HUMAN INTEREST

The Illinois Farm Family Who Inspired Lay’s ‘Last Harvest’ Super Bowl Commercial

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:28:26 GMT

It was a one-minute spot that captured hearts on Super Bowl Sunday. Lay’s “Last Harvest” commercial told the story of a farm family passing the torch from one generation to the next, rooted in memories, hard work and the bond between parent and child.

While the story in the Super Bowl ad was fictional, it was inspired by the real-life experiences of third-generation potato producer Tom Neumiller and his daughter Katie Floming, the fourth generation working alongside him at Neumiller Farms in Savanna, Ill.

A Story That Hits Home

Floming, operations manager at Neumiller Farms, recalls watching the commercial for the first time.

“I was so touched. It really hit home for me,” she says. “Growing up, if I wanted to see my parents, I had to go to the farm because they were always working. That’s where we spent our family time, quick meals, then back to work. I loved it. There are no complaints there. Being present at the farm was everything.”

The commercial’s depiction of a young girl chasing her parents through potato fields and learning the ropes mirrored Katie’s own childhood experiences. She laughs as she recalls one particular scene.

“When she came outside wearing white tennis shoes to work, that hit home. I remember showing up in sandals, and my dad would just shake his head. I had to go home and change,” Floming says..

For Neumiller, seeing their family’s life portrayed on such a massive stage was humbling.

“Farmers don’t usually end up in Super Bowl commercials, but this is very nice,” he says. “For that one-minute ad, they captured a farm family and our legacy all in one. It was just amazing.”

Floming adds that the story resonated with many viewers beyond their family.

“It’s very relatable. People would come up at the Super Bowl and say, ‘My grandfather was in that situation’ or ‘My family didn’t have the option to pass it on.’ It’s a story that connects with most people,” she says.

Farming in Northern Illinois: Unique Challenges

Neumiller Farms isn’t a typical potato operation. Neumiller explains growing potatoes in northern Illinois requires creativity, considering they are the lone family growing potatoes in northern Illinois.

“We’re the only ones in the area,” Neumiller says. “You need good water and light, sandy soil. Illinois has pockets of sand, so we’ve become a very mobile farm. We have one farm 150 miles away, another 30 miles south and another 15 miles north. It allows us to manage the light soils and adequate water we need.”

Floming now manages daily operations, but Neumiller remains deeply involved.

“I’m old school. I want to be involved in everything,” he says. “I talk to the managers every day. I get here early and stay around, maybe too long, but I stay involved in everything.”

The family works side by side, literally.

Floming says: “Our desks are right next to each other. We’re constantly feeding off each other, and we always know what’s going on.”

Neumiller smiles, adding: “My wife’s on the other side, and we’ve been married 54 years. She’s been involved in the business from way back.”

“He doesn’t get a break,” Floming quips.

Passing the Torch

Though Neumiller hopes for a few more harvests, Floming embraces the responsibility of continuing the family legacy.

“I’m very thankful to still be farming alongside my dad,” she says. “He’s grown the farm, but it’s my responsibility to keep it going, for our family, our employees and our community. I want to do the best I can to preserve our foundation while building for the future.”

A plaque on the wall of Neumiller Farms signifies seven decades of producing potatoes for Frito-Lay, a partnership that made their story perfect for Lay’s Super Bowl spotlight.

Neumiller reflects on the broader significance: “All of us farmers, we’re not usually in the spotlight. But it’s an honor to show the connection between soil, farming and the food we produce. Sustainability, passing on the farm, doing the job right — it all matters. Our story continues, and that’s what I hope to pass on.”

A Last Harvest That Connected Us All

As Lay’s “Last Harvest” reminded viewers on Super Bowl Sunday, the foods we enjoy come from real families working the land, generation after generation. For the Neumillers, that legacy is alive and thriving, one potato at a time, creating a story that connected us all.

If you thought the 60-second commercial was memorable, watch the full three-minute version on Lay’s YouTube page .

Beyond the Touchdown: How Former NFL Player Mark Inkrott Found His Heroes in Dairy Farmers

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:59:43 GMT

Before, his heroes were Joe Montana and Michael Jordan; now, former professional football player, Mark Inkrott shares he now looks up to dairy farmers. At the 2025 MILK Business Conference in Las Vegas, Inkrott took center stage at Unscripted Live to offer a compelling narrative of perseverance and grit. His journey from the fields of professional sports to the agriculture industry serves as an inspiring beacon for anyone navigating life’s uncertainties, reminding us that purpose can be discovered in the most unexpected places.

From Football Fields to Farms
Inkrott’s journey is a tale that meanders through the unforgiving world of professional sports to the equally challenging realm of agribusiness. Originally hailing from a small town in Ohio, Inkrott’s roots were deeply embedded in agriculture, thanks to the influence of his farmer grandfather. It wasn’t just the skill of farming he learned but also the values of hard work, resilience and determination — traits that would serve him well in his later career as a professional athlete.

Although Inkrott never grew up on a farm, his experiences there shaped his outlook on life. Despite facing setbacks in his football career, including injuries and being cut from teams, his unwavering determination helped him break into the NFL, a testament to the power of perseverance.

A New Direction
After a stint in Europe and with the New York Giants, a career-ending injury forced Inkrott to reassess his path. He discovered his next chapter, ironically, as a professional athlete again, but this time in the field of softball, where the competition was as fierce as the camaraderie was rewarding. However, the realization of impermanence led him to the insurance sector after Hurricane Katrina, where he helped rebuild lives, albeit temporarily losing sight of his own purpose.

The turning point arrived with a meaningful opportunity in the dairy industry. Inkrott says he took a drastic pay cut to join the dairy industry, at ADA Mideast, and then with DMI, where he found not just a job but a renewed sense of meaning. Surrounded by the same hardworking spirit he admired in his grandfather, Inkrott once again thrived, building essential relationships with both mentors and farmers who inspired him daily.

“There was something about dairy farmers, where I just wanted to spend more time with them,” he says.

The Intersection of Athletics and Agriculture
Inkrott recalls how the lessons from his athletic career — discipline, grit and sheer doggedness — echo throughout the agricultural community. His time with high-profile athletes like Kurt Warner taught him true professionalism extends beyond the field and into every aspect of life. It’s about cooperation, adaptation and having a goal larger than oneself; a message he found resonating deeply within the community of dairy producers.

Inkrott says there is a striking similarity between the highly competitive world of professional sports and the demanding life of agriculture.

“Both fields require a relentless pursuit of excellence, a belief in oneself, and the ability to weather storms, both literal and metaphorical,” he says.

Navigating New Horizons
As Inkrott transitioned from professional sports to agribusiness, he embraced another challenging journey: entrepreneurship. Ten years into running Upfield Group, Inkrott finds fulfillment in the difficulty, as it challenges him much like his athletic career did. His journey is a powerful reminder that the pursuit of one’s calling is ongoing, and each twist and turn is part of the larger, fulfilling tapestry of life.

Inkrott tells farmers who are stuck to trust in technology, embrace continuous learning and listen to your heart.

“Recognize when it’s time to pivot and embrace what lies ahead with the same passion that led you to farming,” he says.

Inkrott’s story is a beacon for those experiencing their own ebbs and flows, proving that life’s greatest victories often come from our greatest challenges. As we continue the journey, embracing resilience and finding joy in the pursuit will always lead us toward a fulfilled and purposeful life.

To watch the full Unscripted Podcast: Unscripted Mark Inrott_milk Business Conference

Where Hope Takes Root: The Grit That Saved a 90-Year-Old Family Farm

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:21:32 GMT

In the rolling hills of Napa Valley’s Los Carneros region, the scene often looks idyllic. Morning fog drapes the vineyards, and the quiet hum of farm life feels timeless. But behind the postcard-perfect setting stands a family that has survived nearly 90 years of grit, risk and reinvention — and a fourth-generation farmer who refused to let 2024 be the end of their story.

