Agri Leader

He's just a young kid with a dream: to become a farmer

TBO.com
Associated Press
Published: July 4, 2012

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Craigslist ad offered a 1989 Case International tractor for sale. That was, coincidentally, the same year Zay Lopez was born.

Anyway, Lopez wanted a tractor. So, this guy, 23 years old, still wet behind the ears, made an appointment with Bob Beasley to come out and look at the tractor. Lopez and his girlfriend drove to Beasley's Grand Junction home.

"It's funny how we clicked right away," Lopez recalled on a recent morning, standing in tree shade with Beasley.

"He's 23 years old, but he's a serious young man," Beasley added. They stood companionably — Lopez leaning on shovel handle, Beasley listening as Lopez explained his dream. The words, though, were almost supplemental, because the dream extended in rows across more than 7 acres before them: Lopez wants to be a farmer.

This is not a typical dream for a 23-year-old. Farming is something someone else does, even in an area as agricultural as western Colorado.

"Usually, you grow up on a farm," Lopez said. "Farming is passed down from generation to generation."

Within an hour of meeting each other, Beasley said to Lopez, "Why don't you farm my land?"

Beasley, who turned 72 this year and last year retired from 44 years in the flooring business, hadn't planned to farm his 3-acre plot this summer. He'd had back surgery last year and was looking forward to relaxing.

So, here was this young man, eager to learn, willing to work hard, and Beasley had a lifetime of farming to teach. Lopez did not grow up on a farm. In fact, he grew up in Reston, Va.. His father, John, was a 35-year employee of the U.S. Forest Service. He grew up playing football and wrestling and dreaming.

"Ever since he was a little kid, he was a dreamer," said his mother, Linda. "He just wants to love what he's doing and be successful enough to make a living."

Lopez came to Mesa State for college because he thought Grand Junction seemed like a nice place.

The summer after his freshman year, he called every orchard in the phone book and had no success until his last call, to Z's Orchards and Produce. Owner Richard Skaer hired him as a general worker. He weeded, thinned, picked, went to farmers markets and did whatever else was needed.

"I loved it," Lopez said. "It just fascinated me. It's amazing to me how you can plant a seed and see it grow."

Lopez worked at Z's Orchards for three summers.

After graduating last year with a degree in sports management, Lopez worked a few jobs but always thought about farming.

His parents made him a loan. He bought the tractor. And then, in May, Beasley's offer: Farm my land.

Dave Amico, who owns the 4-acre plot next door, made the same offer, with the agreement being that he'll get paid in fresh produce.

Everybody is rooting for Lopez's success, Beasley said, not just because they're encouraged to see a young person choose farming, but because "he's so personable, so willing to learn and listen."