William White spent his boyhood on a farm in Nebraska, a largely rural state that devotes 15 million of its acreage to corn and soybeans. He’s quite familiar with the problems local family farms are likely to encounter—and today, he’s in a position to help. White is the president of The Austin Company, Inc. a Nebraska-based professional farm-management company established in 1947.

Since agriculture is largely at the mercy of the weather and other uncontrollable factors, farmers have to cope with a high level of risk. They are also affected by political events, such as the 16-month grain embargo of the 1980s, when President Carter announced the suspension of sales for 17 million metric tons of wheat and corn. Furthermore, farming is the only business that buys retail and sells wholesale, which means that profit margins can be thin even in good years.

Good farm management is vital to give the farmer as much control as possible over those factors that he can influence. To that end, The Austin Company provides analysis tools, marketing help and worker supervision, as well as assembling an appropriate insurance package to compensate farmers when nature is cruel. The company also does land appraisals and sells real estate to help new farmers get started, and to help existing farms expand.

“In the beginning I didn’t start as the president,” White said. In fact, he started out as a teacher. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1959 with a master’s degree in school administration. By 1970, he was teaching principles of business at South East Community College. Then, in 1973, he switched tracks and began working in a real estate office.

After achieving success in these varied fields, White finally transitioned into farming assistance and moved up through the ranks at The Austin Company. With his early background in agriculture, he’s glad to be in a position where he can help families and companies make their land as secure and profitable as it can be.