Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 42

It's week 42 of the Why I  Farm Roadtrip! There's still a lot to accomplish between now and the end of May, so I'm going to keep this week's Monday Motivation blog short and sweet. Check out these three Midwest farmers' stories to get your week started with plenty of inspiration.

South Dakota farmer: Chris Breen

"I grew up one of six kids here. We’d help feed cows in the morning and wash out bull racks and drove trucks, helped combine, do the whole thing. You work your way up through everything, it's just like any other business. We've always been pretty self-sufficient and you don't take things for granted. We work a lot here, but we still enjoy the time we're working. I bring the kids a long to have fun here and let them see everything. Kinze, I'll have her out there when we're working cattle, she'll come out and help chase them in or she'll run a broom and learn to pick up things and listen. We get to have a little fun there and they also learn their boundaries." -Chris Breen of Breen Farms in Seneca, South Dakota

Illinois farmer: John Kennay

"Having the grandkids with me, it's a gift to them that they can actually experience and be in the machinery versus just seeing it on TV or alongside the road. My grandkids are used to it, but it's a treasure to me to let them experience it and drive. They don't need to drive straight, I don't care. I've spent a lot of time with grandkids in the cab. One in particular, we spent hundreds of hours together. He would not want to get out. Even at nine months old, he was with me nine hours. You change the diapers, clean the peanut butter off the windows, and then they fall asleep. I love having the kids out there, because that's what I did. I slept in the combine. I slept in the tractor. Now, to have them do it is awesome." -John Kennay, grain farmer of Ashton, Illinois

North Dakota farmer: Laura Rutherford

“I love this picture of my grandparents. Grandpa served in the Army during World War II, and was close to my age when this picture was taken. He came back and started farming with very little, but by the time he and Grandma passed away, they had built up the farm. It's amazing to think about where they started, what they accomplished and how they passed it on to their family. I look at the land, and I just think about the cost and the years of labor; the blood, the sweat, the tears, the time, and the personal investment. I think about what it took and how much it cost to be able to pass it on. My motivation is to be able to do the same thing for my kids that Grandpa did for his family. I want to be able to pass it on to them. I think that's what keeps all farmers going through the good years, the bad years, and the really bad years. The ups and downs of the markets, the politics, and the weather. I want to honor the memory of my grandpa. When my time as a farmer is over, I want to be able to say I followed in his footsteps, that I was a good steward too. That I worked hard, that I knew what it cost, and I that knew what it meant.” -Laura Rutherford, sugarbeet farmer near Grafton, North Dakota

Even though I'm only 23, this week's stories have me thinking about the legacy I'm building, and will some day leave for my future children. It makes me thankful for the generations before me that took the time to include me in their work. That they taught me lessons of responsibility and commitment, and paid the price of sweat and sleepless nights so I can be where I am today. Someday I want to say I built on that for the next generation. Guess I better get to work! Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 40

Wow, week 40! I can't believe I'm this far into the Why I Farm Roadtrip. Many days, I feel like I'm still learning how to live on the road and explain my experiences. As I cross the country from Georgia to California this week, these farmers are inspiring me to keep going. I hope their stories touch you as well.

North Dakota farmer: Scott Huso

"One day the phone rang and it was Fred, my distant cousin. I'll never forget, he said, 'Scott, Jane and I are thinking about exiting farming.' I said, 'Excuse me?' I couldn't really understand. He said, 'Jane and I are thinking about exiting farming and you're my first phone call.' I just about dropped the phone. I'm sure at some point in your life you’ve had situations when you're humbled beyond belief. That's what this was. He said, 'We're home right now, so if you want to come over and visit, come over as soon as you can.' I got over there and Jane said, ‘You have been our plan.’ Even thinking about it now, it's just mind blowing because that's the farm I grew up on. This year, I rented that land, the same land I learned how to do things on. I was working there when I was 12, 13, 14 years old." -Scott Huso, grain farmer of Aneta, North Dakota 

