For Jacob Scott, farming has never been just about raising a crop. It’s about building a life rooted in faith, family and the hope that one day his children will choose to carry on what he started.
As a first-generation farmer, Scott didn’t inherit generations of farmland or equipment. Instead, he built Scott Farms in Atmore, Alabama, through hard work and the guidance of mentors who believed in him. After growing vegetables as a teenager, he planted his first peanut crop in 2009, turning a passion for watching things grow into a career.
Mentors, Arlan and Gaylan Shelley, continue to shape the way Scott approaches both farming and life.
“I would not be farming right now if it wasn’t for them,” Scott said. “You never know who you’ll meet or where that relationship might lead.”
That perspective is one of the reasons Scott chose to participate in the Peanut Leadership Academy. While the program offers valuable insight into the peanut industry, he believes one of its greatest benefits is the relationships formed along the way. Those connections have already proven valuable, from sharing advice to helping locate hard-to-find crop protection products during the growing season.
Although Scott spends long days in the field, he works just as intentionally to invest in his family. During planting season, he often leaves home before sunrise and doesn’t return until late in the evening, but his wife and children find ways to be part of the journey. His wife, Kelsey, occasionally rides with him in the sprayer, brings lunch to the crew and understands the demands that come with farming. Sundays, however, are reserved for family.
“We don’t work Sundays,” Scott said. “That’s our family day.”
That balance hasn’t always come naturally.
Scott admits there was a time when he spent too much time working, but becoming a husband and father changed his priorities. He has learned that success isn’t measured by the number of acres farmed or the size of a paycheck.
“Your kids are going to remember what you did with them, not how much money you made or how big your house was,” Scott said. “They’re going to remember you showing up for them.”
That mindset influences the advice he gives other young farm families.
“Don’t try to get too big,” Scott said. “Farm what you’re capable of doing and don’t overdo it.”
He encourages young farmers to build operations that allow room for family life, recognizing that while agriculture demands sacrifice, protecting those relationships is just as important as producing a successful crop.
His wife, Kelsey, also plays an active role in agricultural education, leading Escambia County Young Farmers’ annual Corn Camp, where dozens of children learn how corn is grown, harvested and processed. At home, Scott’s three children, Thomas, affectionately known as “Peanut,” Gage and Celia, are already finding their own places on the farm. Whether they’re washing equipment, helping around the grain bins during harvest or simply riding along with Dad, Scott enjoys involving them whenever possible.
As a first-generation farmer, Scott hopes the values he is teaching today will become the foundation of a second generation tomorrow.
“I hope they remember how much I love it,” he said. “Whether it’s raising peanuts or raising cattle, I’ll support them in anything they do, but it would be nice to see the farm keep going.”
Above all, Scott wants his children to understand that a meaningful life isn’t built on wealth but on faith, hard work and finding joy in what you do.
“You’ve got to be happy with what you do,” Scott said. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”