2023 20 Under 40 Farmer
About
Bill McDonnell, a farmer from Ottawa, feels honored to be recognized among this year’s esteemed group of 20 under 40, especially in a state with numerous exceptional young farmers. Looking ahead to the 2024 crop year, he is thrilled to integrate strip tillage into his operation for the second year, eager to explore its potential after learning from the experiences of 2023. Bill’s greatest excitement lies in leveraging technology to enhance the farm’s productivity, with prospects like autonomy, computer vision, and AI holding tremendous promise for him. Over the next 5-10 years, his primary focus is to ensure the farming operation’s continued success for future generations, aiming to create a solid foundation for his son to potentially join the family tradition. Bill lives by the mantra of continuous learning, recognizing the value of gaining knowledge from other farmers, test plots, and various sources, as farming’s perpetual evolution makes it an ever-changing and fulfilling journey.