Uilleam Harper on his family’s farm in Lancaster, Mass.
As a fifth-generation farmer, Uilleam Harper grew up on Harper’s Farm in the heart of Lancaster, Mass. This operation’s main focus is the production of poultry products, with each member chipping in to do their part on the farm. From bookkeeping and social media to property maintenance, it truly is a family-run farm.
When Harper first attended Norfolk County Agricultural High School and joined the Norfolk FFA Chapter, he began with an entrepreneurial Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) in 2020, selling the farm’s eggs. But when he entered the agricultural mechanics department, his plans quickly changed.
A New Avenue
As the only mechanic in his family, Harper began to repair things around the farm. He then started an entrepreneurial SAE in agricultural mechanics to kick-start his mobile equipment repair business as a new source of income.
Instead of clients bringing their broken equipment to him, he travels to other farms to repair their machinery in a timely manner. With each new skill gained in the classroom, Harper can offer services like diesel engine repair, metal fabrication, electronics diagnostic and repair, power mechanics and more!
When Harper receives a call from a client, he brings the mechanic shop to their property.
In 2024, when his state’s convention rolled around, Harper was not only awarded the Bay State Star in Agribusiness, but he also received $500 through an SAE Grant from the Massachusetts FFA Association. With this support, he plans to utilize these funds to complete his trailered welding machine that will add to his repair calls.
The newest addition to the business: a trailered welding machine.
“My SAE would probably not include having this machine and being able to use it without the assistance of the SAE grant,” Harper says.
With the addition of these funds, Harper is gearing toward growth in his SAE and offering a new service in this upcoming season. He just started his first year at SUNY Cobleskill, majoring in agricultural businesses and management to further his education in this field and turn his SAE into a lifelong career.
