Richard and Sharon, An Enduring Partnership

Michigan has two distinct parts, but it’s still just one state. You could describe two of its residents similarly, Richard and Sharon Chamberlin, the farmer-dealer duo who live life as one.

“We do everything together,” Richard says.

RICHARD, SHARON AND FIVE OF THEIR SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN (TWO WERE AWAY AT COLLEGE AT THE TIME THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN) GATHER IN FRONT OF THEIR DAIRYLAND SEED PLOT NEXT TO THE ALLIS-CHALMERS TRACTOR PURCHASED NEW BY HIS GRANDPA IN 1940.

That’s true if you don’t count sewing. And maybe deer hunting, Richard’s main hobby. Sharon doesn’t hunt, but they process the deer together. “Our family was raised on venison,” he says.

But when it comes to managing corn and soybeans, growing and selling produce for farmers markets, making wine, traveling, camping, dairying, seed sales, making friends and more, then yes, they’ve always been two peas in a pod.

The couple met in high school, a 10-minute drive from where they reside in Allenton, Michigan. After graduation, Richard got drafted and served 14 and half months in Vietnam. Upon his return in 1971, he and Sharon married and through the years were blessed with four kids and several grandkids.

For the first five years of marriage, they milked cows full-time on a dairy owned by Sharon’s parents. When her parents retired in 1976, Richard and Sharon started cashcropping corn and soybeans. They kept at it for 43 years.

“When I was planting corn, she was planting soybeans,” he says. At one point, Sharon promised to green-light Richard’s desire to buy a bigger planter for their 1,200 acres if he agreed to get rid of the no-till grain drill she used to plant soybeans. So, he bought the bigger planter.

“And after that, she became my ‘gofer,’” Richard says, laughing. Sharon drove their semi, hauled grain at harvest, and pitched in wherever else help was needed.

“I much preferred our no-till approach to planting,” Sharon says. “I didn’t like what I call the recreational tilling of working the ground. It looks pretty after you’re done, but when the crops look and grow well with no-till, and you don’t have to invest in all the equipment and fuel to work the ground, it makes sense. And besides, I didn’t have to be in the tractor as long!” she laughs. Not to mention, Richard adds, their yields improved over time.

It’s been five years now since Richard and Sharon did the planting. They’re still active on the farm, but now they rent it out to a young man who they say is doing a great job.

The duo began selling seed together in 1981. That’s 43 years and counting.

RICHARD AND SHARON ENJOYING THE DAIRYLAND SEED KEY PRODUCER SUMMIT 2023.

“When we got married, I didn’t like having to depend on one thing, so we took on the job of selling seed. Over time, more customers came on. We have a lot of them now, and they’re all great people,” says Richard, who also welded military and automotive parts for 15 years in his farm shop.

Their Dairyland Seed district managers are Kevin and Donna Doneth. This summer, the four of them will begin their 36th consecutive year together.

Kevin and Donna say the Chamberlins have been a pleasure to work with all these years. “They do a great job managing their seed business and every year put out one of our best plots. Richard has always been innovative and looking for ways to improve his crops and help his customers. This continued even as he prepared for his retirement from farming,” Kevin says.

While Richard’s appreciative, he says the seed sells itself. He and Sharon believe Dairyland Seed has an outstanding lineup, and they’re particularly impressed with Dairyland Seed’s genetics. DS-3601AM™ brand and DS-3477AM™ brand corn hybrids are especially popular with their customers this year.

He and Sharon host an educational plot day every year the week before Labor Day. About 45 to 50 people show up to learn over a steak dinner prepared by Sharon. “Been doing that for more than 30 years,” he says.

Not only does everyone learn a lot, but they also catch up with friends. Sharon and Richard greet and treat everyone like family. Some of their best friends are in their sales district. In fact, if it wasn’t for Kevin and Donna, Richard says, they wouldn’t have made so many friends, seen so many places and had so many wonderful experiences over the last 35 years. “Every year just before planting, they put together a trip open to all of their dealers and customers in their district. The people who go aren’t just friends, they’re family.”

Here’s to good friends, happy families, and fabulous relationships.

RICHARD, SHARON AND THEIR DEALER GROUP IN SAVANNAH, GA., ON ONE OF THEIR ANNUAL TRIPS. “WE AREN’T JUST FRIENDS, WE ARE FAMILY!”