“I am the fourth generation carrying on this family legacy,” says grape grower Jennifer Thomson, walking the same ground her great-grandmother once chose with remarkable instinct.

A Legacy Born From the Dust Bowl

Long before Napa Valley became synonymous with world-class wine, the Thomson family put down roots here in 1938. Thomson’s great-grandmother, Jenny Ophelia Barnum Thomson — a descendant of the famed Barnum circus family — had the courage to pursue opportunity when most would have turned back.

“It was the Great Dust Bowl and the Great Depression driving many families west for new opportunity,” Thomson says. “As migration was happening toward the West Coast for better economic opportunities, they moved here and were able to purchase this land.”

What she bought wasn’t just acreage. It was a vibrant Carneros hub complete with orchards, worker housing and a blacksmith shop. Women couldn’t legally own land at the time, but the deed was placed in her name for only a day, a testament to the trailblazer she was. Then, the land deed was moved into her husband’s name. But the vision, Thomson says, was her great-grandmother’s.

“For her to have that foresight to take that risk and purchase land here — you think about that today,” Thomson says. “She was doing what any family does: contributing to the family. There was water in the Carneros Creek, there were prunes, pears and apples already planted, and they had the ingenuity and engineering to successfully farm. Sometimes you just have to lead with your intuition, and I think that’s what she was doing.”

A Daughter Returns Home — and a New Fight Begins

Four generations later, that same intuition runs deep. In 2009, Thomson left her job in San Francisco and came home to take over the ranch from her father, George.

“Did I ever think Jen would be the one to take over?” George says with a small laugh. “No. I am surprised. I am thankful.”

When she arrived, the wine industry was in the middle of the 2008–2009 recession.

“When I took over in 2009, my father says to me, ‘You picked the absolute worst time to get into farming,’” Thomson recalls. “And then 2024 and 2025 happened. Farmers ask one another, ‘Is this as bad as 2008 or 2009? Is it better? Worse? Did we just forget?’ Because I took over so young, I already was prepared more than my peers.”

But today’s pressures, she says, feel heavier.

“There are not as many channels for sales, not as many stable partners to work with. If I’m a betting woman, I do think 2025 and going into 2026 will be more of a struggle than ever before for the California wine industry.”

Read More: Grape Growers Desperately Need You to Drink More Wine as They Grapple With a Glut of Uncontracted Grapes

So, why is it so challenging for grape growers today? It’s complex. Not only has demand dwindled, with a Gallup poll showing alcohol consumption is at a 90-year low, but an abundant supply the past few years has suffocated the grape growing region. As more vineyards take vines out, that will help the supply situation, but it’s coming at a cost. The other issue is the sellers, like Thomson, and buyers, as in wineries, haven’t always come to the table to find a solution. Cheap imports have flooded the market, and it’s at a much cheaper price than what it costs to grow grapes in California.

Thomson’s father agrees with her, saying the California grape and wine industry is facing one of its most challenging chapters yet.

“It is very challenging,” George says. “The market is sort of against us. Tastes are changing. There are more government regulations on what you can do with your property to make a living.”

Still, he keeps believing.

“Do I think we’ll get out of this? I have my fingers crossed. With people like Jennifer, I believe they’ll keep working at it. They won’t give in easily,” George says.

The Year the Grapes Had No Home

But nothing prepared the family for what came in 2024.

“This home ranch produces a little over 300 tons of grapes annually,” Jennifer says. “And in 2024, nearly all of those 300 tons are dropped on the ground and go unharvested.”

All of them?

“All of them,” she says quietly.

Demand had plummeted. Oversupply strangled the region. And for the first time in the ranch’s nine-decade history, not a single cluster had a home.

It was a moment when most growers would consider walking away. But Jennifer didn’t.

Refusal to Quit

But this is where the story gets good, and where you’re reminded you can’t underestimate the determination of a family farmer, especially Thomson. After all, grit is woven into this family’s DNA. And she leaned on every ounce of it.

“In 2025, I make a true farmer with good ingenuity,” she says. “I make sure I shake hands. I talk with previous clients. I source new clients. I put a lot of hustle into exploring new relationships and cultivating the ones we already have. And we are fortunate this year to sell all of our grapes.”

Her father says the same drive is what transformed the ranch the moment she took over 15 years ago.

“We were able to make a living at it, at least pay the taxes,” George says. “But the property really never makes money until Jennifer says, ‘I think I can do that.’ I hand her the keys and the checkbook.”

George says he always had an off-farm job, but for this first time in his memory, Thomson’s keen business sense and intuition turned the family vineyard into one that could finally support itself.

“Jennifer turns it around for the first time in my life that the property actually supports itself,” he says, emotion thick in his voice. “How proud am I? Extremely proud. She has the foresight, the hunger, the passion. The intelligence. She had all the parts. She has them now.”

One of the Last Family Farmers Standing

In a region rapidly shifting toward corporate ownership, Jennifer is part of a shrinking group — farmers who still drive their own tractors, repair their own equipment and deliver their own fruit.

“I feel more of a pull to the land than I ever predicted when I first took over,” she says. “I took over to help my family and retain this ranch for future generations. But working alongside our crew for 15 years, working with winery partners who value our family legacy and this 90-year-old ranch — I certainly feel much more drawn to the land than I ever think I would.”

Some estimates point to less than 25% of the growers left in the region are true family farmers, a dwindling group that is fighting to remain rooted here.

Gratitude Amid the Hardship

Despite the hardships, Thomson carries deep gratitude — especially this Thanksgiving season.

“I’m really grateful my great-grandmother has the foresight in 1938 to buy a wonderful piece of land with wonderful water availability,” she says. “I have a great-grandfather and grandfather who worked with the Federal Soil Conservation Department and built an on-stream reservoir. It allows us to irrigate our crops and keeps our vines healthier.”

She is thankful for her community, too.

“I’m thankful for that core group of family farmers. We band together. We support one another. We share our successes and we share our failures. That camaraderie can’t be duplicated.”

A Story Still Being Written

The Thomsons’ story, once born out of Dust Bowl desperation, endures because each generation chooses resilience over retreat. And in 2024 — after a year when every grape fell to the ground — it was Jennifer’s resolve that carried the legacy forward.

Every grape has a home again in 2025. And because of her, the family’s story isn’t just continuing, it’s growing stronger.

4 Natural Disasters in 13 Months Leave Florida Dairy Strong as Ever

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:30:17 GMT

As Hurricane Helene ripped through northern Florida in fall 2024, one farm in its path was Full Circle Dairy, home to the Watts family, 3,900 lactating cows and 50 employees.

The Category 4 hurricane, moving at over 120 miles per hour through several southeastern states, would deliver devastation throughout the region — something the dairy had been all too familiar with in recent months.

Helene came on the heels of Hurricane Idalia in August 2023, a tornado in May 2024 and Hurricane Debby in September 2024. Being the fourth disaster to hit the farm within 13 months, Helene found the Full Circle Dairy team as prepared as they could be, but it still left the worst damage.

(Full Circle Dairy)

“Hurricane Helene caused three-fourths of one of our freestall barns, which houses 800 cows, to collapse,” recalls Philip Watts, operations manager and fifth-generation dairy farmer. “We were in the middle of milking two groups in that barn. Thankfully, the gates were open and most of the cows were able to walk out of the barn when it started to collapse, reducing the number of animals in the barn.”

Throughout the storm, Watts says they maintained normal milking operations as long as they could. As soon as it became unsafe for employees, they paused to ride out the hurricane. Helene left significant damage to the commodity barn, too, meaning much of the extra feed they’d had delivered ahead of time was also lost.

From the previous storms, the farm had learned to prepare by securing any small items that could blow around and by adding extra sand to the plastic covering for the hay and straw to prevent feed from being ruined or blown away.

“Due to losing several fans from previous hurricane winds, we went through and zip-tied nearly 900 fans to prevent damage,” Watts says. “We were fortunate to have experienced Helene last in having learned ways to better prepare the farm.”

