Farming alongside both of his grandfathers, Randy Grant learned to farm at a young age. It was also early-on that he recognized his own interest in farming as a career. His own father was a veterinarian, so when Randy’s paternal grandfather retired, Randy took over his farm in the early 1980s. He rented the farm operation from his grandfather for a short bit before going out on this own. In 1987, he partnered with a friend to form Grant and Hagan.

There can be a lot of volatility in agriculture, but sugar production through sugar beets has been a key component to maintaining and sustaining their farming business over the years. The sugar beets they raise are taken to the local cooperative where the sugar is extracted to produce white granulated sugar. They also grow corn for silage and grain, wheat, alfalfa and potatoes.

Randy is passionate about sustainability and always has been. “Farmers are stewards of the land”, he says. “As a farmer, you have to take care of the land because that’s your livelihood. As technology progresses, sustainability is more easily achieved. New methods and technologies allow you to do more with less of an impact on the land.” Randy’s favorite thing about farming is the sense of accomplishment he gets from starting something in the Spring, taking the crop through the year to harvest, and preparing the farm for next season’s crop. Seeing his stewardship through–full circle.

One thing Randy thinks people should know about sugar is that it’s not only a way to make things taste better, but it has a lot of valuable attributes. A lot of people tend to demonize sugar without knowing all the facts. Sugar has been a natural part of the human diet for a long time.

For Randy, farming sugar beets isn’t just a way of life; it’s about producing something that’s necessary to sustain humanity. He recognizes the important role sugar plays in a growing world, demanding more sustainable foods.