He’s a fifth-generation farmer, and she’s a fourth-generation rancher. These are the roles that Jordan and Jacki Christman hold dear. When they got married in 2010, they decided to keep their respective domains intact while working together when needed. Now, along with raising their children - Citti, 10, Cahan, 11, and Conway, 8 - they manage their areas of expertise at JC Farms in Adams County.

Uniting Farming and Ranching in a Family Legacy

Growing Crops

Jordan's family traditionally focused on 90% spring wheat and 10% sunflowers. However, with the establishment of the Red Trail Energy ethanol plant in 2007, their farming practices began to change. In 2008, they started growing corn to meet the demand. Now, Jordan grows spring wheat, corn, canola, and soybeans. He is a multiple-time top wheat producer in Adams County. With two full-time employees and additional help during harvest, Jordan's farming operation is a well-oiled machine. He takes pride in his work and enjoys operating the equipment. "I like to be hands-on," he says. "I don't want to just manage people; I want to be out there doing it myself."Even though other farmers have offered to rent him land, Jordan has no desire to expand too much. He values the personal connection with his equipment and the satisfaction of seeing the crops grow. "I'm happy with what I have," he says. "I don't need to be a big corporation; I just want to do what I love."

Raising Cattle

Jacki started her cattle herd with 10 bred heifers as a graduation gift from her parents. When she started dating Jordan, he encouraged her to bring the heifers to their farm and get into the cattle business. Since then, the herd has grown to 325 black Angus. "We've found a good balance," Jacki says. "Our corrals and barns have their limits, so 325 head is manageable for us."Calving takes place in March and April, allowing Jacki and Jordan to help each other during the busy seasons. Jacki also puts up hay for her family and helps on their ranch when needed. Despite the geographical differences between Harding and Adams counties, the couple has found their own way to make ranching work. "We have our own style here," Jacki says. "It's a lot more hands-on, but we love it."

Sharing Their Lives

In 2019, Jacki started sharing posts and videos from the farm on social media. What started as a way to keep friends and family updated has now grown into a large following. More than 110,000 people follow JC Farms on Facebook, and their most viral video has had over 12 million views. "We want people to understand where their food comes from," Jacki says. "We're not just a big corporation; we're a family working hard to provide for our community."The Christmans are proud to share their story and show the world what farming and ranching are all about. They hope to inspire others to appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into producing our food.

Moving Forward

Jordan hopes to continue buying more land and keeping his machinery and technology up-to-date. He also dreams of one day bringing his children into the business. "I want them to know where their food comes from and the value of hard work," he says.For now, the Christmans are enjoying their busy lives, balancing farming and ranching with school and 4-H activities. "We're grateful for everything we have," Jacki says. "We're living our dream, and we're happy to share it with others."