Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 33

Eeek! Christmas is less than a week away, I start heading towards home in a couple days, and today marks the start of week 33 on the Why I Farm Roadtrip. I'm super pumped to spend the holidays with loved ones and eat some of my mom's awesome home cooking. Plus, I've collected some pretty awesome Christmas presents for my friends and family I can't wait to give. With all the sappy excitement going on this time of year, finding motivation to keep me focused this week is important. To keep me on track, I'm revisiting these three farmers' stories. As always, you can click on their photo or the caption to read more of their Why I Farm story.

Maine farmers: Pam Townsend (left) and Sue McCrum

"We’re very fortunate to be a multi-generational family farm that is able to farm together. We have two sons and three nephews that are part of the fifth generation carrying it on. We’re a big family. You just have to realize you have the same goals, you want to be a success, you want to have the best product you can, you want to keep everybody safe while they’re doing it, and you cannot do it alone. You have to work together. Pam has seen us go through the highs and lows. She’s been around nearly twenty years. It’s not always perfect, but in the long run, it’s faith, family and farming. It’s something we can all do together." - Sue McCrum, potato farmer in Mars Hill, Maine

Rhode Island: Wayne Salisbury

"For the most part, I enjoy it. It’s outdoors. I enjoy seeing the land produce and I enjoy being able to deliver quality products to customers that they don’t always get in the grocery store." - Wayne Salisbury of Salisbury Farm in Johnston, Rhode Island

Alaska farmer: Bryce Wrigley

"Why do I farm? I started farming because I liked driving tractors and combines. I mean that was it for me. It started out because I was just selfish. And now, it has morphed into doing something that is larger than ourselves and benefits as many people as we can. When we started raising "people food" and realized we had a good product that people liked and needed, there was a different level of satisfaction that comes from doing something for somebody and then hearing that they liked it, or it’s good for them, or it helped them out. I always used to tell people that I farm because I can’t stand not to. And that’s still true, but it’s coupled with that different sense of purpose than what I had before." -Bryce Wrigley of Alaska Flour Company in Delta Junction, Alaska

Each of these farmers' stories challenge me to keep the big picture in mind. Through the hustle and bustle of the season that can be so distracting, it's important to keep the larger goals in mind. Here's to working towards my bigger picture (honoring farmers) this week! Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 27

How is it November already? I'm half way through this roadtrip and 2016 is starting to wind down. As I head into week 27 of my Why I Farm Roadtrip experience, these farmers' stories are top of mind as my motivation. I hope you find them as inspiring as I have this week.

Rhode Island farmers: Loren & Gina Thurn

“I farm for the sunrise in the morning. I farm for that connection with life. I farm for the ability to be with my family. And the knowledge that I’m producing a healthy product that I have no qualms about eating or feeding my kids. That I get to be my own boss and do things I love with both plants and animals. Having already done other things, you couldn’t pay me to go back to them. It’s just part of your soul.” - Gina Thurn of Our Kids Farm in Exeter, Rhode Island

New York farmer: Mike Bulich

“When I was a junior in college, I came back from Christmas break and my dad was talking to me about how he was planning on shutting down the farm when he turned 62, which was only a year after I graduated college. I had quite a few job offers with some big firms in the business world. I have degree in business, minored in finance. I went there, in terms of internships, and just didn’t see myself doing it. So I talked to dad. When I graduated, my brother Mark and I went back at it, and rebuilt the whole place. I just like being able to do different things. On this type of farm, yes, we’ve got to get in there sometimes to harvest mushrooms, but then I’m in a big truck picking up manure, fixing a baler, or welding another piece of equipment. I’m doing the electrical, I’m doing refrigeration. I just like doing all these different things." - Mike Bulich of Bulich Mushroom Co. in Catskill, New York

New Jersey farmer: Matt Steinberg

"It’s the story you’ve heard a hundred times. I got tired of the corporate run around. As an engineer, I had kind of maxed out engineering and was just like, where do I go from here? My background is in computer science so this was a change of pace in life. I’ve only been doing this for a few years now. I have no connection to farming what so ever. I mean, I’m sure if I go far enough up the line, but not in my last two or three generations that I know of. It just kind of came, I decided I wanted to be out on the land. I decided I wanted a different life." - Matt Steinberg of Stone Mountain Farms in Lafayette, New Jersey

Click on each photo to read the farmers' full Why I Farm blog post. I hope these stories challenge you to try something new, learn different skills, and find a way to be connected to life. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Motivation Monday: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 25

Wow! Another week of the Why I Farm Roadtrip is in the books. I look forward to what adventures await in week 25. Along the way, I'm keeping these farmers' stories tucked in the back of my mind for inspiration. I hope you find them as motivating as I have.

Connecticut farmer: Rachel Freund

“It’s what I know. I grew up with this lifestyle. I can’t imagine a life without cows in the background. I farm to stay connected with animals. I’m a very huge animal lover. The work isn’t always cuddly, but we still provide them with the right environment and quality care. They do right by you if you do right by them.” - Rachel Freund of Freund's Farm Market & Bakery in East Canaan, Connecticut

Rhode Island farmers: Jonathan & Hazel Secchiaroli

“We do it for the past, the present, and the future. For the past, Jonathan farms to honor his family’s legacy. He farms for the present because it’s something he enjoys doing. Pigs in particular give him a sense of accomplishment. And we farm for the future, because hopefully someday our kids will want to go into farming. We’re stewards of the environment. Our practices include recycling food scraps and diverting them from the landfill so we’re sustainable for the future.” - Hazel Seccharoli of Secchiaroli Farm in Waterford, Connecticut

Click on each photo to read the farmers' full Why I Farm blog post. I hope these stories inspire you to think about your past, present and future. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

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