For 21-year-old college senior Treyson Culwell, the heavy weight of responsibility is a familiar feeling.

In addition to his weekly schedule of classes, homework and fraternity events, Culwell commutes over an hour to Vandalia, Missouri, to care for his family farm.

In 2018, Culwell became the sole farmer of 2,200 acres of corn and soy after both of his parents died within 10-months of each other. Culwell, then in high school, learned to plant, spray, harvest and sell seed from family friends and internet tutorials.

“I never thought I would be doing this,” Culwell said.

Although becoming a farmer was not Culwell’s decision, going to school was. Before his parents died, Culwell promised them he would earn a bachelor’s degree. Culwell studies agriculture at the University of Missouri and plans to graduate in December, a semester early.

As a child, Culwell was not interested in farming, but now he can’t imagine doing anything else.

“You get to plant a crop and consistently watch it grow everyday…and that’s really cool to see,” Culwell said.