Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 37

Today is dreary, icy and cold. I'm still battling whatever bug has been going around this winter and I'm just plain tired. 

When today's Monday Motivation popped up on my blog calendar, I knew it this was something I needed to hit publish on for myself more than anyone else. But, if you happen to need an extra shot of inspiration today, I think you'll find plenty in these three Wisconsin farmers' stories.

Wisconsin farmer: Shellie Zweifel

 "My parents have always farmed. I’ve always farmed. Why do I farm? My passion is here, my heart is here. I went to college, I’ve tried to experience something different. I fed calves for a guy, working for somebody else just for something different. That’s just not for me. Working other places, you’re basically clocking in and clocking out. Yeah, you’ve got to have your heart for that to be a good employee, but at the same time, it's not yours. I’d rather have my own stuff. I can do whatever I want. And the biggest thing is, there’s a lot of guys out there that said I should go into public relations. Why go into buying cattle? Or farming in general? Well, I’m going to prove them wrong." - Shellie Zweifel of Shullsburg, Wisconsin 

Wisconsin farmer: Carrie Mess

"This right here. How do you give up on your girls, the cows? When you say, Why I Farm, for me it’s totally the cows. I just love working with them, being around them, getting to know them. I enjoy getting in the tractor and doing field work too, but I’m a cow person. That’s huge. I always loved horses. I did the rodeo and stuff, but there was always something that wasn’t quite a 100% right match for me. And then I found cows. It was like, ‘Oh! Okay, that’s what I’m supposed to do.’ That’s what gets me going every day and why I started agvocating." -Carrie Mess of Dairy Carrie in Milford, Wisconsin

Wisconsin farmer: Wayne Edgerton

"Farming brings me back. I grew up on a dairy farm not too far from here. I lived in the Twin Cities for over thirty years. We moved back, my wife also grew up here. We have walnuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, and the hazelnuts. We got into this business, basically because we wanted to do something with the land other than conventional agriculture. I didn’t want to be plowing it, and planting it and disking it every year. I wanted to get into some kind of permanent agriculture. I also like the idea of locally grown food and having something that we can sell to local folks for their restaurants or for their own eating enjoyment. It gives us something to do in our retirement. Planting stuff, watching it grow, being excited every spring about something. It’s that excitement that in the winter time you’re planning, and then it’s go, go, go in the spring and then waiting for the harvest. Is it going to be good? Bad? You’re watching the weather. The whole appreciation of what’s going on in the world. It was the link to the land. That’s what I missed." -Wayne Edgerton of Nuts Edge in Tomah, Wisconsin

This week's post challenges me to do everything with passion and heart. I hope you've been motivated to do the same. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 36

It's a new year, but my motivation is the same. The farmers I'm meeting on the Why I Farm Roadtrip continue to inspire me each and every day. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me in 2017!

I'm kicking off the year by revisiting these three farmers' stories. As always, you can click on their photo or the caption to read their whole Why I Farm blog.

Iowa farmer: Bryan Kuntz

“You can’t get up every day without thanking God for giving you the opportunity to come out here in the field, whether it’s harvest season, planting season, growing season, or winter planning. You only get so much time on this earth. If you can spend that time with your family and your friends, the people that are close to you, every single day, there’s nothing better. Even when commodity prices are terrible, there’s still nothing better than sitting here combining beans and unloading on the go with my dad catching me. There’s nothing better to me than doing what we’re doing today.” -Bryan Kuntz, corn and soybean farmer in Wapello, Iowa

Wisconsin farmer: Kat Becker

"I didn’t grow up on a farm but I farm now because I feel like I can’t imagine what it would be like to not go through the seasons. It’s beautiful, challenging and probably the best place ever to have kids. My kids have an awesome place to run around. I grew up in a big city and so I think there are some really important, amazing, and valuable things about that, but I think my children have a level of personal responsibility and freedom that most children don’t have. They can bike wherever they want, they know every vegetable variety, they understand where meat comes from, and they’ve seen us cut up animals. So I feel like they have this incredibly deep connection to food, but also to the seasons and the earth. Those are the things that I value the most." -Kat Becker of Stoney Acres farm near Athens, Wisconsin

Wisconsin farmers: Amber & Scott Shultz

"We’re a 5th generation family farm. We’ve been here since 1918. We’re in a generational change now and kids are coming back and working, trying to improve and better the farm. It’s a good way to make a living. It’s a good life. That’s why I farm, I enjoy it. To be honest with you, I get up every morning at 4 or 5 o’clock. The sights you see in the morning are the best part of the day. The geese out here, eagles, swans, and deer. The solitude, the fog, the sunrises, it makes the world go ‘round." -Scott Schultz, cranberry farmer in Warrens, Wisconsin, pictured with his daughter, Amber Schultz