North Dakota farmer: Dana Dagman 

"I farm because it provides for our family, and it provides a future. It’s a bigger picture type of deal. You’re growing something that is either nourishing a person, an animal, or going into fuel. It’s one of those things where you can sit back at the end of the day and very much see what you’ve accomplished. I would have never expected to find myself here. I never would have expected to enjoy it the way I do, but I’m really glad we took the risk of coming back and doing it." -Dana Dagman of The Green Acres Report and Dagman Farms in Enderlin, North Dakota

North Dakota farmer: Tom Rohrich

"My heart has always been in farming. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years. When I was seven years old, I plowed with a three bottom and tractor. Now, you’ve got a 36 ft. drill and autosteer. The technology we’ve got today, if it wasn’t for Mark and Allan, I don’t think I could do it. The technology is really good, but it’s Mark and Allan, you know. Mark is in agronomy and kind of takes the role in that. Allan is into John Deere. He’s also real handy. He can about fix anything. I’m really proud of them." -Tom Rohrich on raising corn, sunflowers, soybeans and wheat with his sons Mark and Allan near Ashley, North Dakota

Whether the the big picture is clear, or you're still working to figure it out, I hope these farmers challenge you to keep it in mind. I'm sure this fast paced week on the road will come with it's fair share of frustrations and unexpected events. This morning, I'm challenging my self to take them in stride and remember the larger goal. Even when it's not the plan I've set out for myself, I'm determined to keep a positive attitude about the changes. I hope you'll do the same. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 38

I don't know about you, but after a weekend full of trudging through mud and a disappointing Packers game, I was in serious need of some motivation this morning. Fortunately, thanks to more than 30 weeks on the road, I knew the perfect solution. After revisiting these Why I Farm stories, I was ready to take on the week, rain or shine.

Indiana farmer: Scott Sands and family

 "I farm because God put the love for it into my heart. We’re just a small percent of the population so I feel like it’s an honor to farm, really. Not everybody does this, and it’s such a big job, and a lot of responsibility. I feel like I farm because I was given the love to do it." -Scott Sands and his family, of Claypool, Indiana

Indiana farmer: Brian Scott

“I love farming. I had to leave for about six years to know that. It’s hard to find the words, but it’s where I’m supposed to be, I know. I don’t think of it as a job. I hardly ever get stressed out. When I’m not working, I think about it and that’s okay. In my old job, when I was thinking about work when I wasn’t at work, that was stress. It’s a lifestyle as much as a career. It’s the freedom to take your own destiny in your hands and bring your family along with you.” -Brian Scott of The Farmer's Life in Delphi, Indiana

Minnesota farmers: Jonathan and Carolyn Olson

"I’ve been given the wonderful opportunity to farm. I love being out on the land. Sometimes as an organic farmer we do more passes because we’re doing more cultivation. We see the crops more, but I love every pass. It’s a great place to raise the kids and I love the lifestyle. Even though the hours are crazy sometimes, I truly enjoy it. I like being able to work together with my wife on the farm. Why do I farm? I guess it’s the love of it all." -Jonathan Olson and his wife Carolyn, crop and lifestock farmers near Cottonwood, Minnesota

This week was another great reminder to be thankful for the opportunities I've been given and do my work with passion. I hope these stories challenge you as well. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

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 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 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!

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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Motivation Monday: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 24

Week 23 on the Why I Farm Roadtrip was a busy one! I'm looking forward to seeing what week 24 has in store. These stories are my inspiration as I take on the adventures and challenges of the next seven days.

Kentucky farmer: Jim Gilles

“I’m the fifth generation. I went to the University of Kentucky, got a degree in Ag Economics, and decided I wanted to come back to the farm. I do whatever is needed around the farm. I don’t have a title, but the meat business is kind of my niche. This is the fourth year for it. When I first started it, there was a big education process. I learned to explain how we raise our animals, what we feed them, and why we do what we do. I’ve built a lot of relationships with my customers. You see them out everywhere. They’re always very complimentary of everything and update me on their kids, so it’s kind of cool to build that connection.” - Jim Gilles of Hill View Farms Meats, LLC in Owensboro, KY