(Full Circle Dairy)

The days and weeks following the storm were challenging to say the least, but a positive mindset made all the difference.

“When the disaster hits, understand this is temporary and this will pass. Most likely, when you get past this, you will be stronger and better in the future,” Watts says.

Backup power kept milking equipment, water and barn fans operational, maintaining essential cow care despite power loss.

“We relocated heifers after the barn collapse and retrofitted a heifer freestall barn to house lactating and dry cows after the storm,” Watts says.

“The farm also received a tremendous amount of support from local agricultural groups offering to assist with storm cleanup,” he adds. “The Florida commissioner of agriculture, along with other local representatives, made a visit to the farm post-storm to assess damage.”

Beyond the Storm

Just weeks after the storm passed was a ribbon-cutting for a new RNG facility, a full-scale dairy manure to pipeline quality RNG operation expected to produce an average of 100,000 dekatherms annually. At full capacity, the emission reduction will be equivalent to powering 3,500 homes for a year.

(Full Circle Dairy)

“This project is another milestone into the sustainability practices that we implement at Full Circle Dairy,” Watts says. “Our use of technology on the farm is to gain efficiencies for our team members as well as our animals to prioritize their comfort and care.”

Watts’ parents, Greg and Cindy Watts, are the founders of Full Circle Dairy, and together it’s their goal to provide an opportunity for the next generation on the farm. Integral to the farm’s sustainability efforts is their approach to involving not only their own families but also the local community.

“We welcome school groups, FFA chapters, 4-H groups and more for scheduled tours throughout the year,” Watts says. “We also share our dairy farming story at numerous local community events.”

With the natural disasters moving further into the rearview, Watts says, “Over the next five to 10 years, we will continue to focus on progressive, sustainable and profitable practices.”

Their work in sustainability, resilience and innovation has truly come full circle, several times over.

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Tragic Turn: Trailer of Show Pigs Bursts Into Flames on I-80

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:58:52 GMT

With the windows rolled down and the sun on his face, Chad Rieck admits he was having a pretty good day driving down Interstate 80. He was pulling a trailer with four gilts, and one of those gilts was bringing home the title of Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt from the Aksarben Stock Show.

For Chad and his wife, Amy, spending precious time with their 17-year-old daughter Hollynn at a stock show is something they don’t take for granted. Their busy daughter, now a senior, was juggling the show weekend with homecoming, volleyball and dance team. Because of this, she drove separately to the show with her mom to squeeze in more of her school activities.

Separated by a couple minutes on the interstate, they were chatting on the phone keeping each other awake on the drive from Grand Island, Neb., back to their farm in Creston, Iowa. Suddenly, the traffic slowed down and their day took a tragic turn.

A car burning alongside I-80 held up traffic for miles.

(NDOT)

Igniting the Fire

“I remember my wife saying, ‘Traffic is starting to get bad,’” Rieck recalls. “I told her there was an accident up ahead and we’d get through it eventually.”

When he came upon the scene, he discovered a car burning alongside the road. By this time, he had rolled up his windows and slowly drove by the car. No emergency vehicles were on the scene, so Chad estimates the fire had probably started within three to five minutes of when he passed it.

“The front of the car was fully engulfed in flames,” Rieck describes. “The driver’s portion to the back of the car was starting to get hot – hot, hot flames. My fear of driving by was, ‘What if there’s a gas tank there, and that gas tank blows? That’s going to be bad.’”

When he drove by, something burst.

“It wasn’t the gas tank that blew, but something, whether it was a fuel line, a tire or whatever, blew a ‘poof’ of flames,” he says.

About a mile after he passed the car on fire – maybe one or two minutes at most – Rieck noticed smoke rolling out of the trailer. At first, he thought maybe some smoke from the fire got in through the open trailer windows. Then, he wondered if he blew a tire.

“I’m looking in the mirrors checking for that and continually rolling,” he says. “I see a semi behind me begin to flash his lights at me. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got problems.’”

Fortunately, he was coming upon an exit ramp. He jumped off the interstate and threw the truck in park as soon as he could.

“My wife’s still on the phone with me at this point,” he says. “I jump out of the truck and see the trucker running up with a couple of fire extinguishers. Because of him, I was able to get the back doors opened on the trailer. We got most of the flames down but didn’t have enough to get the fire completely out.”

When he opened the door, he saw that their banner-winning Poland China gilt was already dead, but the three other pigs were hanging on to life.

“The Poland gilt was on the back of the trailer and had somehow broken out of her pen trying to get away,” he says.

The burning trailer was caught on camera by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT).

(NDOT)

Roadside Rescue

The fire picked up again as he tried to figure out how to get the pigs off the trailer.

“When I parked the trailer at the show, we left some tack in the trailer. So, I locked the ramp and the driver side walk-through door,” he explains. “I ran to get the key that I thought was in the truck, but there was no key there. Now, I’m just frantic.”

With no way to get to the three pigs still on the trailer, he grabbed for the big cart they hauled tack with that was standing upright in the back pen.

“Not a smart deal,” Rieck recalls. “I grabbed it with my hand, and now I’ve got some nice blisters. But even if I could have moved that cart, it wouldn’t have mattered. I had to get the pigs out the side ramp.”

The trucker ran back with a crowbar and Rieck broke the latches off the ramp door to get the ramp down. Flames greeted him. He was running out of options. He ran around to the other side’s ramp, broke that latch off and ended up getting two pigs out.

“The third pig was scared and wouldn’t come out, so I had to reach in through one of the sides to push her out,” he says. “I ended up with some burns on my arm from that, but I finally got her out.”

At this point, the trailer is still on fire. The trucker told Rieck to unhook his truck and pull it away from the trailer now that the pigs were out.

“I would have never thought of doing that,” he adds. “We had a gas can and small generator in the tack room of the trailer, so I went to work to get that out of there before we had an even bigger problem. Fortunately, the tack room was in decent shape, likely because there was a door between it and the main part of the trailer.”

Once the fire truck arrived, they focused on the trailer first. Megan Hobbs says she was able to gather buckets from the tack room to start filling to get to water all three pigs who were alive at the time. Unfortunately, they lost the Duroc, so they had to turn their focus to the remaining two.

(Megan Hobbs)

Meanwhile, people began showing up and helping with the pigs that were now scattered.

“I had one pig walking down the exit ramp,” Rieck says. “Meanwhile, one gilt was hunkered down under a tree in the ditch and the third was dying alongside the exit ramp. I’m in shock at this point – walking around and asking myself why.”

Stock show people he had never met before like Joe and Megan Hobbs of Newton, Kan., turned around and came back to help.

“As soon as we arrived at the scene, there was another young lady who worked for Legacy Livestock Imaging that had also stopped to help,” explains Megan Hobbs. “We immediately just jumped into action getting any and all water available to help cool the pigs down. At the beginning all we had was cooler water and water bottles. In those situations you don’t ask for permission, you just go with what your gut tells you to do.”

(Chad Rieck)

A Little Bit Ironic

When the York Fire Department showed up, they quickly went to work extinguishing the fire in the trailer. Hobbs says she kept running water back and forth from the firetruck to the people caring for the gilts alongside the road.

“God put us in the right place at the right time,” Hobbs says. “We trusted our gut turning around to go help as we just knew it was probably one of our own from the livestock industry that needed help.”

The firefighters on the scene also reached out to a firefighter in a nearby department, David May, who had show pigs.

“I received a call from dispatch when I was about 5 miles from my farm heading home with pigs from the show,” May says. “They said there was a vehicle fire involving a trailer with larger pigs and asked if I could help wrangle and haul the surviving pigs. Of course, I didn’t hesitate and was already on the move.”

May devised a plan to get his pigs off his trailer quickly and navigate through the piled-up interstate traffic.

