Evoking the words “family farm” in 2007 conjures a different image than it might have a few decades ago. The Duncanson brothers, Pat and Karl of Mapleton, agree times have changed, and yet, in some ways, have stayed the same.

The Duncansons, operating as Duncanson Growers, are the third generation to work the land near Mapleton, as well as family land near Beauford. Both are raising families, but have no intention of trying to force their children into farming.

The Duncansons operate thousands of acres of cropland, including corn, soybeans and peas. They also finish cattle and pigs. Duncanson Growers is a truly diversified farming operation.

Pat Duncanson compares family farming to operating any small business. His brother Karl, meanwhile, contemplates how employees seem to become like family.

Karl came home from college to farm full time in 1980. Pat followed him in 1984. Another brother and a sister chose accounting and teaching, respectively, instead.

Perhaps in some ways, Pat and Karl are the yin and yang of farming. They admit they are very different people, with different interests and strengths, but they are bound together by their love of family and farming.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a farmer today?

Pat: I’m not exactly sure. I used to call myself an Agriculture Production something-or-other, but now I’ve gone back to farmer ... Many of my days are totally in the office. I spend much more time in the office with telephone, computer and what I would consider a fairly traditional business setting. I spend much more time doing that than I do working with livestock or crops in actual production.

Karl: A farmer is a producer, and a caretaker. He’s got to make a living. And in my case, a person who loves his job.

Q: Do farmers ever get a day off?

Karl: The way we run our operation is a little different than most. Some people just crop farm. We do things a little different — we work seven days a week. Some people don’t want to.

Pat: Karl says we work seven days a week, and I guess we do, but compared to a dairy operation, we have flexibility.

Karl: But livestock lend themselves to the fact that somebody has to be working.

Pat: There is certainly 24-hour, seven-day-a-week responsibility… No matter where I am in the country, my cell phone is on. I get alarm calls from my hog barn telling me something is wrong … I need to make sure I get ahold of somebody to take care of that alarm.

Q: Is this working for you?