Main farmers: Jenni and Dana Flood

"The tractors here are mostly green and yellow. My dad was a John Deere salesman and sold Dana's grandpa the very first John Deere they ever bought. As a matter of fact, it’s this tractor right here. That day, my dad was bound and determined to sell him a John Deere. He had woken up and said, ‘I’m going to sell George Flood a tractor today.’ He spent all day on the front step and finally sold it to him. As the tractor salesman’s daughter, I ended up being the parts girl. One day, I was working behind the counter in the parts department. I happened to be carrying two pails of hydraulic oil out from around the counter. I didn’t even notice Dana because he was just a young customer, younger than me. But apparently, in his way of telling it, he was like, ‘Well, look at her. That’s the woman for me.’" - Jenni Tilton-Flood and her husband, Dana, of Flood Brothers Farm, LLC in Clinton, Maine

Vermont farmer: Joanna Lidback

"I get really excited about what we have going on here because it’s like a dream come true for me. There’s a lot wrapped up in why I farm. A lot of it is personal and a little bit of family pride. I’m carrying on the tradition of raising Jerseys that my family started, and my husband, Adam is carrying on a tradition of farming here that his family started. It’s a beautiful life." - Joanna Lidback of The Farm at Wheeler Mountain in Barton, Vermont

Click on each photo to read the farmers' full Why I Farm blog post. I hope these stories inspire you to build relationships with your local farmers and chase your dreams this week. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 23

They say time flies when you're having fun. I've never believed it more. It doesn't seem possible that today is the start of week 23 on the road. Every week brings new opportunities, experiences and friends into my life. It all keeps me inspired and hungry for more stories. Here are a few stories that are top of my mind today.

New Hampshire farmers: Chuck & Diane Souther

“Chuck and I started farming in high school. We fell in love with the lifestyle of farming, worked for other farmers, and then in the late 70s were able to purchase this piece of land. We liked the fact that we could work together, experience the seasons, and be outside. We graduated school in ’74, got married in ’76, and bought the farm in ’78. So it was boom, boom, boom. It wasn’t a farm, it was just raw land. There were no buildings, no driveways, no nothing. Everything here we created and have slowly grown through the years. Now, we do farmers markets, a pick-your-own, and have a farm stand.” - Diane and Chuck Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord, New Hampshire

West Virginia farmer: Morgan Higginbotham

“My grandpa is now 86. He started farming with his father when he was 13. In 1947, when he was 17, he bought his first farm and started this business. My dad grew up there and I have grown up there, so I am carrying on the family tradition. Some of my fondest memories are going and selling wholesale produce with my grandpa. We used to load up the truck and go to grocery stores all around in this area. I’m a people person so I enjoy getting to see my customers. I love to see my regulars. It’s awesome for me. The thing that gets me out of bed is seeing the joy my grandpa gets. He is a great inspiration.” – Morgan Higginbotham of John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses in Harmony, West Virginia

Massachusetts farmers: Phillip & Elissa Miller

“Farming has been great for me because it makes me move. You can’t have animals and sit and do nothing. I have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. If you see me on a really bad day, you’ll see that I don’t walk well, and I’m not even 50. I need to keep going. Yeah, some days I want to throw in the towel, but I think about what it’s going to be like if I don’t have something to keep me going. No kids at home. Nobody in the area. No matter how hot or how cold it is, I have to go out and see the animals. I do it for my health, literally. I have to be able to move. I will sit and do nothing if I don’t have the animals to go see. So that’s why I farm.” – Elissa Miller of Walnut Kitchen Homestead in Orange, Massachusetts

Click on each photo to read the farmers' full stories. I hope they inspire you to create your dreams, honor family traditions, and persevere through challenges. Have a great week! Thanks for reading!

Motivation Monday: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 22

Hello again, Monday! I can't believe I've got another week of the Why I Farm Roadtrip is under my belt. I'm starting week 22 traveling the Midwest today. Here are a few stories that have been especially meaningful to me this week.

