year term as this organizations president.
When Ore-Aqua shut down in 1990
due to legislation minimizing its operation, Dick became a
consultant in the field and his contacts through this work
brought him to his next position as the general manager of Agri-Tech,
a company that delivers industrial bi-products to agricultural
land for use as soil amendment.
Despite working full time and frequently
traveling on the job, while raising two young girls with wife
Maryanne, Dick found time to keep a small farm operation running
throughout the years. At different times the family raised hogs,
Shropshire sheep, chickens, turkeys, calves and a sizable
vegetable garden.
The girls were not always as fond of
farming as their father. “I pushed them, sometimes kicking and
screaming, and in ways it was selfish since it was not their
passion, but it was also for them,” Dick says. “I would say
‘This is good stuff! You’ll thank me someday!’” And apparently
they have. The days of preparing sheep for 4-H and picking
produce for the market are memories the family cherishes.
Even while hobby farming, Dick knew he
would some day want to expand his small Springfield farm and
work the land full time. “It was during my years at Agri-Tech
that I began to think of ways to develop the farm for the
purpose of business and profit,” Dick says. “I began to research
and talk to people about how I could do this and what I should
grow.”
Never one to shy from a farming challenge,
Dick decided to grow a variety of crops, and today he farms full
time on the same land where he raised his family. Dick focused
on Oregon’s top commodities when he started developing his farm
plan. “I decided to grow nursery because that part of the
industry is so well-networked,” Dick says, “and I also wanted to
raise cattle, partially because of my love affair with cattle,
but also because the industry is huge, with abundant knowledge
and a network of support.”
Dick’s nursery operation is thriving and
after just four years, he is afraid they will sell out of some
varieties. “I was always just a grower and then I realized I had
to sell it,” Dick says with a chuckle. “But before I knew it, I
had built a network of buyers.”
Using only word of mouth advertizing,
demand for Dick's nursery products has spread throughout Oregon.
When reflecting on the success of his nursery stock, Dick
credits his local approach. “I think people are impressed that
the plants are delivered by the guy who grew it. And if there is
a problem, they know where to find me.”
Although his cattle operation is developing
more slowly, it is clearly the challenge of farming that Dick
has loved all along and this portion of the farm is providing
him enough excitement and challenges to make up for his years of
waiting.
Now that Dick is a full-time farmer, his
enthusiasm for the job is stronger than ever. Whether talking
about his constant battle against the Horse Tail Rush and
Canadian Thistle that plague his fields, or his midnight calving
experiences, the love in his voice would convince anyone
listening that he is finally living his dream.
“Not everyone finds a passion in life and I
am sorry for those who don’t. Farming is my passion and I am
really blessed to have it,” Dick says, “It’s something I never
tire of and the rewards are tremendous.” |