This year I haven't made New Year's Resolutions or added anything crazy to my bucket list. Instead, I'm going to continue the challenge that I started last year. Each week, I try to live out the advice and perspective these farmers share with me. This week's post challenges me to be thankful no matter what, be mindful of my connection to my food and the earth, and enjoy the sights and sounds of my surroundings. I hope you'll join me. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 32

As the momentum of the Why I Farm Roadtrip continues, the pace gets faster and faster. Over the last month, I had to take a step back from other commitments, including this blog, to make sure I was turning around farmers' stories as fast as I could. Now that I'm caught up, I'm glad to be back sharing my reflections and experiences. I've really missed having this outlet to post about people and places I want to remember.

With Christmas rapidly approaching and the end of 2016 just around the corner, I'm well beyond the half way mark of this adventure. I say this all the time, but it's hard to believe how quickly this experience has flown. As I travel, I notice how each farmer leaves their own mark, shaping my outlook. Here are a few I'm thinking about this week:

New Jersey farmer: Bea Tassot

“I think farming is just something that’s in your genes. I mean really, I’m sincere about this. My husband has dedicated his life to this. We are running a 400 beehive operation in Milford, New Jersey. It’s really my husband’s job. He’s been a bee keeper since he was five years old in France. He learned bee keeping from his great uncle in Burgundy. We came from a big city, Paris, but it was always in his mind, ‘That’s what I want to do one day.’ We were very lucky. We have a gorgeous farm. I would not trade this to go back to a city, not at all. It is so peaceful. Each night you just sit out on your deck and it’s just silence. It’s green and you have the animals, it’s beautiful.” -Bea Tassot of Tassot Apiaries Inc. / Buzzing Acres Farm in Milford, New Jersey

New Hampshire farmer: Alicia Pedemonti

"After college, I came back home to the farm and started trying to envision how I wanted it to be. That was a really emotional decision for me to make. Farming and raising pigs in particular was something I always did with my dad. So going back really took a lot of thought. I remember the first Pork Producers meeting I went to after college, after he had died. It was really emotional. I kind of sat in the parking lot before, unsure if I was going to go in. And then the drive home was a lot of self-reflection, talking aloud to my dad, and very emotional. It was such a big part of my relationship with him and my life growing up, I knew it was something I needed to continue and I really wanted to. I was starting to look ahead, so in my early 20s I knew having kids wasn’t too far off. I wanted to make sure I was trying to create the lifestyle and image that would be something my children could be a part of, because I know how important it was to me growing up and I wanted them to have that same experience." -Alicia Pedemonti, pig farmer of Hopkinton, New Hampshire

Wisconsin farmer: Matt Rezin

"I’m an Ocean Spray cranberry grower. I’m actually an 8th generation grower and my cranberry marsh, my great-great grandpa started it back in 1931. We’ve been growing cranberries since 1886. It’s kind of in my blood so I just keep doing it. For me, it’s not a job. It’s more of a lifestyle. My kids are out there working with me. I’m still working with my dad. My grandpa is 86 years old. He’s still out on the marsh, I’m still working with him. It’s a family ordeal. My grandma is still out there doing stuff. My mom gets out there and helps harvest. It’s huge – family. The thing with the cranberry industry, a lot of the marshes and bogs around here, we’re all related. We’re all cousins. So we’re going over to other people’s marshes and saying hi and helping out here if they need that or borrowing equipment if they need equipment. I love what I do." -Matt Rezin of Warrens, Wisconsin

As I think about these three farmers, I'm challenged to find beauty in my surroundings, follow my calling even when it requires tough decisions, and be thankful for my family. I hope their stories challenge you to do the same. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

I'm Feeling 22... A Year In Review

Yesterday was my birthday. It was fantastic! As I curled up in bed with a full stomach, after a delicious dinner date at The Cafe, I reflected on all the blessings of the last year. Now that I'm feeling 22, here's my year in review.

Like I said in my last blog post, if you're an Iowa State student and have
never experienced Hilton Magic, you're missing out!

January

Birthday/Basketball - My last birthday was full of fun and memories. My friend Joni and I dressed up as Legos to claim our 15 seconds of ESPN fame during an Iowa State Basketball game. The Cyclone victory at Hilton was one of the best ways I've ever celebrated a birthday. Getting "I SAW YOU ON TV!!!" snapchats all week was just icing on the cake.

SAEA Quiz Bowl in Atlanta, GA - At the beginning of 2015 I added Georgia to the list of states I've visited. Several Ag Business friends and I went down represent Iowa State in a quiz bowl competition. My team was eliminated pretty quickly, but I enjoyed my first Mellow Mushroom and exploring the big city with my friends. Looking back, Atlanta was my first step toward adulting in 2015 - I flew for the first time without my parents and learned to take major public transportation on my own.

