Ryan Ragland and his family are truly connected to the land. For the past three generations, the family has farmed and worked her soil, producing crops and a way of life. And as he shakes the dirt off his hands, he knows it’s in his blood.
“This is all my family has ever done,” he said. “I love it and look forward to the future.”
“It’s in your blood,” added Sarah Ragland, Ryan’s wife. “Farming has been in his family for three generations, and that’s all they have ever done. I have seen him work day and night, but he wouldn’t be doing anything else.”
Not only does Ryan have a history of farming on his father’s side, but he also has history that goes back on his maternal side with the Thomas Kirk family.
Ragland Farms has farming operations throughout Yazoo County, including the Bentonia and Satartia areas. Its row crop operation also reaches Flora and Thornton.
But for Ryan, it all began when he was about 11 years old when he was given his first responsibility on the family farm.
“I was about 11 years old when I started driving tractors,” Ryan said. “Working on the farm has always been something I wanted to do. It was actually all I thought about at the time. But it started with me driving tractors and trucks.”
Growing up, Ryan admitted that he wanted to stay away from the paperwork side of the business. He enjoyed being outdoors and working the land. But he understood it was all part of the overall operation. He is happy to say his wife Sarah currently handles most of the bookkeeping side of the business today.
After graduating from Manchester Academy, Ryan attended Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University, where he pursued a degree in agricultural business. In 1995, he started out on his own, determined to continue his family’s tradition.
“When I first got out of college, I entered the cow business,” Ryan said. “I had about 200 cows. But I ended up selling them in the late 1990s. I became more interested in row crops, but I was also doing some tractor business with dirt work.”
Not wanting to be confined to a desk or office, Ryan finds farming to be a perfect way for him to work outdoors.
“I feel like working outdoors is a lot easier than having to sit behind a desk all day,” he said.
And, of course, the biggest challenge with farming is the weather.
“You end up doing a lot of praying when it comes to that,” Sarah said, with a smile.
Ryan and Sarah have also raised their four children Anna Ryan, Libbi Kyle, Reese and Maggie Day on the family farm. The children have spent their childhood days making memories on the farm, including riding on top of cotton to the gin, exploring nearby creeks and waterways and slowly learning the tricks of the trade.
And the farm truly is a family operation, with each member taking on a specific role. Some members of the younger generation are already making plans to pursue agricultural careers.
Sarah keeps up with the day-to-day bookkeeping duties. Ryan’s mother, Deb Ragland, was instrumental in teaching her that role.
“Ryan’s mom was extremely helpful in teaching me,” Sarah said. “She is like a vault. She can tell you every figure down to the penny. Our generation relies on computers now, but the generation before us did everything by hand on paper. She can find any piece of paper I need while I am busy looking at a spreadsheet.”
Anna Ryan, 25, has also expressed interest in agricultural business. And their son Reese is following in those same footsteps at MSU.
Sadly, the Ragland family is missing a key player in their operations. With the passing of Ryan’s father, Billy Joe Ragland, the family has adjusted to not having such an influential mentor within the family.
“He was the biggest person in the world to us, our rock,” said Sarah. “A rock is exactly what he was. He was loved by so many, and he loved back. He always had a story to share, and he was filled with knowledge.”
Although the foundation of farming has remained solid within the Ragland family, Ryan said he has seen many changes over the years. Technology has certainly brought a transition period to the industry.
“Technology does make it easier, especially with record keeping,” Ryan said. “But some things are still best handled the way we have always done it. There are pros and cons to the technology side of it.”
Ryan and Sarah both said Yazoo County holds a special place in their hearts. There is a history here that spans back many years, but it is also the place they intend to leave their own history. It was where they have raised their family and have no plans of leaving the area.
“This is home, and there is no other place I would rather live than right here in Yazoo County,” Sarah said, looking to her children.
Outside of farming, the Raglands are members of First United Methodist Church. And Ryan has served on several agricultural committees in the area and throughout the state.
“I wouldn’t have my life any other way,” Ryan said. “This is what I was meant to do, and I still enjoy it. And I hope its stays that way for future generations.”
And as the interview concludes, Ryan receives a phone call about an equipment matter he needs to tend to along the highway.
“It is always something, but that’s all right,” he said, with a smile.
