Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Wow! I still can’t believe this is happening!

Raising a Farmer started as a blog in 2014. I still remember who I was sitting at the table with, in Kansas City at a DairyMom workshop. I remember the first person I was encouraged by to take the leap of faith to start a blog. I still remember those feelings of the “why” and the “what will they think”? At that time in my life I was feeling unheard. I had a toddler, a dairy farm, working off farm and felt I was losing my mind. I was constantly having to defend  myself at farm meetings, “Yes I milk cows. Yes, I go out to the barn everyday.” The explaining to friends why I couldn’t just drop everything and go. The feelings of my toddler crying and only three cows left to milk. The feelings of completely failing as a parent, wife, farmer and woman. The feelings of constant disappointment and the eventual invitations to stop. That is where Raising a Farmer was born. To share. To share the joys, the hardship and the good stuff.

In 2019 we sold our dairy cows. We have transitioned our farm to direct market selling pork, beef, poultry and lamb.   

Over the years Raising a Farmer has evolved. Being honest about mental health, creating fun imperfect cooking videos, simple recipes and docu-style interviews of farmers and the communities we call home.  The education element of Raising a Farmer has flourished through the years, with that brings you Raising a Farmer Non-Profit. An organization focused on community engagement and education about art, food, farming and community.

February 2019 I testified in front of the Minnesota House Agricultural & Food Finance and Policy. The words I spoke is the undercurrent and force of Raising a Farmer Non-Profit. "It's our job to create the community we want our kids to come home to. It's our job to create the community we want our kids to live in."

Happy New Year to 2023!