Now 17 years into retirement, the 86-year old widower is living a retired farmers dream. The family operation, Beetsma Farms in Chillicothe, Mo., is run by his two sons Ron Beetsma and Harold Beetsma Jr., and two of his grandsons, Ben and Brad Beetsma.

“They’re good farmers. They really know what they’re doing,” Harold said of his family, the third and fourth generations of Beetsma farmers. Harold still plays an important part in the family farm process, mowing the lawns, running errands, keeping an eye on the weather forecast and the stock market prices, and checking the progress of the crops. “I like coming out here and looking around, seeing how the stuff is growing,” he said one afternoon while driving between fields of soybeans and milo east of town.

Although he still pitches in whenever he is needed, Harold enjoys his slower-paced lifestyle. “I did my time. I like watching them work.” Harold appreciates what the land has given him and his family over the years.