March Featured Farmer
Brad Stephen, Stephen Farms
We’re so pleased to introduce you to Brad Stephen of Stephen Farms, a strong supporter of The Option Army from the beginning. Brad lives in Owensboro, Kentucky, and is the fifth generation to farm his family’s land. He began farming in 1998 after working in tobacco production and has since transitioned to grain farming, growing soybeans, corn, and wheat. His son is already eager to join the family business, ensuring a sixth generation is ready to take over.
Option Army: Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your farm, including your name, farm name, and location?
Brad: Sure! I’m Brad Stephen from Stephen Farms, located in Owensboro, Kentucky, in a small community called Sargo, just outside Owensboro. I’ve been farming here since 2004.
Option Army: Are you originally from that area?
Brad: Yes, I am. My family has been here for many generations—I'm the fifth generation on this land.
Option Army: That’s really exciting, especially nowadays. Do you think the sixth generation will take over?
Brad: Oh yeah, the sixth generation is ready to go now. If I told him not to go to school tomorrow, he’d be out here working with me.
Option Army: That’s awesome to hear! It's always nice to see a family operation that will continue. So, tell us more about the farm—what do you grow, and how long have you been farming?
Brad: I actually started farming in 1998, right out of high school. I began in the tobacco business, working with my stepdad, who was involved in the local tobacco industry. Over time, I got into producing tobacco and working in the tobacco warehouses. Farming has always been in my blood, though. My uncles were farmers, so it made transitioning into the family operation pretty natural.
Option Army: So how did you get involved with The Option Arm, Brian, and The Bunker?
Brad: I first came across Brian on Twitter. He used to have a phrase, “I made money when I was wrong.” At first, I didn’t get it. I’ve been doing some hedging and options for 20 years, but I was mostly set in one direction. I didn’t really understand concepts like delta neutral or pay attention to all the factors that make up an option. But Brian really sparked my interest. I remember thinking one Saturday morning, “I’m going to direct message this guy and see if he replies.” He got back to me in two minutes, and I was blown away. Here I was, talking to a Chicago Board trader—someone I thought of as a big deal.
Option Army: That’s awesome! It really speaks to Brian’s approachability and willingness to connect.
Brad: Yes! After that, I took the courses, and they really opened my eyes. Everything started to make sense—light bulbs were going off. Learning about the properties of options, volatility, and all that stuff was a game-changer for me.
Option Army: Let’s talk about the future. You said your son is ready to take over. With all the changes in farming, especially new technologies, what do you think the next 10 years will look like for you?
Brad: Well, in 10 years, I hope I won’t be running the day-to-day operations as much. I farmed with my uncle until he retired, and now my brother and I are running Stephen Farms. Since my brother’s younger, I hope he and my son will take on more of the day-to-day so I can focus more on trading. I do enjoy hauling grain and all that, but the day-to-day management is something I’m ready to step back from. With tobacco fading out, we’ve transitioned to grain farming—soybeans, corn, and a little wheat. The younger generation has no interest in tobacco, and I can’t blame them.
Option Army: What’s a typical day on the farm like now? I know you’re moving away from tobacco, but what does your routine look like?
Brad: My day starts like most people’s—checking emails and getting organized for the day. I meet with the crew at 7:00 AM, get them lined out, and see what they need. Over the past couple of years, The Bunker has become a big part of my routine, and I’m pretty proud of that. I get things ready the night before because by 7:30 AM, I’m joining Brian on The Bunker.
Option Army: We love having you on The Bunker! One of the things that makes Option Army so special is the sense of community. It’s about the people, not just the business.
Brad: I agree! I really enjoy the conversations and the stories Brian shares from his time in the pits. They’re always fun to hear.
Option Army: Stay tuned for the book, haha! Is there anything unique about your operation that you'd like to share?
Brad: This is our first year not farming tobacco, so we’ve transitioned into grain. We’ve turned some of our greenhouses into a nursery. My wife handles the flowers, hanging baskets, and patio pots. She’s also been doing landscaping and selling mulch. It’s been a bit of a stretch for us, interacting with the public, but it’s a good way to offset the loss from tobacco.
Option Army: That sounds wonderful. If you're an extrovert like me, talking to people about plants all day sounds like a dream.
Brad: Oh, my wife loves it. She’s great with people and has always had a love for farming. She grew up on a tobacco farm too. She’ll miss the old tractor work, but the nursery keeps her busy. It’s a great environment—if you’re having a bad day, you walk into those greenhouses, and everything smells good and looks beautiful. It’s really uplifting.
Option Army: A fresh dose of oxygen! Just a couple more questions. Did you root for anyone in the Super Bowl?
Brad: I’m a big NFL fan, but I’m really more of a Tom Brady fan.
Option Army: Now we’re talking! I lived in Boston before New York, and my husband is a die-hard Patriots fan.
Brad: I admire Tom Brady’s work ethic. He wasn’t the most talented, but he outsmarted everyone. He worked harder than anyone else, and that’s how he succeeded.
Option Army: A lot of respect for that work ethic. I’m sure you can relate—it’s the same in farming.
Brad: Absolutely. And I think Brian is like that too. He’s passionate and puts in the time and energy to succeed.
Option Army: Yes, that’s definitely something they have in common. Brian is smart, but he also works hard at being smart. So, Pamela wanted me to ask about the fire that destroyed your barn last year. How’s everything going with that? How are you all recovering, and is there anything we can do as a community to support you?
Brad: We’re trucking along. You know, farmers just adapt and move on. It could’ve been a lot worse, and it was a bit inconvenient during harvest, but we made it through. We’ve got a new barn on the way—construction is supposed to start in March.
Option Army: That’s exciting! So, you’re rebuilding the barn?
Brad: Yep. It’s not cheap, though. We had pretty good insurance, but it’s never quite enough.
Option Army: Amen, never enough!
Brad: But for that sixth generation, you just have to rebuild and keep going. I’m thankful harvest was already in progress because a lot of our equipment was out in the fields. If it had been two weeks earlier, it would’ve been a total disaster. We were lucky, and we live in a strong community. The whole neighborhood came out to help that night—moving stuff around, just pitching in. It was incredible.
Option Army: That’s amazing. I love hearing about that community support. Alright, let’s wrap this up. Any final thoughts or advice for other farmers?
Brad: There are a lot of farmers who are afraid to try hedging, but the market moves every day. As farmers, we always want prices to go up, but that doesn’t always happen. When you sell your grain, it’s not the final step. You can sell that grain multiple times a year, and even if the price isn’t exactly what you want, there are creative ways to improve your cash outcome. You just have to learn.
Thank you so much, Brad!
We really appreciate everything you bring to the TOA community.
Be sure to say hi to Brad on Discord, and stop by their beautiful nursery if you are ever in the Kentucky area.