“I had my 16-year-old daughter Braxtyn with me, so we began talking through things on the drive there,” May says. “I even joked with her, ‘It’s probably someone who kicked our butt today.’ But that didn’t cause either of us to hesitate to help however possible.”

When May got to the scene, he immediately recognized the pickup. It had been parked directly beside his truck during loadout about 45 minutes ago.

“I recognized the people and confirmed I didn’t know them,” May says. “I parked and walked up to assess and gather information. Within a minute, another Iowa trailer showed up to get the live hogs. We discussed what to do with the now two deceased pigs. I offered to put them on my trailer and dispose.”

After all the pigs were on trailers and the firefighters had inspected Rieck’s trailer to confirm it was safe to haul home, Rieck went over to talk to Braxtyn and thank her for coming to help.

Hollynn Rieck’s Champion Poland and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

“For some reason, I wanted to try to cheer this kid up who had just seen this devastation,” Rieck says. “I tried to distract her by asking if she showed a pig that day, and she said, ‘Yes, I was third place with my Poland gilt.’”

It was definitely a little ironic, both dads admit. Their kids had been competing against each other just a few hours earlier. They loaded their pigs up beside each other and took off about the same time. As they got back into their trucks and trailers for the second time that day, they both spent some time reflecting on their drive home.

A Case of Bad Luck

Hollynn drove her dad back in the truck and trailer because he was still in shock. All Rieck could think about was what he could have done differently.

“I saw a number of trailers roll right on by as we stood there with the trailer smoldering,” Rieck says. “I know the next time I see a car fire, I’m going to feel like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. I’m going to be like, ‘Don’t drive through it.’ Maybe I could have gotten in the ditch more, but that’s not safe either.”

It was the kind of incident that you could never predict, May says. Typically, a trailer fire starts with a bad wheel bearing, then the wheel gets hot or locks up. Eventually, the tire catches on fire and results in heavy black smoke that’s easily visible.

(Chad Rieck)

“Most livestock trailer fires start on the outside of the trailer,” May says. “But this fire started inside the trailer. This was a completely freak accident.”

The odds of something hot coming off the car at the precise moment Rieck drove by while also entering the trailer is one in trillions, he adds.

“It’s a bad-luck lottery. It could never have been predicted,” May says. “But, just like so many instances in life, you just have to react and adapt as plans change.”

Still, Rieck says he learned some valuable lessons going through this experience. He will make sure his next trailer has fire extinguishers. He won’t travel with his doors locked on his trailer. He’s also going to invest in some wireless cameras to put into his trailer.

Stock Show Support

When they returned home, a veterinarian confirmed the gilts who survived the trailer fire needed to be euthanized, as their injuries were too severe. Rieck says it was hard on Hollynn to walk through an empty pig barn the next day. Although it’s not an uncommon thing, as every show season comes to an end, this was not the ending she expected. She had high hopes of taking the Poland gilt to the American Royal in a few weeks.

Hollynn won Champion Poland China Gilt and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Amy Rieck)

For Rieck, the hardest part was calling the breeders who leased them the gilts and telling them what happened.

“The personal financial portion of this isn’t much compared to having to contact those breeders and let them know about the fire,” Rieck says. “We work with Hunter Langholff to get some of our pigs. I can only imagine what the conversation was like with me screaming and yelling about the pigs right after it happened. I’ll never forget Hunter calmly saying, ‘Do not worry about that. These breeders will only care that you, Hollynn and Amy are fine. Pigs can be replaced.’”

With a few tears in his eyes, Rieck says he never wants to take his stock show friends for granted.

“Stock show people are pretty special,” he adds. “Because guess what? We all wanted to win that day. We raise our kids in the show ring and in the show barn for a reason. It’s so we can be around these people. My daughter is going to be a much stronger person because of the experiences that she’s had winning and losing in the show ring and yes, even going through this trailer fire.”

Hollynn says she’s already learned a lot from the fire.

“I am so thankful for all of the people who stopped to help us during our emergency,” she says. “This is living proof that the stock show industry is the best thing to be a part of. The amount of love, thoughts and prayers I have received from people has been astronomical. At the end of the day, I am just grateful my family is ok and that I will forever be a part of such an amazing industry.”

As May reflects on what happened, he says he’s not surprised by the overwhelming support people provided to the Rieck family.

“It’s what we do for each other in all aspects of agriculture, not just livestock,” May says. “I’m glad I was able to assist as needed here and glad my daughter was able to see value in helping others even when it’s not always pretty fairy dust and rainbows.”

Two Unlikely Teammates: NFL Quarterback and Young Tractor Prodigy Team up to Fuel Farmers

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:09:32 GMT

At just 10 years old, Jackson Laux of South Whitley, Ind., already knows more about antique tractors than most adults. His TikTok clips rack up thousands of views, and last year John Deere named him the company’s first-ever Chief Tractor Kid.

“It’s always been the mower tractor … I’ve never done anything else with it,” Jackson says matter-of-factly in one of his viral videos.

A Walking Tractor Encyclopedia

Ask Jackson about the best tractor in U.S. history and he won’t hesitate to rattle off a list.

“I’ve got about three of them that I would go in between,” he says. “The John Deere 4430, the John Deere 4020, and the John Deere Model A. Those are all tied for first.”

Pressed to choose just one? He goes with the Model A.

“Probably the Model A. They made 320,000 of them, from 1934 to 1952. It was a very popular tractor. It was the row crop tractor. You could run a rear loader or a front loader on it, and you could do everything with it. The John Deere D and the Waterloo Boy were more just the plow tractor. So it was the more versatile tractor — the A.”

That encyclopedic knowledge is exactly what has made Jackson a hit with tractor enthusiasts young and old.

From Grandpa’s Tractor to His Own Acres

Jackson’s passion started with rides alongside his grandpa. Now, he’s farming his own ground.

“I’ll be harvesting my first two acres this fall, and I’ll be helping my uncles and my grandpa with their corn,” he says. “When I was riding with my grandpa, I never thought I’d be here, farming my own two acres. It’s been a very cool experience.”

Teaming Up With an NFL Quarterback

This fall, Jackson’s tractor obsession took him beyond the farm field. He teamed up with NFL quarterback Brock Purdy and John Deere to surprise farmers during harvest with field meals: hot food delivered right to the cab of the combine.

“I was shocked,” Jackson recalls of meeting Purdy. “I don’t show much emotion, but it was pretty cool because I figured at some point I was going to meet him.”

For the farmers, the surprise was unforgettable.

“When they saw Brock come around the corner, the farmers lit up. They were really excited,” Jackson says.

The two even had some fun in the kitchen while feeding farmers, calling in back-up for help. You can watch that below.

Finding Common Ground

Even though they come from different worlds, Jackson says he and Purdy share some important traits.

“He’s just a down-to-earth guy, just like me. We’re both laid-back people,” Jackson says. “That’s my middle name — competitive.”

A Kid Who Connects Generations

From antique tractor debates to sharing meals in the field with an NFL star, Jackson shows how passion and hard work can bring people together.

This harvest, the 10-year-old Chief Tractor Kid reminds us sometimes the best meals aren’t at the table, but right in the field.

Their Work Doesn’t Stop There

In the weeks ahead, John Deere isn’t just feeding farmers in the field, but the company is also donating over 250,000 meals to Feeding America . In 2024, the company donated $6.6 million to Feeding America.

“At the end of the day, this is about showing up for the ones who show up for all of us,” says Jen Hartmann, global director of corporate reputation and brand marketing at John Deere. “Donating to Feeding America and delivering home cooked meals in the middle of a long day are simple gestures, but it’s our way of recognizing the people whose hard work puts food on all of our tables.”

You can follow Purdy and Jackson’s journey, along with how John Deere is helping fuel farmers, on John Deere’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.

Love is in the Air: How a 13-Acre Corn Maze in Ohio Turned Into a Larger-Than-Life Marriage Proposal

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:19:53 GMT

This 13 acres is more than just an field in the middle of Ohio. It was the blank canvas for Tim Sullivan’s sweet plan.

