OUR STORY

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Our story begins in 1890. 5 generations of Goulds have owned and operated our Gould Farm; James, Jay, Neil & Clair, Dennie, and Jared & Josh. We’re raising the next generation of Goulds to be mindful of sustainable farming practices while encouraging their love of agriculture.

Mary Ann Dodd + James E. Gould homesteaded a mile north of Liscomb in 1853 then traded for a farm East of Liscomb. He “broke” land plowing prairie with 4 yoke of cattle with “big” plows with a 24” furrow doing 4-5 Acres per day. He “broke” many of the early settlers farms in Marshall and Grundy Counties. 

Gould’s were partners in owning an operating the first thresher in Liscomb neighborhood. It was an Altman Taylor purchased in the Dakota’s. It had no steering device and was pulled by horses. 

James E. Gould tilled much of the prairie in the Liscomb area with his team and “Breaking Plow”. That very same land that James tilled is still being worked by the Goulds today!

Clair’s 144 Bushel Day was unheard of in the 1930s!

After Mary and James moved on, Jay and wife Sabina took over the farm operation with his two sons Neil 

and Clair. Milking cows and picking corn by hand. Both Neil and Clair knew they were about to be drafted for WW II and signed up early so they didn’t have to pick corn by hand soon. Jay then bought a mechanical corn picker. Neil and Clair farmed and added acres until Clair went to town to work. 

Neil grew up in an era from picking corn by hand (200/day), to an auto-steer 12 row combine doing 4,000 bushel per hour.

Jay bought a mechanical corn picker when Clair and Neil went into the military during WWII knowing he wouldn't be able to pick all of that corn by himself.

Neil and Ruth Gould accepted the Century Farm award in 1994 on behalf of Gould Farms.

    Dennie started farming in 1978 from Neil renting him 40 acres on shares while Dennie was working at Fishers. Dennie also did custom plowing and NH3 application at this time. A couple of years later a neighbor pulled in and was looking for a short time tenant while his son was at school, this plus another opportunity from a local businessman jump started Dennie’s farming career. 

As years have gone on the grain site at Neil's has grown and grown.  Installing the first corn dryer in the mid 1980's to today we have seen our grain storage go from (HOW MANY BUSHEL) to (HOW MANY BUSHEL).

All of the generations have seen great progress in machinery, seed and technology.  Neil and Clair went from hand-picking 144 bushel of corn per day with a horse drawn wagon to combines that harvest over 4000 bushels of corn per hour that steer from satellites!