Adron Belk was born to be a farmer. From the moment he could walk, he was exploring the fields of the family farm, diligently matching his father step for step, learning the ways of the land and steeping himself in the generational lore of the seasons. It’s the only life he’s ever known, and it’s as natural to him as breathing.
“There’s just something about farming,” says Belk. “The smell of dirt, putting a seed in the ground, nurturing it, watching it come to harvest. Nothing beats that feeling.”
Today, Belk owns, runs and manages Triple Run Farms, 7,600 acres of corn and soybeans nestled between the Mississippi Delta towns of Cleveland and Greenwood. He takes pride in providing for his family, being a good steward of the land, and ensuring the production and distribution of farm-fresh quality food to the U.S. population.
But farming is not what it once was. Technology, and the apps and devices it empowers, has transformed every aspect of farm life. On any given day, Belk can coordinate a diverse workforce spread across his five-mile footprint with ease from his phone or tablet and troubleshoot problems via video conferencing.
He can also remotely activate his irrigation systems and see how many gallons of water his pivots are pumping. And if his rain gauges tell him his fields are adequately watered after or during a downpour, he can turn the pivots off from home in the middle of the night if necessary.
Even a wild card like the weather holds no fears. Belk can monitor incoming weather systems and alter plans at the tap of a button at any moment, saving time and resources and ensuring his team stays safe. Finally, Belk can gather and mine data on his soil, crops and equipment, analyze what he sees, and plan for what lies ahead with greater confidence.
All of this naturally requires an ultra-reliable wireless service that works at blazing-fast speed. And while most large providers tend to neglect vast stretches of rural America, this area of the U.S. is very much C Spire’s home turf, and its commitment to delivering the kind of 5G connectivity farmers want, need and desire is not lost on Belk.
“I think it gets taken for granted how good our wireless service is,” he says. “When you think about how wide some of these rural areas are, and how good the wireless data is in those areas, it’s pretty phenomenal.”
Beyond the business of farming and the daily expectation of speed, reliability and responsiveness, perhaps the single most important thing advanced technology has given Belk is time. As a married man with a wife and four young children, he’s free to be fully present in his family’s life and be there for all the milestones that matter, be it a dance recital, a little league game, or dinner around the family table. “I don't know how you put a value on that,” says Belk. “It’s priceless.”
As sure as the seasons change, so too will technology evolve, bringing with it renewal and opportunity for the next generation of Southern farmers. And this family of farmers will be right there with them — especially as one of Belk’s sons is already showing signs of following in his footsteps.
“He wants to get in the dirt, ride combines, sprayers, planters and play around the shop,” says Belk with a wistful smile. “You know, the same thing I was doing at three years old.”
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