“We used to actually mow our corn maze with a zero turn, and I was sitting on the zero turn actually mowing our front yard, and I said, ‘How am I going to do the corn maze this year? What are we going to do?’ I was also thinking about the same time that I really wanted to propose to my girlfriend, as well,” Sullivan says.

For the first time, Tim Sullivan’s family planted their corn maze with prescription technology.

(Tim Sullivan )

From there, Sullivan’s grand idea came to life. Using a prescription planter and an 8R tractor, he decided to create a corn maze to propose to his then girlfriend, Caroline.

“It turned out so good,” Sullivan says. “I was nervous in the beginning of it. I was worried if we had poor emergence, I was going to have to just rip it up and start over again. But the emergence came up perfectly, and the weed control has been good. And so literally everything worked out perfect.”

To bring his plan to life, Sullivan enlisted the help of a local farmer with a plane, because the only way for Caroline to see his masterpiece was from the air.

“I think it was a total surprise,” Sullivan says. “The funny part is, the first time we flew over the maze, she didn’t see it at all. So, the pilot and I looked at each other, and I said ‘We’ve got to go around again’, and we circled around again. She then saw it the second time.”

Sullivan’s proposal story has made national news, capturing the hearts of many. For Sullivan, the coverage has been more than he ever expected.

“I’ve told everybody that the biggest thing I was looking for at the end of the day was a ‘yes,’ and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Caroline.”

Tim Sullivan with his now fiancé, Caroline.

(Tim Sullivan )

With a wedding date tentatively set for next May, Sullivan says this larger-than-life proposal wouldn’t have been possible without this family and friends.

“I can’t thank everybody enough who helped us between the crop consulting and the different farmers that have been involved. The farmer who let us use his airplane, who let use his tractor to help plant it,” Sullivan says.

The couple has their wedding tentatively scheduled for May 2026.

(Tim Sullivan )

From planning to planting, it was a grand plan that Sullivan crafted on his own. And his advice for others? If you’re thinking of proposing, dream big.

“My advice to every guy out there is when you feel that you got the one, shoot for the stars. Make the most intentional proposal that you can possibly make and have a lot of fun with it along the way,” Sullivan says. “I stressed myself out with the planning process, but it’s all paid off at the end of the day. And it’s been honestly one of the coolest experiences I could ever ask for.”

The Sweetest States: Where America Loves Ice Cream Most

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:12:23 GMT

July is National Ice Cream Month, and Americans are indulging like never before. But which states truly have the biggest sweet tooth? Recent research from SpinBlitz analyzed Google Maps listings nationwide to rank states by ice cream shop density, specifically the number of ice cream shops per 100,000 residents. Here are the top states who take their frozen dairy treats most seriously.

Top 10 Ice Cream-Loving States

1. Vermont (18.51 shops per 100K residents) Vermont tops the list with the highest number of ice cream shops per capita, and it’s not just thanks to Ben & Jerry’s. The state has a strong dairy foundation and a deep appreciation for small-batch, locally made ice cream. Whether in rural towns or tourist-friendly spots, ice cream shops are a visible part of Vermont’s food culture.

2. West Virginia (18.08) West Virginia ranks second in ice cream shop density thanks to a strong presence of locally owned parlors, custard stands and small-town scoop shops. It might not be a headline-grabbing food destination, but the state has a steady, long-standing appreciation for traditional favorites like banana splits, hand-dipped cones and floats.

3. Rhode Island (17.84) Rhode Island earns bronze in the nation for ice cream shop density. Known for regional favorites like frozen lemonade and coffee milkshakes, the state also supports a strong network of ice cream parlors across its coastal towns and neighborhoods. From tourist areas to local main streets, frozen treats are easy to find.

4. Pennsylvania (17.58) Pennsylvania ranks fourth with a diverse ice cream scene that reflects its mix of communities. From family-run creameries in rural areas to innovative shops in urban centers, the state offers a wide range of frozen dessert options.

5. Wisconsin (16.44) Known far and wide for its cheese, Wisconsin also delivers big on ice cream. Known as the Dairy State, it’s no surprise the state is brimming with mom-and-pop scoop shops, custard stands and local brands producing rich ice cream. Whether you’re at a farmstead creamery or a college-town cone counter, Wisconsin’s pride for ice cream shines.

6. Illinois (16.12) Chicago might be the driving force behind Illinois’ ranking, with its booming food scene filled with Instagram-worthy sundaes, small-batch gelato and quirky flavors. But don’t overlook the rural towns and suburbs, where old-school diners and small-town scoop shops keep the classics alive.

7. New Mexico (15.89) The only Southwestern state to crack the top 10, New Mexico might surprise you. But with sizzling summer temperatures and a thriving local food culture, it makes sense frozen treats are in demand. You’ll find shops serving everything from chile-spiked chocolate to cactus fruit sorbet.

8. Michigan (15.79) Snow doesn’t stop Michiganders from indulging. With thousands of inland lakes and summer tourists flooding towns like Traverse City and Petoskey, ice cream is a lakeside staple. From old-fashioned scoops to cherry-studded blends, Michigan’s ice cream culture is powered by nostalgia, local ingredients and a serious sweet tooth.

9. New Hampshire (15.54) New England knows its dairy, and New Hampshire is no exception. This state might not be flashy, but its abundance of seasonal roadside stands, maple-infused flavors and mom-and-pop ice cream stops make it a solid contender. Summer drives through the mountains or along the lakes are rarely complete without a cone in hand.

10. New York (15.35) New York ranks 10^th, where ice cream is as diverse as the state itself. From trendy, creative scoop shops and food trucks in the heart of New York City to time-tested creameries in upstate towns, there’s a flavor and style for everyone. With tourists and locals alike lining up for their favorite cones, New York’s ice cream doesn’t disappoint.

See How Your State Stacks Up in the Ice Cream Race
Whether you’re craving a classic cone or something a little more adventurous, it’s clear that some states really know how to satisfy that ice cream craving. Curious how all 50 states stack up in the great ice cream showdown? Check out the full ranking and see where your home ranks:

Rank	State	Ice Cream Shops per 100,000 residents
1	Vermont	18.51
2	West Virginia	18.08
3	Rhode Island	17.84
4	Pennsylvania	17.58
5	Wisconsin	16.44
6	Illinois	16.12
7	New Mexico	15.89
8	Michigan	15.79
9	New Hampshire	15.54
10	New York	15.35
11	Massachusetts	14.99
12	North Dakota	14.92
13	Ohio	14.90
14	Maine	14.89
15	Nebraska	14.83
16	Alaska	14.79
17	Indiana	14.78
18	Idaho	14.27
19	Delaware	14.05
20	Montana	14.00
21	South Dakota	13.96
22	Hawaii	13.78
23	Florida	13.67
24	New Jersey	13.61
25	Wyoming	13.56
26	Mississippi	13.25
27	Iowa	13.02
28	North Carolina	12.58
29	Texas	12.40
30	Arkansas	12.23
31	California	12.10
32	Arizona	12.09
33	Kansas	11.71
34	Connecticut	11.60
35	Virginia	11.25
36	Oklahoma	10.66
37	Nevada	10.54
38	Utah	10.38
39	Minnesota	10.37
40	Oregon	10.37
41	Tennessee	10.26
42	Louisiana	10.20
43	Georgia	10.00
44	Colorado	9.98
45	Kentucky	9.73
46	Washington	9.43
47	Alabama	9.23
48	South Carolina	8.80
49	Maryland	8.56
50	Missouri	8.44

Overcoming Burnout in the Agriculture Industry

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:56:36 GMT

Burnout isn’t always about doing too much. Sometimes it’s about doing the wrong mix of work or carrying all of the mental load on top of the physical. That’s according to Kacee Bohle, who runs AgriMinds , a group coaching business for members of the agriculture industry.

