A Look at Teck Farms History and Tour
“We could never have done it without EQIP!”
Chris and Shawna Tecklenburg moved to Hutchinson in 2002. Chris was an Ecological Site Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Shawna was a massage therapist. Although neither grew up on a farm, both had a passion for food and the outdoors. So, after moving to their second home in 2008, the two decided to start their own garden by designing and building a high tunnel in their backyard. Eight years later, when the 5 ½-acre property across the street went up for sale, the Tecklenburgs saw an opportunity. Entrepreneurial and innovative by nature, Chris and Shawna had a vision for this land to improve their local food system: many parts of Hutchinson and the neighboring city of South Hutchinson are considered food deserts, meaning residents must travel long distances to access affordable, healthy food. In fact, South Hutchinson has no grocery store at all.
In 2016, the Tecklenburgs established Teck Farms LLC and they sought support from the community and found enthusiastic partners in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Heal Reno County Coalition, the Hutchinson Community Foundation, the Reno County Health Department, and the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative through Blue Cross and Blue Shield. By 2018, Teck Farms had constructed 4 high tunnels with assistance from the NRCS EQIP cost share program, and that same year received organic certification through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. EQIP’s Practice Standard 823 “Organic Management” was utilized to transition.
With the addition of high tunnels, the Tecklenburgs needed a larger storage and handling space. In 2020, with funding from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (KHFI), they completed construction of a 1,200 square foot post-harvest facility, complete with sinks, three walk-in coolers, and an office. The facility allows them to wash, dry, and package produce before delivering to local grocery stores. Soon thereafter they received EQIP cost-share for three additional high tunnels and were approved for a grant from KHFI to build a permanent farm store. A freeze drier for eggs was also purchased in 2020.
They are now researching the possibility of a mobile market to reach other parts of town and are ambitiously waiting for the opportunity to hire more employees, accept SNAP, and build an educational facility. The Tecklenburgs consider their farm to be a model for strengthening local food systems, and eventually, they want to help establish urban farms in other cities. The urban farm is situated in a residential area along a main arterial road on the western edge of Hutchinson. On just two acres, they grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, okra, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, asparagus, beets, and radishes. Currently, the Tecklenburgs primarily sell to individuals from their on-farm store. Other retail outlets that they have supplied include Smith’s Market and Back to Nature.
This spring, I had the privilege of working with Chloe Gehring, who is the Cheney Lake Watershed Program Coordinator with the Reno County Conservation District to coordinate a Farm Tour of Teck Farms that happened June 8. Also helping to pull this off was Elizabeth Lutz, the Reno County District Manager. A total of 42 participants were a fairly even mix of area growers and additional agency staff from NRCS, local Conservation Districts and the KS Association of Conservation Districts.
As we meandered from tunnel to tunnel, Chris thoroughly explained details, “we went with 30’x 72’ long because we felt it fit better on our land and in our rotation schedule. The gothic style of roof can handle lots of snow… spending more for metal baseboards, sidewalls and hip boards is money well spent. The plastic covering lasts eight years, irrigation drip tape lasts 1-2 years. A flail mower is used to terminate cover crops of rye, radishes, etc.” Manure from the chickens and horse manure are not applied until cured for four years with occasional turning, and organic standard 205.202 is adhered to for the minimum number of days before harvest the manure can be applied depending on the crop (“…must be incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles).”
We viewed brilliant flowers grown for pollinators and sampled nasturtium leaves which I had never tasted before and ended up buying some from the store, they were so yummy. At the end of his talk, Chris stated, “We could never have done it without EQIP.”
After the tour and a tasty lunch of homemade bierocks, baked potatoes and tossed salad catered by Knackies from Inman, Tim Miller, the NRCS State Urban Ag and Non-Traditional Conservationist talked to the engaged crowd about conservation planning that can include addressing resource concerns with relevant EQIP practices. Tom Buller, KRC’s Executive Director, spoke about the Farm Bill which was sitting with the Senate at the time of the tour. Proposed is a $1.5b cut from EQIP and $1b taken out of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), another NRCS program. So, $200m less per year. He explained the Kansas Conservation bill that did not get taken up on the House floor so the $16m ask by Kansans for Conservation and partners was not funded. Tom also asked for input on conservation needs of Kansas farmers to help us guide future policy efforts.
Lastly, Pete Pierson, KS Specialty Crops Growers Association explained the $500 travel stipend for Beginning Farmers to use for educational events, which two growers utilized to attend the tour.
Throughout the day, other agency staff on-hand for questions and comments included: John Berndsen, NRCS Soil Conservation Technician; Cameron Adams, Reno County District Conservationist; Brenda Matson, District Manager Sedgwick County Conservation District; Brandon Clark, KDA Division of Conservation soil technician;
Jack Ring, KS Association of Conservation Districts Summer Intern; Ronald Graber, Watershed Specialist K-State Extension; and Garrett Smith, the Cheney Lake Watershed Regenerative Ag Coordinator. It was super inspiring to see so much interest in Specialty Crops, not only from the farmers but also the professionals who work to help farmers and landowners implement conservation. The weather was perfect for a fun day of learning!
For this article, Chloe Gehring, Cheney Lake Watershed Program Coordinator, provided Chris and Shawna’s historical journey of growing Teck Farms into an impressive.
Article by: Jackie Keller, Conservation Coordinator - KRC