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Young pecan farmer finds strength in his rootsBy Jennifer M. Latzke
The family business began with Chad's father, Chuck Selman, with one tractor and one pecan grove near Skiatook, Okla. In addition to their own groves, the Selmans' pecan business has grown to include custom pecan harvesting for others. "We harvest and custom harvest 45 different pecan groves, and I have about 10 larger groves of my own," Selman said. "We pick in five different counties in Oklahoma." A career takes root From a young age Selman never considered another career path. He had followed his father around in the pecan groves as a child and, even during his time at Oklahoma Weslyan University, he kept his goal of returning to the family business first in his mind. "I always knew I wanted to come back," Selman said. "I never wanted to go somewhere else. I just wanted to come back and run the business. The day after graduation, in 2005, I started working here." Selman even chose to earn a business administration degree to help him manage the operation. While his father still works on the family operation, the running of the business is really up to Selman. "We treat my dad's groves and mine the same, but I pay the expenses on the labor," he said. "Dad helps me out a lot. I work on the machinery, but if I have a problem, I'll ask him." Unlike some young farmers, Selman has no formal training in pecan production. What he knows he's learned from his father, tagging along with him to the pecan groves from a young age. "I didn't go to school for horticulture, I mostly learned by doing, or from Dad," Selman said. "If I have a question, I will consult with a pecan Extension Specialist from Oklahoma State University and with the Noble Foundation." The daily work around a pecan grove can include applying fertilizers and pesticides, monitoring improved varieties for scab, grafting new varieties to older stock, and planning the marketing of the pecan crop. "We'll also spray for weevils, which can cause the biggest crop damage in a grove, and can wipe out a harvest," Selman said. The Selmans also have their own cold storage facility that can keep up to 3 million pounds of pecans at below freezing temperatures for up to two years. Storing pecans allows the family to manage their marketing risk. The freezer facility runs on natural gas from a well on the family's farm, a concept Selman's father developed to save money for the operation. "We aren't a sheller, so we sell pecans in the shell to wholesale shellers," he added. "They're graded by looking for a higher percentage of kernel rather than shell. We'll sell some and store some for a time." In making the family business his own, Selman recently branched out into raising cattle. This new endeavor complements the pecan business as he can graze his cattle in the pecan groves, which helps cut down on the weeds among the trees. "I bought 13 head of black commercial cows in 2006, and I have them running with Angus bulls," Selman said. "I enjoyed it and so I bought 23 more females the next year and held back my heifer calves. It costs to mow these groves, and they cut the weeds down, so they pay their own way. On the years without pecans, they'll help with the farm income, too." While Selman is still learning about the cattle business, he has high hopes for the future. He plans to buy a ranch in a few years, and expand that part of his business. "I have pasture for about 150 head, but I'm not there yet," he said. Selman also hays the groves, mostly for his own cattle. The pecan groves are home to mostly fescue, rye grass and other native grasses, which help fertilize the soil for the pecan trees. The rocky ground While the joy of being his own boss is the key benefit to his career, there are some challenges Selman must deal with as a young producer. He said one challenge he faces is finding new groves to add to his business. Land prices are rising, and competition with non-ag interests for established pecan groves is tough. Groves are prime hunting grounds, and urban sprawl is affecting the industry. Labor is another challenge for Selman. His family has always used migrant laborers in the groves, but recent immigration issues have complicated matters. "We've always hired a Mexican labor force," Selman said. "They're seasonal workers, here for the winter and sometimes through the summer too. We use a hiring agency and an immigration lawyer to manage the H2A visas." Selman said many of his employees are return workers and they recommend the Selman pecan business to their friends and neighbors looking for work--which speaks volumes for their fair treatment, he added. This year, though, the biggest challenge for Selman and other pecan growers like him has been the weather. In an average year, Selman could harvest 1 million or more pounds of pecans. However, winter ice storms in December and January have resulted in a drastically short harvest. "Winter ice storms across Oklahoma and the High Plains wreacked havoc on the groves," Selman said. "Only one of the 45 groves wasn't hit by ice. I haven't picked much yet, but it will affect the harvest. "We lost a lot of limbs," he added. "In some of the worst areas there's 70 to 90 percent damage. It'll be five to 10 years before we're back to normal and at five years out I hope we'll have a decent harvest again." The recovery has even continued during harvest, as the Selmans and their crews are still clearing up downed limbs. And, while Selman has planted 70 acres or so of pecans, those plantings won't be fruitful for many more years. Planning for future growth Still, Selman, who recently received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award, maintains a positive attitude about the future of the pecan business. After all, when the average age of a pecan tree in Oklahoma is 25 to 100 years, a successful pecan grower must plan for the long-term. "I'm in this for the long haul," Selman said. "It's not just something you get into on a whim and then get out of as easily. Times get tough, but you have to keep a good head and a good attitude about yourself. You have to find the good and not always the bad all the time." And, like a pecan tree, Selman reminded other young farmers and ranchers that it's important that they continue to set goals for themselves and their businesses. He cited his participation in the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program and his membership in the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association as a few of the ways he is working on improving himself and his industry. "You have to continue to grow and keep growing," he said, as he returned to his pecan picking. "If you stop, you'll soon be out of business." Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 12/15/08 Date: 12/11/08 Advertisement
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As Chad Selman stood in the middle of a central Oklahoma pecan grove and watched his workers bring in another harvest, he reflected on the challenges and the benefits of being a young farmer. Like the pecan trees he nurtures year after year, his commitment to farming runs as deep as their roots in the red Oklahoma dirt.