“You can still have a full plate and feel fine, especially if you’re doing stuff that energizes you,” she says. “But what happens when every single part of your day feels like a chore, even the stuff that you used to love? That’s when you know stuff is starting to get off. You can feel burnt out, even when you love or loved the type of work that you do.”

For business owners, farmers, ranchers and ag professionals, Bohle says people often judge themselves for having negative thoughts about the work they have chosen to do in a field they love. There is pressure to carry on the family legacy and love every part of it, and to feel proud of the work.

“Burnout doesn’t care who you are,” she says. “Burnout doesn’t care who’s in charge. It shows up when you’re over extended, misaligned, and you’re trying to carry all the things all the time without any support,” she explains.

Sometimes the work isn’t optional. The gate needs fixed. The field work needs done. The livestock need fed. Bohle points out even when the tasks can’t change, the conversation can. Sometimes it’s not the physical work that is causing burnout, but the mindset surrounding the work.

“What I mean is I want you to start noticing what expectations, pressure or guilt that you’ve been piling on top of the already heavy stuff,” she explains. “Sometimes what’s extinguishing you isn’t the work, it’s the story that you’re telling yourself about the work.”

For example, it could look like thoughts that are similar to: I should be able to handle this. I shouldn’t be tired. I chose this. I don’t have time to feel burnt out. I just need to push through this. It’ll eventually go away.

As Bohle points out, pushing through only works so long.

“There’s only so much you can brush under the rug before it starts seeping out, bulging and tripping you up,” Bohle says. “Eventually, your energy runs out, and if your mindset isn’t giving you any grace or flexibility, everything is just going to continue to feel harder.”

Can you extinguish burnout? Start with what you can control.

An exercise to address burnout is to create two lists. Write down what gives you energy and what drains you, Bohle suggests.

Notice one item on this list that drains you that you can shift or do differently, she says. Then look at the list of things that gives you energy and intentionally add back in something that gives you energy — even if it’s for just five minutes.

“This is not about trying to fix everything,” she explains. “It’s not even about trying to fix stuff overnight. This exercise is just about noticing what’s going on beneath the surface, giving yourself permission to make some small shifts here. Control what you can control.”

Four mindset shifts to keep in mind:

You’re not lazy or failing.
You’re likely mentally, physically, and emotionally maxed out.
Focus on awareness and small, intentional changes.
Remember, the goal is not to fix everything overnight, but to start noticing and making small, manageable changes.

Your next read: Overcome the No. 1 Challenge in Passing Down Your Family Farm

Ross Chastain's Win in the Coca Cola 600 is a Big Win for Agriculture and the Florida Watermelon Industry

Mon, 19 May 2025 20:18:44 GMT

In a remarkable story of resilience, NASCAR driver Ross Chastain won his first race of the season on Sunday, marking his sixth win of his career.

What made the win at the Coca Cola 600 so impressive is he actually started the race in last position after a crash during practice on Saturday meant he was unable to set a lap time in qualifying. But what makes the win even more remarkable is he was in a backup car.

The first win of the season meant he also got to smash a watermelon in victory lane to celebrate, which is a tradition he started to toast to his farming ties. Chastain, who’s known as The Watermelon Man, because of his family’s background in watermelon farming.

“This thing is fresh from Florida,” Chastain said with a laugh after his win. “It just came up from our family farm. Man, for the Florida watermelon industry, that’s your watermelons you’re getting right now, so y’all better go buy a dang watermelon to celebrate. I want to see videos of smashed watermelons flood the socials. I want to see it. Florida watermelons are in season.”

As a Kid, Chastain Just Wanted to Farm

Behind the wheel of this No. 1 Chevrolet ZL1 race car is exactly where you’ll find Ross Chastain today, but growing up on a farm in southern Florida, NASCAR wasn’t his original dream. As a kid, all Chastain wanted to do was farm.

“I wanted to be like my dad and like my granddaddy and my uncle and be like those guys that told me stories of our ancestors and generations before us growing up in south Georgia during the hard times, but seeing we were living through good times,” says Chastain.

Chastain’s father, a seventh-generation watermelon farmer, raced as a hobby. Chastain and his brother, Chad, are the eighth generation. His family got their start in south Georgia before moving to southern Florida in the 1950s. It’s a place his brother and the rest of his family still farm today.

“Even as I started in NASCAR I thought it was just still a hobby, and I going to school, even started college to get a business education to try to be a little better well versed in what the farm was going to be tasked with in the next couple decades,” says Chastain. “But I never went back. I moved to North Carolina in 2012 and decided to make this a career.”

How He Got His Start in Racing

While his dad raced as a hobby, Chastain is a first-generation NASCAR driver. With a natural love to be behind the wheel, Chastain says he was infatuated with driving anything he could as a kid.

“I just remember driving stuff,” he says. “My dad would have me drive things on the farm as a kid. And then when I first raced, it was late 2005, and my dad asked if I wanted to try driving a race truck. So, he let me drive it around our packing house first. We had a metal building that we packed the watermelons in. It had a shell with dirt driveway around it, and he let me drive until I got going too fast.”

After a couple of laps, his dad stopped him and said, “Let’s go to the track.”

“So, we packed up that Friday night, went over to the track I remember the first time on the track, then that Saturday night racing,” Chastain says. “I crashed, but I fell in love with it. And it didn’t scare me. It was something I liked. I wasn’t good at it by any means, but I fell in love early on.”

Chastain says he was hooked, not only to the adrenaline rush of racing, but also hooked to the wrecker after he crashed.

“But they pulled the bumper bar back out, my dad did, it was still hooked to the wrecker,” he says. “He hooked the chain to the four-wheeler and jerked the bumper out and sent me back out. He asked, ‘Do you want to go back out?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I want to finish the race.’”

Chastain Wants to Share the Story of Agriculture

The Ross Chastain on the track is a fierce competitor whose goal is to win, but off the track he wants to share the story of ag.

“A lot of what I want to do now is tell the stories,” says Chastain. “I want to tell our family’s story. I think I’ve done a decent job of that, but also other farmers.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Like a Farmer (@likeafarmerpodcast)

Through a series called “Ag to Asphalt,” Chastain is shining a light on agriculture and bringing those stories to a national stage.

“To grow our food here in the us is only getting harder, and there are less people and less families involved all the time,” he says. “I like hanging out with farmers. So, if i get to go and hang out with them for the afternoon, see their operation, let them tell their story, show off their family, let him brag a little, and then sit around on the tailgate when we’re all done and have a Busch Light. I mean, I am the Busch Light guy, I’m a beer drinker, and we get to sit around and then just, once the cameras are off, just hang out and actually get to know them. One, selfishly, that’s cool. I like that, and i have this unique platform to share it.”

My family farm, and family farms all across our country are harvesting, farming, or planting watermelons.

🍉 Fact! You need 3️⃣ things to grow watermelon ➡️ ☀️ 🐝 💧 #MelonPartner #WatermelonEveryday pic.twitter.com/4X27vquUyY
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) May 8, 2025

Social Media Amplifies His Love for Ag

With nearly 140,000 followers on Instagram and 130,000 followers on X , Chastain is making an impact both on and off the track

“I have a social media platform, and I have the NASCAR platform to amplify it,” says Chastain. “The main job is to go race on Sundays, but if on a Thursday afternoon I can travel in early to a race weekend like here and go out to a farm, that’s cool for me, and I like that. No one is making me do it, but I like it, and it’s rewarding to see these operations and see how they’re adapting, what the new technology is and how they are continuing to survive .. and it can be scary at times to think about American ag and agriculture in general, but there’s families out here doing it.

At just 32 years old, Chastain hopes he gets to continue his dream of racing for years to come. But what does he want his legacy to be? Well, it’s twofold.

“Winning on Sundays is the ultimate goal, and then agriculture gets to come along with that; all the extra stuff gets to come along with that, but my life’s goal is to win more in Cup,” he says.

