--- title: "Farmer Feature: John Wicks" description: John is a fourth-generation farmer that has been farming for 13 years. He made the switch to organic farming to be more profitable and healthier. image: https://info.timelessfood.com/hubfs/John.Wicks.png --- [![](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/BANNER_AT_TOP_Short.png?width=953&name=BANNER_AT_TOP_Short.png)](https://www.timelessfood.com/) - [Shop](https://shop.timelessfood.com) - [Lentil Information Sheets](https://www.timelessfood.com/new-lentil-information-sheets/) - [Organic Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product-category/organic-lentils/) - [Organic Black Beluga Lentils®](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-black-beluga-lentils/) - [Organic French Green Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-french-style-lentils/) - [Organic Green Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-green-lentils/) - [Organic Harvest Gold Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-harvest-gold-lentils/) - [Organic Spanish Brown Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-pardina-lentils/) - [Organic Petite Crimson Lentils](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-petite-crimson-lentils/) - [Looking for Pardina Lentils?](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-pardina-lentils/) - [Organic Heirloom Grains](https://www.timelessfood.com/product-category/organic-heirloom-grains/) - [Organic Farro, Semi-Pearled](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-farro-semi-pearled/) - [Organic Semi-Pearled Purple Prairie Barley®](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-purple-prairie-barley/) - [Organic Chickpeas](https://www.timelessfood.com/product-category/organic-peas-and-chickpeas/) - [Organic Black Butte Chickpeas™](https://www.timelessfood.com/product/organic-black-butte-chickpeas/) - [Recipes](https://www.timelessfood.com/recipes/) - [Distributors](https://www.timelessfood.com/distributors/) - [About Us](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/) - [Our History](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/) - [Our Farmers](https://www.timelessfood.com/farmers/) - [Our Staff](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/our-staff/) - [Contact Us](https://www.timelessfood.com/contact/) - [SQF Level 2 Certificate](https://www.timelessfood.com/sqf-level-2-certificate/) - [Organic Certificate](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/organic-certificate/) - [Kosher Certificate](https://www.timelessfood.com/kosher-certificate/) - [Lentil Information Sheets](https://www.timelessfood.com/new-lentil-information-sheets/) - [Purple Prairie Barley® Information Sheet](https://www.timelessfood.com/purple-prairie-barley-information-sheet/) - [Mission Statement](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/mission-statement/) - [Carbon Footprint of Common Food Products](https://www.timelessfood.com/carbon-footprint-of-common-food-products/) - [Sustainability Strategy](https://www.timelessfood.com/our-history/sustainability-strategy/) - [Resources](https://www.timelessfood.com/links/) - [Blog](https://info.timelessfood.com/blog) - [Press](https://www.timelessfood.com/press/) - [Contact Us](https://www.timelessfood.com/contact/) - [Jobs](https://www.timelessfood.com/jobs/) ## Insights # Farmer Feature: John Wicks [Brei Larmoyeux](https://info.timelessfood.com/blog/author/brei-larmoyeux) Jul 7, 2020 12:36:21 PM John has been farming in Montana for 13 years, switching to organic in the last three. Read why this fourth-generation farmer made the switch. ![John.Wicks](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/John.Wicks.png?width=325&name=John.Wicks.png) “The decision to transition to all organic cropping systems started for us to find a way to becoming more profitable farming,” John said. “I was sinking outrageous amounts of money into input costs.” John said he never liked working around fertilizers and chemicals, and every year during seeding times the seed treatments and fertilizers would dry up his throat and nose. He would always end up with a kind of head cold through the operation. One summer after breathing in some RT3 while spraying, John was diagnosed with chemical pneumonia. “While I was figuring out how to farm without the inputs, I learned there was a better cropping system by doing it organically,” John said. “I just fell in love with farming again and it really motivated me to continue to learn and adapt.” John and his wife Gwyn have never been happier. 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In this tiny little Montana...](https://info.timelessfood.com/blog/farmer-feature-roy-benjamin) ### [Team Timeless: Jim Barngrover Way back in the last century, Jim Barngrover was one of the founding members of the Timeless Seeds...](https://info.timelessfood.com/blog/team-timeless-jim-barngrover) ![Anniversary Seal white REVISED 2](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anniversary%20Seal%20white%20REVISED%202.png?width=143&name=Anniversary%20Seal%20white%20REVISED%202.png)   [![USDA_logo](https://info.timelessfood.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/USDA_logo-90x90.png)](http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop) [![Brown and Gold Star](https://info.timelessfood.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/Brown-and-Gold-Star-K-90x90.png)](http://www.star-k.org/) - [Montana Organic Association](http://www.montanaorganicassociation.org/index.htm) - [AERO](http://www.aeromt.org/) - [Organic Trade Association](https://www.ota.com/) - [US Dry Pea and Lentil Council](http://www.pea-lentil.com/) - [Star-K Kosher](http://www.star-k.org/) --- - Timeless Natural Food • - [Home](https://www.timelessfood.com/) - [Shop](https://www.timelessfood.com/shopping/) - [About](https://www.timelessfood.com/farmers/) - [Contact](https://www.timelessfood.com/contact/) - [Privacy](https://www.timelessfood.com/privacy/) - [FAQ](https://www.timelessfood.com/faq/) - [Terms of Use](https://www.timelessfood.com/site-terms/) - [![facebook](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/white-facebook-icon-e1423268960237.png?width=35&height=35&name=white-facebook-icon-e1423268960237.png)](https://www.facebook.com/TimelessFood) - [![mail](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/white-e-mail-icon-e1423269005346.png?width=35&height=35&name=white-e-mail-icon-e1423269005346.png)](mailto:info@timelessfood.com) - [![pinterest](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/white-Pinterest-icon.png?width=35&height=35&name=white-Pinterest-icon.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/timeless_food/) - [![linkedin](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Timeless_March2020/images/white-linkedin-icon-e1423268986475.png?width=35&height=35&name=white-linkedin-icon-e1423268986475.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/3289077) ![Anniversary Seal white REVISED 2](https://info.timelessfood.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anniversary%20Seal%20white%20REVISED%202.png?width=143&name=Anniversary%20Seal%20white%20REVISED%202.png)