When Tyler Heppell reached out to his 500,000 Instagram followers inviting them to ask his 87-year-old grandpa “anything” he couldn’t have imagined the flood of questions he received. More than 1,500, actually.
“I was very surprised,” he says, noting that the majority of the questions were farming and agriculture based — the exact target audience he’d hoped for. “We wanted to reach younger farmers looking to get into agriculture and I think we nailed it.”
Heppell divided the questions into categories and distilled it down to the 50 most common. On Saturday morning, he and his grandpa went live in an hour-long discussion that was both informative and inspiring.
It’s easy to see where Heppell gets his enthusiasm for farming — Grandpa Ron, after a quick wave to his virtual audience — started the hour-long session with a heartfelt tribute to the industry he’s dedicated his entire life to.
“I was born to farm,” he said. “It’s in my DNA. It’s been an exciting life and it’s changed so dramatically, but it’s been a pleasure.”
These words set the stage for a rapid round of questions that spanned everything from how to get into agriculture, Grandpa’s advice for young farmers, his opinion on the state of the country’s soil, and of course, his favourite potato dish. A plate of farm fresh Warba potatoes paired with a steak, in case you’re curious.
Though Heppell’s Farm in Surrey, BC primarily grows potatoes now, Grandpa Ron also shared stories about his first tractor, crops that didn’t quite work out — beans and onions, specifically — and even a sweet story about how he met his wife.
He didn’t dwell long in the past — though the audience may have been shocked to learn that land prices have increased 1,000 per cent in the last 50 years, and Grandpa’s first truck, a brand new 58’ Chevy, cost him less than $2,000.
Instead, Heppell steered the conversation toward advice for young farmers looking to break into the industry.
“To start on your own is almost impossible,” Grandpa Ron said, acknowledging that land prices in the Fraser Valley are high, and the learning curve is steep. “You should go work with someone for a while and then go out and look for land.”
He also suggested young growers focus on niche markets — and always remember that farming is a 24-hour-a-day commitment. Technology may ease some of the work, he said, but nothing replaces skilled workers and hands-on experience.
“You have to be in touch with your farm,” he said. “You can’t farm from the pavement on your way to the coffee shop.”
Wise words, indeed.
Heppell says this is the third and largest Instagram Live he’s hosted with his grandfather — and it won’t be the last. For your chance to ask Grandpa Ron “anything,” subscribe to “Ugly Potatoes” through Potato Ty’s Instagram.