Chastain’s main sponsor partners include Busch Light, Kubota, Chevrolet, Trackhouse and more, but he is also sponsored by several agricultural companies, including New Leaf Symbiotics.

Watch the U.S. Farm Report segment featuring Ross Chastain’s journey to NASCAR and life on the farm.

Wienermobiles Will 'Haul Buns' to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:27:42 GMT

Nothing kicks off the beginning of summer like a hot dog on the grill. The beloved American staple will be featured in full force during the “Wienie 500” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 23. The Wienie 500 marks the first “meat-up” of all six Wienermobiles in over a decade, the company says.

In this first-of-its-kind spectacle, the fleet of Wienermobiles will ‘haul buns’ to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a race unlike any other, Oscar Meyer said in a release . This will be the first competitive race for the fleet.

Each Wienermobile will represent a different regional dog that you can cheer on in the race, including:

The Chi Dog (Midwest)
New York Dog (East)
Slaw Dog (Southeast)
Sonoran Dog (Southwest)
Chili Dog (South)
Seattle Dog (Northwest)

“From custom Hotdogger racing suits to a trophy presentation in the ‘Wiener’s Circle,’ complete with a condiment spray and hot dog for the wiener’s enjoyment, every moment of the race is designed to spark smiles, serving up a delightful racing event only Oscar Mayer can,” the company said.

The Indianapolis 500 draws more than 330,000 fans who consume nearly 30,000 hot dogs, the company said.

“The Indy 500 marks the unofficial kickoff of summer and the start of hot dog season,” Kelsey Rice, brand communications director at Oscar Mayer, said in a release. “As a brand known for sparking smiles in disarmingly delightful ways, it’s only fitting that we bring a race of epic proportions to the Speedway and celebrate a timeless tradition: delicious meats and a little friendly competition to kick off a summer of wieners.”

The Wienie 500 is part of a partnership between Oscar Mayer and IMS that names Oscar Mayer the “Official Hot Dog” of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500.

Editor’s Note: The race will be streamed live on Friday, May 23 at 2 p.m. ET on the FOX Sports app and across @INDYCARonFOX social accounts, and fans can catch highlights from the race during Sunday’s Indy 500 pre-race show on FOX.

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Bridging the Gap: How Land O’Lakes Supports Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Career

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:54:35 GMT

Every year, many U.S. service members face the challenge of transitioning from military to civilian life. The life-altering change can be intimidating as they integrate into society and carve new career paths.

Among them is Col. Patrick Schlichenmeyer, who completed a 34-year career with the U.S. Air Force in 2023 and found himself facing a future he hadn’t initially focused on during his service years.

A Lifetime of Service

Schlichenmeyer’s journey began when he entered the Air Force Academy in 1989 at age 18. During his career he served as a pilot, participated in staff assignments and held command positions in combat. By summer 2022, as his mandatory service time came to an end, he started contemplating life outside the military.

“When I entered the military, I wanted to serve where my country needed me,” Schlichenmeyer says. “I served as long as I could, and then I had to transition to civilian life. I didn’t start thinking about my future until about a year before.”

Schlichenmeyer was certain about one thing: a desire to permanently return to Minnesota’s Twin Cities, where his wife resided in a suburb of St. Paul. While eager to reunite, the change also brought an element of uncertainty.

“I entered the academy at 18, so that was all I knew,” he says. “I had some idea of civilian culture through my spouse, but there were many unknowns.”

Discovering SkillBridge

Schlichenmeyer wouldn’t forge a new path alone. With a transition focused on the Twin Cities, he began exploring the SkillBridge program, which helps service members explore new career fields and gain experience. Land O’Lakes, which participates in the program, emerged as a potential destination for Schlichenmeyer’s skills.

SkillBridge offers a support system to help military personnel find civilian workforce opportunities. The program connects service members with corporate partners across the country and provides up to 180 days of “permissive duty” for them to get on-the-job training as interns for a company, with the goal of providing full-time job opportunities. SkillBridge helped nearly 8,500 service members find work with around 5,000 companies nationwide in the third quarter of 2024, according to the program website.

Once connected with someone at Land O’Lakes, Schlichenmeyer explored job openings and assessed if the company’s culture matched his aspirations.

“From there, I started looking at the employee website and was extremely surprised at how open Land O’Lakes is about their people, their mission, what the executive leadership team believes in,” he says. “The more that I read and understood what the company stood for, that’s something that I felt would be a good fit. I was surprised at how open Land O’Lakes is about their mission and values. The more I learned, the more it felt like a good fit.”

Embracing a New Role

Schlichenmeyer joined Land O’Lakes in February 2023 as a SkillBridge intern. He now serves as operational excellence manager at the company’s Melrose, Minn., dairy plant and was recently appointed as an expert project manager at headquarters.

Schlichenmeyer’s story is one example of the many benefits of SkillBridge. Julie Sexton, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Land O’Lakes, emphasizes the value veterans bring.

“It’s about recruiting broadly across diverse talent pools,” she says. “Post-COVID, we expanded our recruitment strategies.”

Sexton describes the partnership with SkillBridge as both successful and fulfilling, reflecting Land O’Lakes’ mission to support those who have served.

“It’s rewarding to help service members transition to the next phase of life,” she says. “It’s a way of giving back to valuable community members.”

Land O’Lakes’ involvement with the SkillBridge program has yielded numerous success stories, with 13 current interns and 25 veterans completing internships — seven of whom secured full-time roles.

“I was looking for some place where I could go to work with good people who care about each other that are doing something important for this country,” Schlichenmeyer says. “That’s Land O’Lakes.”

His journey from a seasoned Air Force colonel to a leadership role in the civilian sector not only demonstrates the adaptability and impact of programs like SkillBridge, it serves as inspiration for other veterans embarking on their own transitions.

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"The Little Farmer": The Super Bowl Commercial that Captured Hearts and Put the Spotlight on Agriculture

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:06:11 GMT

It was a Super Bowl commercial with a story, and one that sprouted from a real potato grower in Wisconsin. Frito Lay and PepsiCo helped put the spotlight on agriculture Super Bowl Sunday, while also celebrating real farmers.

“There’s a lot of pride that goes into growing anything in agriculture, says Jeremie Pavelski, a farmer in Hancock, Wis. , which is located in the central part of the state.

Pavelski is a fifth-generation farmer. The potatoes Pavelski produces go to Lay’s, and it’s something his family has done for 71 years.

“Most of our potatoes are going there specialized for going into potato chips, which is fairly unique,” he says.

The Super Bowl commercial that aired on Sunday was inspired by Pavelski’s story, after he hosted a farm tour for Frito Lay one day.

“They thought that was a great story that needed to be shared, and we weren’t expecting it to be shared on the big stage,” says Pavelski. “But it it was, and it’s a very emotional, very touching commercial. And it’s very rewarding, especially to be working with such great partners.”

The group was especially touched by Pavelski’s 7-year-old daughter, who is passionate abut the potatoes her family produces.

“Seeing my daughter’s eyes light up when she is going out in the middle of the field and teaching her friends where food comes from. And seeing her when she’s got her boots on, splashing around in the mud...and the joy, the delight on her face when she opens a bag of Lay’s and says, ‘I helped grow this’ along with our team, that is one of the most honestly inspirational things,” he says.

Pavelski’s daughter wasn’t the girl who actually appeared in the commercial, but it’s her story that helped the team at Frito Lay dream up an extremely touching commercial, while also helping bring light to the fact those Lay’s potato chips are grown by real farmers on real farms, like Pavelski’s.

“You can see what it took, years of hard work to do and years of learning, whether it’s from the growing side of things or from our daughter and just seeing what ends up becoming of this, and how it can really bring joy to a lot of people. I get a little choked up here, almost brings a tear to my eye,” he says.

One little potato with one big dream was the theme of the commercial. It was also a nod to U.S. family farmers all across the country — families who are the foundation of the food that fuels us all.

