No video game summer for Pender County student | News

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Once a month, we select a North Carolina farmer to spotlight.  And for the month of July, we want to tell you about a hard working young man. 

Kyle Rommel is only 13-years-old and has spent his summer earning money by growing and selling produce, instead of playing video games or relaxing on the beach.

Last year, Kyle grew and sold about $1,000 worth of watermelons on his family's Pender County farm.  With that, he made a down payment on a tractor. 

This year, Kyle planted eight acres of produce and vegetables, and has spent the past few weeks at some of the area Farmer's markets, like this one at poplar grove plantation.

"I think we had about 30 different varieties of produce, we planted on a larger scale this year than we did last year," said Kyle.  Right now, he is waiting for his peanuts to mature plus he is growing pumpkins to sell around Halloween. 

Kyle's father believes his son is getting an early start of what he wants to do with his life after he gets out of school, and says his is extremely proud of his son. 

"This was actually Kyle's idea, it was not mine, he wanted to earn some money, looking for a way to earn some money and wanted to get a tractor," said Rick Rommel.  "Last year he sold watermelons and made enough money for a down payment on a tractor and this is what he is doing this year and he is doing a good job at it."

Kyle's father also told us with the money his son has earned and saved this summer, he will use some of it to expand his farming operation for next year, buying seeds of different varieties of produce and vegetables he would like to plant.  And he will use some of the money to buy some new implements for his tractor. 

Congratulations to Kyle Rommel, whom we salute this month with our Proud To Be A Farmer honor.

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