A professional farmer does not have to be a full-time farmer. Keven Oliver, 52, is a small-business farmer. He owns 302 acres, and with his brother Kent farms their father’s 300.

Being a small farmer has its advantages. Keven can farm his land on his own, which is handy; Jane Ann, his wife, works as a paraeducator in the Macon School system and one son, Taylor, just married and has a job with Channel Bio near Saint Louis. The other two sons, Turner and Tucker, are in college. But the corn, wheat and soybeans do not yield a constant harvest. One farmer is enough but two is better. Which is good, because Kent and Keven help each other out.

While the crops grow Keven’s personal and professional responsibilities do not stop. In fact they go beyond the fields. In the past he raised hogs and bred horses. Those markets have slowed; the hog operation ended in 2004 and the breeding in 1995. In 1987 Kent bought out a carpentry business and the brothers have worked together on homes, barn and other projects since. Work that can give them an income through the winter and while the crops grow. And sometimes with planning and luck it can give them mercy from the weather for a job or two.

In 1996 the Oliver brother’s father, William, retired they have been looking after him since taking turn visiting every day. The 93 year old lives 8 miles down Highway 36 but he lived closer before the road was widened to 4 lanes in 2006 taking Keven and Kent’s childhood home with it. When not working they take their dad a dinner, many times made by their wife, and share news of the farm and community with William.

The future of Kevin’s farm is secure while he and his wife, Jane Ann, live on it. They passed up an opportunity to sell their land for a Saturn plant in the early 1990’s and did the same when their neighbor, the POET ethanol plan made an offer for some land in 2000. Keven’s two younger sons still return from collage to farm and hunt on the family’s land. If any son decides to return and farm they will have a place. But for at least the next year it will be Keven and Jane Ann who will continue to provide for their family through farming, teaching, building and cooking.

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Keven Oliver, 52, slows as he drives his truck over the railroad tracks near the POET ethanol plant. Oliver, who lives next to the plant and does business with them, will keep an eye out for the line when it comes time to fulfill his contracts and make a delivery. Keven had an opportunity to sell part of his land for the plant's construction in 2000, he decided to keep his farm, and he passed up the opportunity much like he did in the early 90s when Saturn wanted to buy the land for a plant.