Next Gen Farming
Next Gen Farming
It’s no secret that an integral part of any good farm succession plan is preparing for the next generation of leadership. Planning and outlining action plans with the management team coupled with advice from trusted industry advisors has helped this family farm create a solid strategy for the future. This revolves around family members inheriting the… Read More »
It’s no secret that an integral part of any good farm succession plan is preparing for the next generation of leadership. Planning and outlining action plans with the management team coupled with advice from trusted industry advisors has helped this family farm create a solid strategy for the future. This revolves around family members inheriting the passion for growing food and desiring to remain in the business, including the oldest child in the Alstede Family, Rebekah A. Alstede. Rebekah is an integral part of the farm’s future along with the help of other family members while she follows in her father’s footsteps. She aims to continue growing healthy fruits and vegetables while enhancing areas of the business with her education, knowledge of technology, and instincts of a second-generation farmer.
Rebekah is currently studying agribusiness and sustainable agriculture systems at Delaware Valley University with an anticipated graduation this year with her class of 2023. Rebekah was inspired by watching her dad, Kurt W. Alstede, first generation farmer and founder of Alstede Farms, and has always been a part of the farm throughout her lifetime. Growing up on the farm was one of her favorite experiences and she has known for a long time that she wanted to continue to be a part of agriculture and her family’s farming future. In fact, the more she has gotten involved in the industry as Collegiate Farm Bureau President, through additional studies, along with farm tours across the nation, she has fallen in love with the industry even more so.
Rebekah’s studies include sustainable agriculture systems at Delaware Valley University, her father’s Alma Mater. This program includes plants, animals, social and agribusiness components of a sustainable agriculture system. This system integrates technology with best practices in the industry to enhance stewardship of environmental resources while improving quality of life for the farmer and the entire
community.
Rebekah is poised to achieve great things for the future of farming through her achievements in her academics, her involvement with outside farming organizations and with the intentionality she’s exhibited to learn the diverse operations and divisions on the farm. After graduation, her further training involves on-farm mini internships where she’ll dedicate one full year to learning every department on her family farm.
Our food system is certainly in good hands as we continue looking toward the future. Alstede Farms is proud to celebrate our 40 years and growing anniversary in 2022. Stay tuned for more about the next generation of farming on our farm. Read more about Rebekah on our blog.
