Payne's Favorite Story of 2024

Editor's Note:

As the year came to a close, we once again asked the DTN/Progressive Farmer reporting team to pick out the most significant, most fun, or otherwise their favorite, story of 2024. They range from solar events to seeing how seed corn is produced, political/policy coverage to wildfire impact, to including profiles of American farmers and ranchers who shared their marketing, production and even life choices with our writers. We hope you enjoy our writers' favorites, continuing the series with today's story by DTN Social Media and Young Farmer Editor Susan Payne.

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OMAHA (DTN) -- My favorite story in 2024 was one I wrote a year ago about a farmer who passed away but left a remarkable legacy in his hometown of Cecilia, Kentucky.

Marion Kenneth "Dodo" Hayden, 92, passed away shortly before the full swing of harvest on Aug. 30, 2023. Later that season, a group of farmers in the area finished the harvest -- with five combines, four grain carts and six trucks, along with a dozen or so helpers representing 10 farms in the area. They finished that last 350 acres in one day.

Farmers helping farmers was part of Hayden's legacy, and this moment would have made Hayden proud, said neighbor Mark Thomas, of BLT Farms. I found the story idea through social media, thanks to Thomas who shared his sentiments along with a photo of the five combines working side by side -- and the image happened to reach my newsfeed.

I interviewed three people for this story to come to fruition. Growing up on a nearby farm, Thomas looked up to Hayden; he said he and others perceived Hayden as the best farmer around, one of the first to adopt no-till in Kentucky in the 1970s.

Hayden had two sons, Steve and Patrick, and I had the opportunity to talk to both. With dignity and love, the two shared with me some moments ranging from their childhood to being adults. That gave me a picture of who Hayden was and his impact on them. He was a dedicated husband and father who was known for his service and love for his community.

After their dad died, Steve and Patrick received help in many ways -- from getting the crop in, to phone calls on how to sell and market grain, and even advice on early seed buying for spring.

Steve expressed how much it meant to them to see the other farmers help harvest the crop.

"That was emotionally uplifting to say the least. I can't even state how happy, how awesome that was. There's a farming community in Hardin County, and I'd put ours up against any others," Steve said. "The reciprocity that our community is showing us comes from what my dad built up over time. He'd give you the shirt on his back."

While his sons navigated the transition in 2024, they were planning to keep their beloved family farm going.

I invite you to read more about the impact Hayden left on his community and who he was. I felt honored to write this story.

To read the full article, visit: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Susan Payne can be reached at susan.payne@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @jpusan

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