This story is sponsored by Daviess County Farm Bureau.
When Jeff Coke walks the fields of his Daviess County farm, he’s continuing a legacy that began long before he was born. Coke Farms, named the 2025 Legacy Farm by Daviess County Farm Bureau, has been a pillar of local agriculture for more than six decades, producing grain and pioneering practices that have helped elevate wheat production across the region.
“My dad bought this place in 1958 or 1959,” Coke said. “The house we live in was built with lumber from the old one that stood here before. Some of that wood is probably 150 years old.”
Coke’s roots in farming stretch back four generations. His father started farming after Coke’s grandfather suffered a heart attack, turning a family tradition into a full-time livelihood.
“Both my grandparents farmed, and their parents before them did, too,” Coke said. “We’ve always been in agriculture right here in this same area.”
While Coke also raises corn and soybeans, he’s often known for wheat. With 1,000 to 1,200 acres of soft red winter wheat each year, Coke has become one of the largest producers in the area. His yields have consistently ranked among the best in Kentucky, once setting a state record of 143 bushels per acre.
“We’ve worked closely with Phil Needham, one of the top experts in the world, to do a lot of experimentation right here on our farm,” he said. “We’re always trying new things to increase yields.”
Coke’s fascination with wheat began in college when he grew frustrated with the soil erosion that came from traditional plowing.
“I told my dad I was tired of watching all that good soil wash away,” he said. “So we started planting wheat. At first, it was just a cover crop, but then I realized we could harvest it, too.”
His timing was ideal. In the 1980s, Hancock County farmer and industry leader Billy Joe Miles began importing European techniques for growing high-yield wheat. Coke was one of the first to sign on.
“That’s when people around here started taking wheat seriously,” he said.
Coke’s willingness to adapt has kept his operation thriving through changing markets. In addition to grain, he bales roughly 50,000 straw bales each year, supplying tracks like Ellis Park and local hardware stores. More recently, he’s experimented with teff grass, a fine, high-protein forage native to Ethiopia that’s gaining popularity among horse owners.
“It’s been a steep learning curve,” Coke said. “If you can get it cured right, it’s really good hay. But the weather has to cooperate.”
Coke acknowledges that farming has grown increasingly difficult in recent years. Prices for corn and soybeans have dropped, and input costs have climbed.
“It’s been tough for three straight years,” he said. “Most farmers have lost considerable money. We’re all sitting around thinking about what we can change just to survive.”
To stay afloat, Coke has consolidated equipment and partnered with his son-in-law to manage costs.
“We traded two combines and got one to reduce payments,” he said. “It’s like the early ’80s all over again. We may lose some farmers before this is over.”
Even through the hardships, the family’s commitment to farming remains steady. Coke’s late son, Steven, had planned to carry on the family tradition before he died in a tragic automobile accident in 2003.
“The day he died, we’d been working together on top of the leg about 80 feet high,” Coke said quietly. “I asked him if he was sure he wanted to farm. He said, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”
Today, Coke’s daughters and son-in-law help run the farm, along with longtime workers who’ve become like family. His grandson, though currently recovering from an injury, is already getting involved.
“We’ve got a good crew here,” Coke said.
Coke has also been deeply involved in the local farming community, serving multiple terms as president of Daviess County Farm Bureau and advocating on behalf of farmers.
“We’re just trying to figure out what’s next,” he said. “We’re living in unprecedented times, but you’ve got to be willing to change. That’s how this farm has lasted, by adapting, working hard, and keeping the faith.”