Ohio farmer: Rachael Vonderhaar

“I think what’s unique about the agricultural community as a whole is when we do have, what you would call free time, we choose to use it for improving our communities. Your farmers are the ones who are participating in a lot of your non-profit organizations because we care about the ground so much. We care about the community we live in. It’s just who agriculture is. We’re caretakers. We’re looking to raise food for the people around us, and we care for the people we’re raising the food for. I think sometimes that’s the part that gets missed is how much agriculture’s not only investing into the food system, but the community in which they live. Agriculture is willing to step up because we love our community, this is where our roots are. We want to make sure it develops into a community we want to be a part of and proud of. That makes you willing to give your time, your hands, and your heart.” – Rachael Vonderhaar of Vonderhaar Farms in Camden, OH

Ohio farmers: Keith & Beverly Schmidt

“Farming is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I worked construction when I didn’t have enough to farm to make a living, but farming was always my goal. We had some good neighbors who helped us get started. And I couldn’t have done it without my wife. There were times we couldn’t buy a gallon of milk, but we made it. Had it not been for her encouragement and us working together, we would never have made it. I think we’d do it all over again. Even with the struggles. It gets in your blood and you do anything to survive, just so you can keep farming.” – Keith and Beverly Schmidt of Eaton, OH

Maryland farmer: Robert Black

“My dad got the farm in 1961. In the beginning, my father had worked for the owner, Mr. Kelbaugh. Mr. Kelbaugh had no children and my father got more interested in it, so they worked out the deal that if my father did a good job of managing it, he would help share in the profits. That’s how my father got this farm. It’s kind of unique. Today, the farm is divided into 80 percent orchard, and 20 percent vegetables and other produce. My sister and I are here seven days a week basically. We’re crazy, but that’s just what we do. It’s neat to see folks say, ‘Man that’s the best cantaloupe I have ever eaten!’ If the fruit doesn’t taste good, then we don’t sell it. That’s kind of our motto. It has to taste good.” – Robert Black of Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Thurmont, Maryland.

Click on the photos to read each farmer's original post. I hope their stories inspire you to think about your community, care for your neighbors, and work hard this week. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 15

It's Monday again already, which means another week of the Why I Farm Roadtrip is under my belt! I can't believe I'm starting week 15 today! As I get further into this experience, I get more and more excited to share the stories of the farmers and feed, fuel and clothe us all. Here are a few that have been especially meaningful to me this week.

Nebraska farmer: Shannon Peterson

“My husband and I have been married almost 18 years now. We are in a partnership with his brother and his mom. We the fourth generation on his family’s farm. The kids will hopefully be the fifth. I love the outdoors, I love the animals. Calving season is my ultimate favorite. It’s by far my busiest time of the year, little to no sleep seems like. My kids like to come and help tag, so that’s really fun when they jump on the four wheeler with me and go out and help me check cows. It’s fun to watch over the years, what they’ve grown to learn and know.” – Shannon Peterson of Gothenburg, Nebraska

Nebraska farmer: Chris Niemann

“I was coming home to help for harvest when it really hit me that if I stayed in Oklahoma City, Dad is not getting any younger. When he’s done, it would technically be my turn. But if I don’t want anything to do with it and I’ve never been home to learn anything, then I’m either going to send the fourth-generation farm into the ground or I’m going to sell it. I don’t want to that. Grandpa busted for it, Dad has busted for it. That’s when everything came together. There’s a lot of bullets to be sweat, a lot of tears to be shed, a lot of smiles to be had, and a lot of remotes to be thrown at TVs. Some days, I don’t know why we do it. But I do know I love it. After everything else I’ve done, I wouldn’t do anything else." – Chris Niemann of Dwight, Nebraska

Kentucky farmers: Hayden family

"Why I do this, honestly, is because of my mom and dad. I look at everything we have here and I see these people who worked their butts off. My dad was one of six kids. He grew up poor. And he worked really hard every day, not only to build his electric company but to build this farm. This wasn’t a farm that was handed down from generation to generation. He started it. Dan and I are the second generation on this piece of land. I watched him build it from the ground up. I remember when we had a couple milk cows and tobacco. Seeing everything that he did, that’s why. The passion he has for farming and agriculture, that only made the passion inside of me grow even more." – David Hayden of Hayden Farms in Philpot, KY (Pictured L-R: Martin, Daniel, David and Joan Hayden)

