Cole The Cornstar, known to many as simply Cole, is a popular face in the online farming community, thanks to a unique blend of honesty and a down-to-earth mindset. He’s made a name for himself on YouTube by showcasing the intricate ins and outs of farming, somewhat glorifying the lifestyle and presenting its charm to millions on the internet. His passion for what he does is evident in each video, boosted by his extraordinary ability to navigate the complexities of managing a substantial 1,200 acres of corn and soybean crops. Over the years Cole has managed to shatter a myriad of stereotypes about farming, as well as provide educational insights into a world that feeds us all.
According to Des Moines Register, this graduate from the University of Northern Iowa didn’t initially see his daily farming life as content for YouTube. However, after realizing not even locals fully understood farming operations, in 2018 he launched a channel dedicated to showcasing agricultural life.
Over time, capturing life on their family-managed farm has made significant contributions to the growth of the channel, which amassed over 200,000 subscribers by March 2020, with videos regularly hitting over 100,000 views, and some even reaching a million. Starting with the modest goal of reaching 1,000 subscribers in the first year, Cole found his audience expanding rapidly, jumping from 300 to 10,000 in just two weeks, following a particularly engaging video about securing a substantial loan from a bank, which in and of itself attracted almost 500,000 views. The channel’s success has over time given rise to various sponsorships, including from the sunglasses brand Pit Viper, and many more whose primary consumer base has a keen interest in farming.
What the channel is all about
Creating content for the Cornstar channel involves recording multiple days’ worth of farming activities, then editing them into 10- to 20-minute videos that pack a punch, mixing entertainment with valuable information. Being somewhat less tech savvy than his peers early on, Cole taught himself video editing via YouTube tutorials. His general intention is to debunk the misconception that farmers only work during the visible times of plowing and spraying, and therefore he aims to also highlight the behind the scenes year-round effort. The content serves an educative purpose first and foremost, targeting anyone keen on learning about farming in a family-friendly manner.
It also acts as an internet archive for the farm, capturing its evolution brought about by painstaking effort of everyone involved. The channel prominently features Cole’s family, including his father Dale and brother Cooper. The YouTube star attributes the channel’s starting phase to a period shortly before his grandfather’s passing, which left an indelible mark on the family. This internet effort ultimately helped his father find a new sense of purpose after losing one of his dearest family members. Although initially skeptical and unfamiliar with YouTube, Dale now enjoys the platform and appreciates the viewer engagement on the videos, valuing the opportunity to share farming realities with a global audience, and taking pride in his son’s initiative to educate and document their daily lives.
The Cornstar controversy
Cole the Cornstar faced significant backlash for an unusual request to his viewers – financial contributions to cover excess spending on his bin site project. This situation resulted in intense debates over the ethical boundaries between YouTube creators and their audiences within the agricultural sector. Critics argued that Cole was taking advantage of his fanbase to remedy irresponsibility, questioning the appropriateness of asking donations for a business expenditure. The controversy extended beyond just viewer comments, as it found its way onto farming forums and Reddit threads, on which members voiced their discontent.
What adds an extra layer to this mess is Cole’s background in finance, which he often used to justify his investment decisions on the channel. The request for contributions thus seemed completely incongruent with the financially knowledgeable character he’d crafted over the years. It also challenged the authenticity that had endeared him to his audience in the first place, as at the end of the day, it seemed that the Cornstar himself wasn’t so well-intentioned after all.
Despite the significant backlash, Cole continued his commitment to educating the audience on farming operations, hoping that the masses would forget his transgression and eventually move past the outrage. If the average Reddit user is to be asked, this strategy hasn’t born fruit in the long run, although his comment sections have at least found some shelter from the storm.
The crux of the matter is that Cole ran into a serious issue with a construction project – he was building a grain storage bin site costing over $1 million. Projects like these are critical for a farm’s operation, because they help store crops efficiently and improve overall productivity, meaning it was a long-awaited and significant upgrade. However, the construction ultimately failed to meet Cole’s expectations, as he stated that the agreed-upon standards weren’t lived up to. The conflict began when the YouTuber observed what he believed were errors and poor handiwork by the contractor responsible for the project. Construction disputes are fairly common, but this situation intensified even further due to the project’s scale and the considerable investment involved. The disagreement eventually reached a point where Cole felt his only option was to sue the contractor to address what he believed to be failures.
The star’s decision to share this dispute on his YouTube channel brought significant attention to the case, as transparency is part of what his viewers expect. However, it also opened up conversations about his capability of managing such intricate operations, as critics found him culpable in the matter. They emphasized that Cole severely lacked in having clear contracts, understanding construction processes, and knowing his rights in business dealings. Still, as some of his staunchest supporters said, it’s not unthinkable to assume that success often breeds envy, and Cole is thus liable for criticism regardless of how diligently he performs his duties.
What is his net worth?
As of the most recent estimates by reputable sources in 2024, Cole the Cornstar’s net worth is conservatively estimated at over $400,000. His earnings amount to $100,000 annually from just his YouTube channel – a figure that comes from a combination of his ad revenue, sponsorships, and possibly merchandise sales. The majority of his income likely stems from YouTube’s partnership program, which allows creators to earn money through ads placed on their videos. Typically, a channel’s income from the platform’s ads varies based on multiple factors including the number of views, the video’s length, the engagement rate, the niche’s competitiveness, and the geographic location of the viewers.
In addition to ad revenue, Cole may have sponsorships with companies, whereby he promotes their products or services in his videos. These deals can be highly lucrative, especially for channels with engaged viewership like Cole’s. He might also be earning through affiliate marketing, where he receives a commission for products sold through the links he shares. All of that notwithstanding, the channel is yet to establish a dedicated website for merchandise sales, which would almost certainly contribute to the family’s overall earnings.