The transformation of a tiny seed into a tree still amazes this 12-year-old farmer who works hard after school to provide fresh produce to his community. His passion for farming started very early in childhood, and his optimistic approach to life makes him a joy to be around.
Meet Brayden Nadeau, the seventh grader who loves tending to plants on his grandparents’ 28-acre farm in Minot, Maine. In an interview with The Epoch Times, the young producer recalled the days when he’d sit on his grandfather’s lap and ride his tractor.
“I’ve been around farming all my life, probably, since the age of 2,” he said. “In Kindergarten, we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, and my response was that I wanted to be a farmer—and that is still true today.
"I have some friends that think it is cool, and some of them even come over and help me once in a while. While others wonder why I do it instead of playing video games."
The wise young man not only understands the value of food, but is also clear about his career goals: opening his own produce store one day.
"I love farming, and to me it is not really work. It is my dream," he said. "It taught me where all of our food comes from. I am pretty sure that my family is proud of me."
Two years ago, Brayden decided to sell the extra produce from his family farm. He opened his first stand—Brayden’s Vegetable Stand—in 2020. The following year, he bought a larger produce stand, as he wanted to grow more vegetables. He did a rent-to-own, and within four months, he was able to pay it off in full.
"It was an amazing feeling knowing that I had worked hard and was able to say it was mine and all paid for with my own money," he said. “I never expected it to get as big as it has."
The farm belongs to Brayden’s grandparents, Dan and Marie Herrick, and the young man hopes to take it over from them some day and turn it into a success.
While kids his age spend hours on social media, Brayden enjoys working in the field and honing his farming skills. He works about 10 hours a day when he is not in school. Apart from feeding the animals, cleaning the stalls, and collecting the eggs, his routine work also includes running most of the equipment for haying.
"My grandfather does the mowing of the hay, but I do the tedding, raking, and a good portion of the baling of the hay," the budding farmer said. "I pick the vegetables in the garden, do the planting, and weeding. My grandfather does some of that for me as well."
The family have put their farmland to good use: 5 acres of it is for cows and hogs; 1 1/2 acres is for turkeys, meat chickens, and laying hens; and a good 8 acres are especially reserved for Brayden's vegetable garden. The rest of the land is for growing trees, which may be turned into pasture or gardens in the future.
Brayden's grandfather also maintains a farm about 7 miles away from his home, where they hay about 60 acres and maintain a 5-acre field as well.
"We also have 2 acres of gardens on a neighbor's land, and we maintain a field for her in exchange for use of the land," he added. "We also hay on neighboring properties to have bedding and feed for our livestock."
Brayden's stand remains open from about 7:30 a.m. until dark, and he usually handles everything, from waiting on customers to doing all the other farm chores. During school days, his grandfather helps set up the stand in the morning, and once Brayden is back from school, he will go to the farm and do the picking for the next day.
The young farmer sells almost any vegetable one can think of: corn, zucchini, summer and winter squash, green beans and wax beans, turnip, beets, eggplant, scallions, radish, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, and the list goes on. He also sells his grandma's handmade zucchini bread, and a special barbeque sauce made by a family friend in Maine.
Brayden is truly one humble leader in the making; he doesn’t shy away from working tirelessly and is always appreciative of others' support. And this farseeing producer is just unstoppable.
The confident young man wants to continue to grow his gardens, and someday, run a store of his own.
"My goal is that when I graduate from high school, I'd like to own my own truck, trailer, and tractor. I am hoping to have $100,000 in the bank," he said.
"Love what you do, and you will never think of it as work—and always, always follow your dreams."
