A Life Rooted in the Farm
For Andy Brink, farming shaped nearly every part of his life. He grew up as one of 13 children in a farming family, where his father raised gladiolus bulbs. Andy spent his childhood helping wherever he was needed, including pulling weeds throughout the summer.
He describes himself as an “old-time farmer,” and the name fits a life built around long days and practical experience.
As an adult, Andy began raising hogs on his own 80-acre farm. He started with two sows and continued farming for about 50 years. Over time, the operation grew to approximately 600 sows and expanded across six farms.
Andy met his wife at a roller-skating rink. She later became the farm’s bookkeeper and managed its financial records as the business grew. Together, they raised six children and built a family life closely connected to the farm.
The work rarely stopped. Animals needed to be fed and cared for every day, which made vacations difficult during the farm’s early years. The family eventually gave the operation a fitting name: Seldom Rest Farm.
Andy raised corn and soybeans for feed, although the growing operation also required additional supplies. He ground his own feed and adapted as equipment and farming practices changed.
Farming became a shared family business. When some of Andy’s children wanted to begin farming, they worked together and shared one set of tools as they established their operations. Each person contributed different skills. One of Andy’s sons handled electrical work and wiring, while others focused on the animals or the land.
The next generation expanded what Andy began. Today, his children’s farm includes approximately 3,000 sows and produces about 1,500 pigs each week. The operation relies on technology that was not available when Andy started, but the work still requires the same knowledge and commitment he brought to farming.
Andy’s life took him away from the farm for two years when he served in the United States Navy. While aboard ship, he became someone other sailors approached for spiritual guidance. One later described Andy as a spiritual father.
Travel became another important part of Andy’s life. He and his wife visited every state in the country, creating memories far beyond the farm where they spent so many years working together.
After his wife died about three years ago, Andy’s children became concerned about him continuing to live alone. Their concern eventually brought him to Royal Park Place.
Today, Andy participates in community activities as much as he can. He especially enjoys Bible study and prayer groups, which allow him to remain connected to the faith that has guided him throughout his life.
He also keeps photographs from his farming years nearby. They show how the buildings and farming methods changed, while preserving the story of a family that worked together across generations.
The farm no longer sets Andy’s daily schedule, yet it remains an important part of who he is. Seldom Rest Farm grew from two sows into a family legacy that continues today.
