SHELBY- Across Montana’s country side you’ll find family farms and ranches blanketing the landscape.
But as the years pass by, fewer and fewer of these farms are able to remain in the family.
Just outside of Shelby, you’ll find one of these iconic family farms, that’s managed to stand the test of time of well over a century.
Welker Farms began as a homestead in 1912 and has been passed on through three generations.
Bob Welker and his two sons, Nick and Scott carry on the family legacy.
But in 2012 Welker Farms became a bit more common when Nick Welker decided to create a video featuring the family’s farm.
The video titled “100 Years of Montana Farming” was placed on YouTube where it soon went viral.
Today that video has received more than 725,000 views and continues to grow.
One of their more recent videos titled “Welker Farms 2016 – Part 3” has racked up a staggering 1.5 million views.
With YouTube subscription numbers over 80,00 people, it’s no wonder this Montana farm has become well known worldwide.
However, it’s not just YouTube numbers that has caused the farm to become popular.
They’ve been featured on National Geographic Channel, RFD-TV, Progressive Farming Magazine, Norwegian magazine Traktor, and most recently on Farming Simulator 17.
That’s right, you yourself can cultivate the fields at Welker Farms on the popular game Farm Simulator 17.
Everything down to the last detail has been mapped out on a portion of their property and can be downloaded through Mappers Paradise.
Even their custom-built crop sprayer is available for download on the game.
The family remains optimistic on what the future holds and isn’t sure where the social fame will take them next.
Throughout the years the original homestead has grown to 10,000 acres where the family farms spring wheat, winter wheat, yellow peas, and lentils.
Click here to visit the Welker Farms website.
-Jason Laird reporting for MTN
