A young farmer

HOLDINGFORD — At the age of 15, Nathan Young, a three-sport athelete, has a herd of animals under his care, a herd which is only growing.

“My uncle, Delroy, quit milking cows in 2019, and so I wanted to bring some livestock back, so I decided to start with goats,” Nathan said. “Then I just kept going.”

Nathan, a freshman at Holdingford Public Schools, spends his free time outside of school, FFA and sports across the road at Delroy’s farm. Nathan would often help at the dairy and had an interest in animals from a young age.

“I always thought goats were cool, and I knew I wanted goats someday,” Nathan said. “I wanted to try the different animals just to see what they were like.”

In the fall of 2020, Nathan purchased two fainting goats. He grew the herd to seven and then switched to Boer goats in 2023. He now has a herd of 30 goats that spend their summers on pasture at Nathan’s home and winters in the barn at his uncle’s farm. Nathan is extra busy during kidding season, going the extra mile to set his kids up for success.

“I get up and check on them overnight,” Nathan said. “Whenever a new one is born, I make sure they nurse right away.”

When Nathan’s dad, Ed, and Delroy purchased some beef cattle, Nathan also bought his first Red Angus from a neighboring farm, A&R Red Angus.

“The beef cattle aren’t much different than the dairy,” Nathan said. “That was an easy transition.”

Now, Nathan has five beef cattle, and his dad and uncle maintain a herd of 35. On school days, Ed feeds the animals, but every evening,
weekends and summer, Nathan is the one checking on and feeding his growing herd.

“I’m really proud of Nathan for taking the initiative and putting in the time it takes to take care for these animals,” Ed said.

Nathan also cares for more than 100 laying hens, selling some eggs and donating some to Quiet Oaks Hospice House near St. Augusta.“My aunt was diagnosed with cancer; she was in the hospital for a while, then was transferred to this hospice facility,” Nathan said. “I wanted to give back.”

Nathan is also a three-sport athlete, competing in track and field, cross-country, and basketball. He brings with him to these activities the same passion and dedication that he has on the farm, said his track and field and cross-county coach, Tracy Huls.

“Nathan has a very strong work ethic,” she said. “He is a fierce competitor but has a lot of humility. He goes out there and gives it his all at practice and at meets; he is a great leader.”

Huls has even visited Nathan at the farm to see his array of animals.

“I think a lot of his passion comes from having a farm upbringing and taking care of the animals that he has,” Huls said. “He is very organized and knows his stuff. It has been fun to see him take on more.”

At the track and in the barn, Nathan gives it his all and wants to continue to grow his farm.

“Nathan has a big heart, and it has been so great seeing him step up and help on the farm and in his sports,” Ed said.

As for the future, Nathan already knows what he wants to be when he grows up.

“I want to grow my herd of beef cows and plan to buy a farm, hopefully this one, and keep farming,” Nathan said.