February

NAMA Industry Tour in Milwaukee, WI - If you've been following my blog for long, you know industry tours are one of my favorite things. I just love meeting new people and learning what they do. While in Wisconsin I did a little beer tasting at New Glarus Brewing Co. and met some fantastic marketing folks from Bader Rutter and MorganMyers (including Sara).

I'm scheduled to go to the National Farmers Union College
Conference on Cooperatives again in 2016! I'm so excited!

National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives in Minneapolis, MN - I go to a lot of meetings/conventions/conferences throughout the year, but this was certainly one of the best. My roommate Meghan and I drove up with a fellow Cyclone we barely knew, Travis, and the three of us came back laughing and joking as friends with many new connections across the country. While in the Minneapolis area we toured several businesses with a cooperative structure and enjoyed a museum about the flour milling industry.

Here's the reflection I wrote right after getting back, “I’m motivated by my passions and interest in the community and didn’t know how that perspective fit in the business world until this conference. It was great to hear other people with similar thoughts talk about their successful organizations. This experience certainly has made me consider the business structure I will look for in a future place of employment.”

March

Spring Break in Colorado - Spending spring break on a rowdy beach with a million other college students has never really appealed to me. I don't really like the idea of needing a vacation from my vacation, so last spring a group of friends and I roadtripped out to Colorado. Aside from a bit of car trouble in Kearney, Nebraska the break was perfect. We rented a gorgeous cabin out in the mountains, enjoyed shopping in Breckenridge, and fixed delicious family style meals. We spent hours playing games and watching movies. It was so refreshing! 

Ag Leadership Dinner - You may remember an old blog post about the Ag Leadership Dinner at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. I'm still inspired by the speeches I heard that night and would strongly encourage you to check out Jo Luck's definition of VISION here.

NAMA Casino Night - Our Iowa State National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) helps out at a local casino themed fundraiser every year by serving as blackjack dealers. It's such a fun excuse to break out that little black dress and put on a little make up. This year I drug my friend Ryan along and we had a blast! I'm looking forward to this years event for sure!

April

NAMA Nationals in Kansas City, MO - This is another conference that's at the top of my favorites list. I rode down with my Iowa State classmates and while they competed in the marketing plan competition, I hung out on the social media corps sharing the stories of the event on Facebook and Twitter. I'm so thankful I had this opportunity to network with so many in ag marketing communications. Watching the Best of NAMA awards presentation was so inspiring!

Here's the group from the AgEI Industry Tour! We have a lot of fun together
in the office and on the road.

AgEI Industry Tour in the Des Moines Area - Yep - another industry tour! By now you probably know the Ag Entrepreneurship Initiative has influenced me a lot. So, naturally spending a day touring entrepreneurial businesses with them was one of the highlights of the last year. I had my first ever wine tasting on this trip at Jasper Winery and got to see how fruits and vegetables are packaged at Capital City Fruit. Visiting La Quercia was really special to me because I knew it was something my Papa Tony would have enjoyed. Meeting new entrepreneurs never gets old!

May

Beck's Internship - Last May I packed up my little car and moved out to Atlanta, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis, to work as Beck's Hybrids' marketing intern. While I was there I lived in a big farmhouse with girls that soon became close friends. We had so much fun exploring the area and searching for bargains at Goodwill's half off Saturdays. You can read more about my work at Beck's in these blog posts:

May 18 - First Impressions of the Beck's Experience
May 26 - Love for Stories

June

Beck's Internship - Check out these blog posts to see what I was doing in my internship in June.

June 5 - Blessed with the Best
June 12 - The Road Less Traveled By
June 19 - Who I Am: A Father's Day Tribute
June 26 - What If and Why

July

Beck's Internship - You can read more about my internship in July in these blog posts:

July 10 - Adrenaline and Professional Development
July 17 - Does It Get Any Better Than This?
July 13- Photo Friday

Adrienne's Reception - Growing up Adrienne was our family's regular babysitter. She was a huge part of my childhood and has been one of my biggest role models. In 2015 she got married and I was lucky enough to get to take photos at her wedding reception. lt was a great excuse to make a trip back from Indiana and it was so special to catch up.

August

Senior Year Started - In August, the senior year that seemed so far away officially began. In the fall semester I took a full load of 18 credits, worked three jobs and participated in all my usual clubs. I was so busy, but it felt good to be back in a familiar routine surrounded by my closest friends.

Becknology Days - All summer long I heard how much there is take in at Becknology Days. Even though it meant another trip out to Indiana and skipping school I decided I had to see what everyone was talking about for myself. I was not disappointed! There were so many people, demonstrations, and learning opportunities. All three days I stayed pretty busy in the Country Store keeping clothing stocked and helping customers find the items they wanted. The last day I snuck away for a couple hours to hang out with my parents who came to check it all out. They were impressed too!

