It's in their blood - 250+ years of farming and counting

Centuries of family farming that exceeds 250 years is set to go even longer, as Kevin and Caitlin Book work to raise a new generation of farmers.

The Book’s three children – ages 5 and under – have a hand in running Kevin Book Farms in Waco, even if their hands are tiny right now.

“We farm as a family. We teach our children about agriculture and the importance of agriculture in daily life,” Caitlin said. “We were taught at a very young age to work hard, be frugal and respect the land. As parents we are striving to instill these same values in our growing children.” Indeed, farming is in these two Texans’ blood. Kevin is a sixth-generation farmer from Miles, and Caitlin is a third-generation farmer from Waco. The two met at Texas A&M University where Kevin studied agronomy and Caitlin studied nursing. The two were married in 2016.

The two were married and lived in West Texas, where Kevin operated a cotton gin and grain elevator in Ballinger for eight years. During this time, Caitlin worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse in San Angelo. In May of 2020, following the birth of their first child, the couple decided to move to Waco in central Texas to pursue farming where they raise cattle and grow corn, cotton and wheat.

Their family has since grown, and they now have three children ages 5, 3 and 1. Their family traditions on the farm continue.

“Our 5-year-old is aware of planting and harvesting seasons and the importance of proper fertilizer,” Caitlin explained. “Our 3-year-old can tell you where to change the oil on the combine. Our 14-month-old obviously cannot yet talk much, but you can guarantee she is riding right along with the rest of us and learning about life just by being a part of our day to day normal.”

The Book Family was honored in 2024 as winners of the Capital Farm Credit’s Grow your AgriRoots contest and took home $10,000 in prize money, which they used to purchase a planter for the farm, which is quite a time saver, as it can plant 18 rows at a time.

“We are incredibly grateful to Capital Farm Credit for the opportunities it has provided our business,” Kevin said. “Our working relationship with Capital Farm Credit has proven invaluable throughout the last seven years.

“Our banker listens to our needs and works to provide our family with the financial support needed to maintain our operation,” he added. “We would encourage young farmers to seek more information about how Capital Farm Credit can benefit their business.”

The Books said they feel blessed to work and raise their children in agriculture, and as their children grow, so does their experience on the farm.

“We place great importance on teaching our children to be adaptable. We have tried growing different crops, adding livestock to our farm, diversifying our land management practices, etc.,” Caitlin said. “We take each growing season as it comes, learn from both our successes and failures, and adapt accordingly. By being open to new ideas, and not afraid of change, we have made a living in agriculture for our growing family.”

Whether your skillset is seasoned, or you are green to the farming and ranching lifestyle, Capital Farm Credit is here to be your partner in discovering how obtaining your goals is possible.  Visit here to learn more about our AgriRoots Programs.