Chris Payne and his wife Darci each grew up on a farm but never thought they would own a farm of their own. Chris worked for a local farmer and Darci as a bookkeeper for a CPA firm. After some unexpected medical issues, the mounting bills precipitated some major changes to their livelihood. Chris knew his employer wasn’t too far from retiring so we acquired a small loan from family and put a down payment on a tractor and baler. While still working full-time for his employer, 3B Hay & Straw was founded as a side hustle. When his employer retired, Chris was able to lease a portion of those acres to start his own farming adventure. Over the last 15 years, the farm has undergone tremendous growth. The Payne’s knew they had to make some strategic changes to their business to accommodate the continued growth and additional family wanting to come back to the farm. During their attendance at a “The DIRTT Project®” seminar, they realized that was just what they were looking for and the next steps started to fall into place. Chris and Darci have been working with a team of professionals to help guide them through the process of sustained growth, sustainability planning and succession planning for future generations. The Payne’s reside in Ontario, Oregon and grow onions, sugar beets, corn, wheat, and alfalfa along with running an onion packing and shipping facility. Two of their three children are back on the farm as of this spring with one still in high school. They have one grandchild.