September

Aronia Berry Festival - If I had to choose a favorite time of year, fall would have to be it. Harvest is in full swing and there are so many gorgeous colors all around. It's the perfect season to head to a pumpkin patch... or the North American Aronia Berry Festival right here in Iowa. Last September, my roommate Locky and I drove out and spent the day at Sawmill Hollow Family Farm tasting ariona berry wine, BBQ sauce and dips. It was a fantastic event complete with an aronia berry stomp and many guest speakers. I can get Aronia Berry Cayennne Sauce from this farm at the Hy-Vee a few blocks away from my house. Many of my loved ones received it as a gift this past holiday season!

The Ag Business Industry Tours are always a good time!

Ag Business Fall Industry Tour in Kansas City, MO - On the Ag Business Club's most recent trip to Kansas City I learned about the federal reserve. Pictures weren't allowed, but we got to see millions of dollars being inspected, sorted and counted. I've never been around so much money in my life! Our trip also included stops at a Royals baseball game, Lansing Trade Group and Bayer Crop Sciences.

October

This was our team in Ireland! It was such an awesome group!

Ireland - October was the month of once in a lifetime opportunities. At the beginning of the month, I spent a week with two other Iowa State students touring across Ireland spreading the word of the Startup Gathering on social media. We covered events in 5 cities and caught a little bit of sightseeing along the way. You can read more about each day of this adventure in these blog posts:
Day 1 - Dublin
Day 2 - Waterford
Day 3 - Cork
Day 4 - Limerick
Day 5 - Galway

And if you every plan to visit Ireland yourself, you may be interested in this post from my trip:

10 Things About Ireland Nobody Told Me

Meeting Warren Buffett in Omaha, NE - Sometimes opportunities come around that you just can't pass up. Having lunch with Warren Buffet is certainly one of those things - even when it means being on campus at 4:00am - and you're not a morning person at all. 

November

Camila - For the last part of the fall semester, my five roommates and I were joined by our new friend, Camila from Brazil. In the two short months she stayed with us, we made so many fun memories together. Many nights were spent enjoying movies, wine, popcorn and conversation! I'm so glad she was able to stay with us and am crossing my fingers a visit to Brazil is in my future!

I'm so luck to have made so many new blogger
friends at #AgChat

Econ 495 & #AgChat Conference - Camila was able to travel to Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee with me and several other Iowa State AgEI students in November. (You may remember this Wordless Wednesday post from our trip.) The group traveled the region conducting research about poultry production and the impact of recent avian flu outbreaks. As travel always does, it opened my eyes to all sorts of new experiences. 

After the class trip ended with a fun weekend in Nashville, they left me behind to attend #AgChat Conference. The conference inspired me and was the last push of motivation I needed to tackle re-branding this blog. In just two days, my photography and writing improved. So many ladies generously shared their advice with me. It was also awesome to meet bloggers I've admired for years in real life. None of this would have been possible without Iowa Corn's generous sponsorship.

December

Holiday Parties - Getting together with family and friends one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. December was full of fun gatherings and the chance to catch up with friends that I see way too little. Our roomie gift exchange was a success and the perfect send off for Camila. Best of all, I was able to celebrate the reason for the season with my family!

Re-branding Started - I'd been debating about re-branding/moving/changing my blog for months, but #AgChat conference really motivated me to make a plan. Over Winter Break, it was time to put the plan in action. I wrote these two blog posts about my transition (3 Re-branding Changes I Made In 2016 and 7 Re-branding Changes I Made for 2016). Roots Journey is just that - a journey, and always a work in progress, but I am proud of the progress I've made so far. I'm looking forward to some exciting announcements in 2016!

January

Return to Beck's - For the last week of Winter Break, I road tripped out to Indiana to visit my friends at Beck's again. Celina, next year's marketing intern rode out with me so we could work together on a few projects together. It was a great week and it felt good to be productive, but the highlight was showing Celina all the local restaurants with my old roommate Rachel. It was a yummy trip for sure!

Last First Day of School - I had my last first day of school - for a very long time at least just a few weeks ago. It was such a weird feeling. I woke up that day with a bad attitude, but read this blog post and you'll see I got turned around. Now I'm excited to make the most of these last weeks!

Start AgSolver - The last big event of my 21st year was starting a new job. I'm blessed to have a position as a Social Marketing Specialist for the semester. It's only been a couple weeks, but I'm very impressed with the products and team I work with. The only drawback is my office is so close to my favorite Ames restaurant, The Cafe! It takes so much self control to not grab lunch there every day!