Nebraska farmer: Deb Gangwish

“We take care of our farm because if we don’t treat Mother Nature well, Mother Nature doesn’t take care of us. You have to honor what you have. There may be thousands of acres around here but to us, it’s our backyard. I never think of big fields as big fields; I think of them as pieces of the planet that we have to take care of or it’s not going to be around. Sometimes I think too much, but we’re just part of such a bigger picture.” - Deb Gangwish of PG Farms in Shelton, Nebraska

Click on the photos to read each farmer's original post. I hope their stories inspire you to enjoy the outdoors, step up to responsibility, appreciate your family, and look at the big picture this week. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!

Monday Motivation: Why I Farm Roadtrip Week 14

I'm starting week 14 of this crazy, Why I Farm Roadtrip adventure, and I'm still overflowing with inspiration. There are so many great stories to be told, there hasn't even been a split second I've thought, "Why the heck am I out here? Why am I doing this?" I feel so blessed. I know there are a lot of people that can't say that about their jobs. Here are a few stories that have been especially touching to me this week.

Illinois farmer: Kent Blunier

“Three or four years ago, we had a tornado come through here. It threw the roof of a shed on top of another one. Between my place and Dad’s, we had 12 trees that went down, and two of them went right across my driveway. So, the next morning we got up, started cutting wood, and moving things. By noon, we had 15 people here. I never made a phone call. Dad never made a phone call. They just showed up.” - Kent Blunier of Forrest, IL

Massachusetts farmers: Laura, Lisa, and Angela

Laura, Lisa, and Angela are co-farmers at Sweetwater Farm and sell many of their products at the Petersham, Massachusetts Farmers' Market each week.

“Lisa and I were roommates in college. We were both looking for summer jobs. I was looking for jobs in theater and she was looking for jobs at a goat farm. We kept reading job descriptions to each other and I was like, ‘Wow, that just sounds so much cooler. I love the idea of living on a farm in Vermont and milking goats.’ After I did my summer internship at a theater, I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore. I was really interested in my food and where it came from, so I started gardening with the school garden and switched my major to environmental studies. I went abroad and studied sustainability and really decided I wanted to be a farmer.” - Laura (left)

“I think it’s really exciting to grow your own food. I never get tired of it. Being self-sufficient is really satisfying. We’re growing flint corn and we can grind our own corn meal. Being able to make your own corn bread from your own corn meal is super awesome. It’s definitely a big part of why we do this crazy thing - farming.” - Lisa (center)

“Having living things that are your responsibility, the animals and the plants, is kind of like having a billion children. I know all these things are depending on me. Not to mention, the people that will be eating our food. Not doing your job is not an option. It’s not really a choice anymore to lounge around in bed on a Sunday morning when you know that the goat needs to be milked, the chickens need to go outside, it’s 90 degrees already and things are wilting. My biggest motivation is knowing it’s on me to make sure all these things are successful.” - Angela (right)

Massachusetts farmer: Karen and her daughter Victoria

“I came from New Zealand, but my husband is American. I moved to this state 20 years ago. I’ve always grown vegetables. I started with a small garden, grew lots of stuff, and gave it to a lot of friends. They said, ‘Wow! This is great! You should sell it.’ So I started at markets and got bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Even when my daughter was little, we still had to keep doing it, so she just got carted along. It means I can stay home and be my own boss and grow good food for myself and my family. We preserve a lot that we eat off season. The surplus I share with other people.” - Karen of Kiwi Meadow Farm

Click on the photos to read each farmer's original post. I hope their stories inspire you to help your neighbors, try something new, and find what you love this week. Also, in celebration of last week's National Farmers Market Week (I met several of these farmers at the farmers market) meet a farmer in your neighborhood by visiting a market near you. Happy Monday! Thanks for reading!