A Family Legacy Rooted in the Soil of Southern Idaho
In Declo, Idaho, where average annual rainfall hovers around just 10 inches, fourth-generation farmer Brandon Hurst is growing more than crops. He’s nurturing a legacy.
Across 1,500 acres of potatoes, corn, sunflowers, and more, Brandon balances tradition with technology. Like many rural Idahoans, he grew up on the land but wasn’t always certain he’d stay. His early dream was to play music: drumming, sound engineering, and creative exploration. But a two-year LDS mission offered a new perspective.
“I realized farming isn’t just work. It’s a community. It’s family. It’s something worth preserving,” Brandon says.
The Pressures of Modern Farming
Development, rising costs, and increasingly complex regulations are changing the face of agriculture. For Brandon, like many in the Western U.S., water is the most critical, and fragile, resource. “My pivots run over 2,000 hours a year. If they’re not reliable, that’s not just a technical issue, it’s a make-or-break for the season.”
That search for reliability led him to Komet Irrigation, a company known not just for global reach and innovation, but for its local, human approach.
A Partnership Built on Listening
Brandon’s first experience with Komet wasn’t through a brochure or sales pitch—it was through a conversation. He met Wesston Hughes, Komet’s Idaho-based technical sales manager, by chance. Instead of a hard sell, Wesston offered to leave a sprinkler unit and simply asked for feedback.
“He dropped off a unit and said, ‘Run it. Let me know what you think,’” Brandon recalls. “I was impressed. It wasn’t just about the sprinkler—it was the service, the connection.”
Technology That Works, Relationships That Last
Today, Brandon uses Komet products on his newer pivots. The result?
- Better water uniformity
- More consistent coverage
- Fewer worries during critical growing windows
More importantly, he sees a blueprint for how modern ag partnerships should work: practical, honest, and built on long-term trust.
“In farming, everything’s connected. One weak link, especially in water, and you feel it for a whole season,” he says. “Komet gets that.”
5 million Acres, and Farmers Who Matter
Earlier this year, Komet Irrigation reached a major milestone: 5 million irrigated acres across North America powered by its precision sprinkler systems.
And Brandon’s story reminds us, the numbers only matter if they’re making a difference where it counts, in the field, on the farm, and in the future of farming families.
Redefining Sustainability: Beyond Products
With climate change, market instability, and urban encroachment, farmers face pressures unlike any generation before. But partnerships, like the one between Brandon and Komet, offer a different kind of sustainability.
“We’re price takers. We deal with constant uncertainty,” Brandon says. “But when companies truly listen, and communities support each other, farming still has a future.”
Advice for the Next Generation
“Don’t be afraid to try something new,” Brandon says.
“Relationships matter more than new paint. And creativity might be your best crop.”
Curious How Smarter Water Solutions Could Work on Your Farm?
Just like Brandon Hurst, thousands of growers are improving efficiency and reducing stress through practical partnerships.
Talk to a Komet Irrigation specialist today, no pressure, just real conversations.
