Farming has been in Michael’s family in one shape or form in the US since 1919.  Their farming legacy was kicked of by his great-grandfather in Scottsbluff. His grandfather continued with a small farming operation but sold off his interests in the 1950s. It was Michael’s dad that really made the farming tradition stick, settling down in Holyoke, Colorado.

Michael joined the Marines straight out of high school.  Upon return, he used his $10K in savings to kick off his own 30-year farming career in Kimball, Nebraska.  The first four years, he farmed in partnership with his uncle.  However, for the past 26 years, he and his wife Kinnie have managed their own farming operation (M&K Reuter Farms). At one point, they farmed in both Colorado and Nebraska!  Michael has the claim to being the first beet producer in the Kimball area (and soon will possibly be the first hemp producer in the area as well)!

Today, he manages 4,250 acres of irrigated land and 1,000 dryland acres. They raise corn, sugar beets, wheat, dry beans, corn and millet.  At one point they also raised confectionary sunflowers.

Michael and Kinnie have raised 4 children: Tyson, Blythe (twins), Caleb and Izaac. Tyson works for BNSF railway, Blythe is a second-grade teacher in Dix, Caleb is a financial advisor based in Laramie, Wyoming and Izaac will begin his studies in Ag Business at the University of Wyoming this coming fall.  Currently, it is Blythe’s husband Travis who is helping on the farm, while at the same time managing some acreage in his hometown of Akron, Colorado and starting an operation of his own in Kimball.

The family shares a lot of hobbies, such as golf, fishing, travel and membership in their local church.