Danielle Venable navigates relationships on the family farm

Danielle Venable grew up on Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina, owned and operated by her parents, Kevin and Cindy Matthews. She graduated from North Carolina State University in 2020 with a degree in agricultural business management and minors in crop science and economics.

Now, she’s back on the farm full-time, where the Matthews family produces corn, soybeans, and wheat crops. Venable also runs the farm’s soil sampling business, Precision Nutrient Management Inc., and spends time on the planter and combine when needed. 

SF: Did you have a conversation with your parents when you knew you wanted to get serious about farming?

DV: My dad didn’t think I would come back to the farm fully, but then when I went to college I knew I wanted to come back to the farm. Once I made the decision and told my parents I wanted to, they said it was my choice and started letting me be involved full-time. My dad was very open about it and said, “If you’re going to farm, then you’re going to be involved in our banking decisions, our chemical decisions — everything.” A lot of it’s still over my head. I’m still learning about crop insurance. 

SF: How did the dynamic shift when you went from being just their daughter to making business decisions with them?

DV: It was difficult at first. When I came back home from school, I was living and working with them full-time. We had to learn how to make a divide. We had to learn to say things like: “When we get home at 6 p.m., we’re cutting off the farm. We’re not answering email or phone calls.” The farm is our life, so it does come up in conversation, but it’s not like we’re making business decisions 24/7. It takes a lot of trust and respect.

SF: Do you ever feel pressure as a young person in agriculture?

DV: There are days I tell my husband, “This is a lot.” This work is a lot to take on at a young age, but at the same time I have a good support system. There are other young farmers like Jackson Henderson who I can talk to and ask, “Hey, do you deal with this too?” A lot of times it’s the same frustrations and challenges. 

SF: Are there things you’ve learned from your peers that your parents didn’t teach you? 

DV: Our dads are used to a handshake being somebody’s word, and taking the trust for it. When farmers my age bounce ideas back and forth, we ask: What do we put in writing with our employees? What do we put in our expectations? You don’t want to step on somebody’s toes coming in at a younger age, but at the same time, you have to protect the farm.

SF: Can you offer any tips for farmers working with family and several hired workers? 

DV: It’s difficult, but it is easier to trust family versus somebody you just meet. When you hire somebody that’s not family, it’s hard to have them come in, and open them up to your family life. The main thing is it takes time to establish trust and build it. Know what you look for in values and if those are the kind of people you want around.

SF: Are there any tips you can offer for working with family?

DV: Have respect for the older generation. They might not be fast on the iPad, or they might call you with a million questions on how to use a flash drive, but they have a lot of knowledge and if you just take the time to go out with them, you can learn a lot. 

We have every meal together during planting and harvest — usually on the back of a tailgate in the field. For me that’s time to slow down and realize some of them are getting older. That time together, it’s not talking about work, it’s just eating a meal. That’s time to sit back and be grateful.