About Apples » Meet our Growers » Mark W. Youngquist
Years in Industry: 28 years
Family: Wife Kathryn, daughters Faith, Hope and Joy and son Jordan
Memberships and Organizations: Michigan Pomester Member, previously on Kent County Farm Bureau Board
One of four children, Mark is the fifth-generation of his family to own and operate their farm. Originally purchased by his great grandfather, it was his grandfather Carlton that planted the first orchard. During the Great Depression in the late 1920s and early ‘30s, financial struggles began to mount, so Carlton moved to Detroit to work for Chrysler and keep the farm running. They never went bankrupt and the farm has remained a family-operated business the entire time.
Mark's father, Wayne, took over the orchard and expanded it over the years. Today, they replant about 5 percent of their orchard each year, which according to Mark's plan gives them a new orchard every 20 years. Their decisions on where to replant and what varieties depend on market prices, consumer demands and what parts of the orchard are no longer producing.
A goal that has been passed down from generation to the next is to remain debt-free, which takes a lot of planning and a lot of patience. Mark says that a lesson his father passed to him was to only purchase equipment when it is needed and when it can be afforded and not expand beyond the ability of the family to sustain the farm. Mark believes that he and his father have stretched themselves as far as they can without hiring additional help. They have pride and confidence in knowing that the orchard has always been operated by the family.
Mark admits that he was very fortunate when it was his time to take over the orchard. His father's teachings, his patience and his intelligence have stuck with him.
"I don't think that I have near the patience he had with me," Mark says. "And he had it set up great for the next generation when I took over. I hope I can do the same."
Mark repaid his father by offering him a nice retirement package where his father only had to work half the days, and he even allowed Wayne to choose which 12 hours he wanted to work.
Mark and his wife, Kathryn, have four children, Faith, Hope, Joy and Jordan. They adopted the siblings from Costa Rica 20 years ago. Today they are all married and Mark and Kathryn have six grandchildren. Jordan has recently taken an interest in the farm and has the unique opportunity to work and learn from both his grandfather as well as his father. Jordan and Laura's son, Mark Avery Youngquist, age 15 months, may also have an interest in the tradition but lacks the words to express it.
Mark has enjoyed watching the industry change over the years. Many of the advancements in farming have resulted in lower costs and less waste. Saving money and focusing on consumer and environmental issues has been vital to the industry and its success.