As the growing season approaches and you begin to crave juicy strawberries, crisp asparagus, blackberries the size of your thumb and peaches that drip juice down your face, think of Branstrator Farm. Not only does Branstrator Farm produce this diverse blend of fruits and vegetables, but it is accompanied by a unique farmer with quite a story and a rich family history.
Jon can be described as a self-starter and self-educator with an admirable work ethic. While helping on the farm as a child, Jon’s father always told him “Get with it and get it done,” thus promoting his work ethic that when there was work to do, you put your head down and worked until the job was done. And that is exactly what Jon did. He had perfect attendance at school until he was fourteen when his father fell sick with pneumonia and Jon became responsible for planting the 200 + acres of farmland by himself. Jon’s independence, worldly perspective, and open-mindedness is partly due to his passion for electronics, specifically short wave
radio broadcasts. He enjoyed listening to broadcasts from different parts of the world, that included thought provoking discussions, and presented differing opinions and viewpoints. Maps and globes surrounded Jon as he grew up and he took it upon himself to learn as much about geography as possible. An important role model in his life was the explorer, ecologist, and scientist Jacques Cousteau whom inspired him to become quite the naturalist, earning his advanced open water scuba certification in his early twenties.
In the late 80's Jon headed south for Central America. For approximately ten years, he spent his winters in Costa Rica and his summers in Ohio. While living in Costa Rica, Jon worked in agriculture, primarily for seed producers. He was exposed to harsh working conditions with unpredictable tropical weather, insects, land degradation, and civil war. He was fortunate enough to visit Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Panama during his time in Central America. When he returned to Ohio, he worked on building ropes courses and completing other construction projects. After splitting his time between Costa Rica and Ohio, he lived and worked in several different places within the U.S. While living in Claire, Michigan, he built ropes courses and oversaw an equestrian program for a local YMCA. Jon then decided to attend college in Prescott, Arizona and worked refurbishing old houses and in road construction.
Jon’s traveling and agricultural experiences played a key role in 1995 when he returned home to his family’s farmland. The land degradation that he was exposed in Central America inspired him to become more environmentally conscious. Jon transitioned the farm from a grain monoculture operation to that of a mixed fruit and vegetable farm and decided to use methods such as crop rotation that help maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Clinton County is comprised of an eclectic group of individuals with interesting experiences and histories that should be shared. Jon
Branstrator and his rich family history are an essential part of the community especially when considering that his farm has been established in the county for almost 200 years. Jon is an asset to our community, with his world perspective and always-positive attitude.
