Western Kentucky no-tiller Tanner Stroup has a remarkable agriculture story that begins far from his Lewisport roots. While he grew up in Kentucky’s largest row crop region, his immediate family did not farm, and he had no direct connection to farming in the area.

Instead, Stroup’s love of agriculture was cultivated in the wheat fields of Kansas.

Stroup’s parents —the founders of bulk-hauling trucking company First Class Services — sent him west to learn about farming after Stroup expressed interest in agriculture. Beginning when he was 14 years old, Stroup spent several weeks during the summer with his great uncle, Ray Graves, in Anthony, Kan. Graves produces 5,000 acres of wheat and cattle, and it was at Graves’s farm that Stroup learned how to drive a combine.

“I fell in love with agriculture and operating machinery,” Stroup says. “I always looked forward to spending my time there.”

He returned home knowing that agriculture was going to be his future career. 

“I really enjoy being able to produce something from nothing,” Stroup says.

Early Success

In 2012, Stroup — who was a high school junior at the time…