Growing Together: Jared Smith

January 7, 2025

Three S Ranch: Flying Over Potato Fields in the Picturesque San Luis Valley

On any given day at Three S Ranch you might find Jared Smith or his brothers working in their potato fields, mountain biking with their families or flying overhead to observe their crops from above.

Jared and his brother and father are all pilots — both as a hobby and to monitor their farm.

“We can see different issues that you just can’t see on the ground,” Jared said.

Three S Ranch started with Jared’s grandfather, Walter. Walter’s father moved the family to the San Luis Valley in Colorado from Nebraska.

“As we learn things, knowledge gets passed on from generation to generation, and you can’t discount the experience and the knowledge that’s transferred that way,” Jared said.

Jared’s father, Jerry, said he started the farm’s potato business with Jared’s grandfather after he returned from college at Colorado State University.

“We purchased land and built it on up, and my boys came back, and they’ve done a super job, and that sure makes me happy,” Jerry said.

Three S Ranch grows a variety of potatoes — predominantly russets — on 1,950 acres. Most of the farm’s crops go to restaurants and grocery stores. Because the farm stores potatoes year-round, it grows several varieties of potatoes, even within the russet category, to hold them for different time periods.

The San Luis Valley also features lots of sunshine and sandy soil, which offers good potato harvesting conditions.

“My favorite time of year is harvest,” Jared said. “It’s when you get to see what came out of all your hard work. It’s a beautiful time of year here in the valley. We’ve got the mountains all around us. The weather is perfect. It’s just a fantastic time of year.”

The farm also stays up-to-date on technology and features a packing plant with state-of-the-art equipment, such as three robotic arms and a stretch wrapper to pack and ship potatoes directly to customers. Upgrading their tractors with GPS trackers has also led to better fuel efficiency.

When he isn’t working or spending time with family, Jared gives back to the community and the potato industry. He’s served in several leadership roles for organizations like Potatoes USA and the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee. Jared also supports scholarship programs for newcomers to the industry. “One of the main traits [potato growers need] is a lot of perseverance,” he said. “There’s always a lot of challenges … and then you have to be someone who wants to try new things, try to get better, and do things every year to continue to grow and continue the legacy of this farm.”

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