Leadership Sorghum Spotlight: From Comfort Zone to Crop Innovation…

Post on December 30, 2025

Leadership Sorghum Spotlight: From Comfort Zone to Crop Innovation - Joel Huesby's, Class VI

Kyra Holt, Sorghum Checkoff

Joel Huesby, an organic sorghum farmer from Touchet, Washington, took an uncommon path into sorghum production. His approach to farming has always been shaped by a willingness to learn, adapt and try something new, which eventually led him to be a member of Leadership Sorghum Class VI.

"Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone," Huesby said.

That belief has guided him throughout his career and is reflected in his focus on stewardship, innovation and long-term sustainability.

In 1994, Huesby made a decision to reshape his farm. He shifted entirely to organic production at a time when few others in his region were doing so. Huesby said the move felt right to him and he found success in understanding the people he serves.

"Who is my customer, and what do they want?" Huesby said. "That drives every decision I make."

That approach led him to build direct relationships with regional flour mills and distillers, who valued the organic grains he produced.

While researching alternative crops, Huesby began looking for something that could thrive in the Pacific Northwest and offer new value to his buyers. That search led him to sorghum.

"Being a horse of a different color, I am always looking for something that someone else is either unable or unwilling to do," Huesby said.

Sorghum aligns with Huesby's long-term vision for his operation. He said the crop is resilient, efficient and suited for the dry conditions common in his region.

"Water conservation is huge to me," Huesby said. "And sorghum fits that bill."

The farm has also become home to four generations of Huesby's family, who share daily life and family meals regularly.

"Most of those meals are all ingredients that we produced: the milk, the beef, the eggs and the flour," Huesby said. "We eat better than the fancy restaurants in town."

For Huesby, the farm is more than a business. It is a responsibility to the generations who came before and those who will come after.

"You have a heritage that is behind you and a legacy that is in front of you," Huesby said. "I take that really seriously."

His time in Leadership Sorghum strengthened that perspective by expanding his understanding of the influence producers have in shaping the future of the industry, Huesby said.

"The Sorghum Checkoff instilled in me the importance of marketing, research and promotion," Huesby said.

The lessons he learned in Leadership Sorghum continue to guide his decisions today, he said. Huesby focuses on growing markets through relationships, experimenting with new opportunities and building a resilient operation that honors both the history of his family and the needs of the next generation. To learn more about Leadership Sorghum, visit LeadSorghum.com.