Pavelski was named a Top Producer of the Year finalist in 2018. You can read his story here .

Iowa Man Reveals Best Tenderloin from 99-County Tour

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:26:59 GMT

After a ‘whirlwind of a sandwich odyssey’ in Iowa, JayJay Goodvin, chief explorer of the Iowa Gallivant, revealed his favorite tenderloin from his 99-county tour.

Just over 10 months ago, Goodvin started a quest to eat a tenderloin in all 99 counties in Iowa. With more than 28 million views of his videos across his social media platforms, the response to his journey left him speechless.

After thoughtful analysis and some soul-searching, Goodvin announced the winner to a live WHO 13 News audience on Feb. 13. The winning tenderloin was served by The Landmark Bistro of Grundy Center, Iowa.

What set this tasty tenderloin apart from the other 98?

“It was a beautiful tenderloin – they really did a great job with the mustard,” Goodvin says. “It was bigger than your compact tenderloin, but it wasn’t huge. The breading was crunchy, but didn’t overpower the flavor of the pork, which was very important. They had great seasoning in that breading.”

Most importantly the staff did a great job, he points out. They were busy, but they got the food out expeditiously. Most importantly, it was served scorching hot.

“It doesn’t matter what style of pork tenderloin you like, it’s got to come out scorching hot,” Goodvin told Farm Journal’s PORK in an earlier interview . “Whether you like them thin, thick, breaded, battered, small or huge elephant ears, it must come out hot. After that, it’s all up to the consumer on what style is their favorite.”

He notes there is a wide spectrum of tenderloins available.

“There is more variety than people realize,” he says. “You can get them battered, broiled, breaded, even served with a wheelbarrow of gravy over mashed potatoes on it.”

Where is the Iowa Gallivant off to next? He says he is starting a project called “99 Specials.” He will be going throughout the entire state of Iowa trying a “special” in every county. He’s hopeful he’ll be able to find 99 different specials from ham balls to hot beef sandwiches and everything in between.

Follow his journey here.

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A Touchdown for Team Spirit: Super Bowl Sunday at Way-Har Farms

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:38:31 GMT

In Bernville, Pa., where dairy farming is a way of life, the Way-Har Family Farm is setting the stage for a celebration that blends their love for dairy with their passion for football. While every day demands teamwork to tackle the challenges of running a family farm, this Sunday, the spotlight shifts from routine chores to rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles-Themed Celebrations: From Jerseys to Desserts
On this Super Bowl Sunday, the farm isn’t just focused on efficiency to finish chores early; it bursts into Eagles fanfare with unique celebrations. Every corner of the farm wears its Eagles’ pride, a testament to the creativity of the Lesher family. The calves trot around in custom Eagles jerseys, each proudly displaying the team colors. Lolly Lesher, a third-generation farmer with football coursing through her veins, explains their flair:

“We are so excited that the Eagles are going to the Big Game,” Lesher shares. “Our calves always wear jackets in the winter to stay warm, but this year, we decided they should join in the fun.”

Star Attraction: No. 26 Calf
Among the delightfully attired calves, one takes center stage. Sporting a Saquon Barkley jersey, a nod to the Penn State alum and local hero, this No. 26 calf epitomizes the blend of dedication and adoration that drives the Lesher family.

Swoop’s Scoops: A Sweet Tribute to the Eagles
Beyond the bustling barns, the farm’s creamery undergoes a temporary transformation into “Swoop’s Scoops” – a tribute to the Eagles’ mascot. Here, Lesher channels her team spirit into specialty ice creams made with milk from their herd.

“We have some specialty flavors of ice cream to celebrate,” Lesher says. “For a limited time, patrons can delight in flavors such as Tush Pushstachio, Cookies & DeJean, Birth-Slay Cake, and Mint Blanken-Chip.”

(American Dairy Association North East)

From Pasture to Pint: Passion and Quality
The Lesher family’s commitment remains at the heart of their operations. Milking 280 Registered Holsteins and Jerseys, the farm grew alongside their burgeoning enthusiasm. Their store, Way-Har Farm Market, offers fresh farm milk that symbolizes quality and love. Every scoop of ice cream echoes this dedication from pasture to pint.

Cheering On the Eagles: A Community Celebration
As the Eagles prepare to take the field, the Lesher family, joined by a local fan base, prepares to cheer them on. Within a festive atmosphere defined by calves sporting Eagle jerseys and brightly hued scoops of ice cream, the family will unite over celebrations of double cheese pizza and sweet treats. However, cows remain a priority, and Lesher admits with a smile, they might just miss the kickoff.

“Cows come first,” she notes, a mantra that embodies their balanced life of passion and responsibility.

(American Dairy Association North East)

This Super Bowl Sunday, the Way-Har Family Farm becomes a canvas that illustrates the strength of teamwork, excellence in dairy craftsmanship, and a never-ending passion for football. It’s a story that connects community, tradition, and sportsmanship — a memorable day for the Lesher family and their corner of Pennsylvania.

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Touching Tractor Tribute: Farmers Bid Farewell to Steve Hamm, a Loyal Lifeline in the Field

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:13:48 GMT

A love for tractors and an admiration for John Deere green. That’s how you’d describe Steve Hamm, a John Deere mobile technician for 30 years. A father and grandpa, he was loved by many, as many in the community will tell you he was truly dedicated to his craft.

“Steve was a pioneer for that kind of knowledge. We really depended on him,” says Chris Roberson, general manager of Ag-Power, the John Deere dealership in Richmond, Mo., where Steve worked.

“He was a man of integrity,” says Dennis Estes, who worked with Steve at Ag-Power, but was also Steve’s friend and the pastor at his church. “He had a passion for what he did, and he was a person who served a lot of people.”

As a technician, Steve’s career revolved around service, but even then, Steve went above and beyond time and again.

“He lived to serve,” Roberson says. “He put everyone else above him or before him, and he was on call all the time. Whether it involved work or even personal family matters. He was always able to be reached and counted on.”

“You look at the communities that Steve served, people from small towns and everywhere else who called Steve, if it was 10 at night, Steve took the call,” says Estes.

Friends of Steve Hamm say he adored his family.

(Photo provided by the Hamm Family )

Estes says for area farmers, Steve was a loyal lifeline in the field, providing a service no matter the time and no matter how challenging the issue was that needed fixed.

“This equipment is so complicated these days. And Steve pursued the passion of always learning,” says Estes. “If there was anything he couldn’t fix, he found out how to fix it, and he wouldn’t quit. He had the passion that made him pursue that until he got it. And I think that’s what really sets him apart.”

Roberson says on paper, Steve was a master technician, which is the highest honor you can receive as a John Deere technician. But he was more than that. Steve had a wealth of knowledge he passed on to others.

A man who dedicated three decades of his life to helping others was remembered in a remarkable way this past week. On a crisp, sunny Tuesday morning, those same farmers who Steve served for all those years found a way to show just how grateful they were.

“I’ve never seen a tribute for somebody that was more compelling probably than that tribute,” Estes says.

An aerial view of the touching tractor tribute for Steve Hamm in Richmond, Mo.

(Matt Mormann )

Tractor after tractor, combines with their augers out, all lined the road next to the cemetery where Steve would be laid to rest.

“I couldn’t help but think as we were doing the graveside service the effort made by so many people to be there,” Estes says. “As I looked up on the hill at all of the farmers, it was almost as if it was a mist because you could see the moisture in the eyes of so many of these people, many hardened individuals. Farmers who are used to being out in nature and fighting it, whether flood or drought or whatever it is, and through that toughness, they still had those kind of feelings for Steve.”

Steve Hamm was laid to rest on Tuesday, and farmers were there to pay tribute and witness his final ride.

(Tyne Morgan )

Farmers who never had the chance to say thank you or goodbye, stepped up to the call this week with a touching tractor tribute.

“He deserved every bit of that tribute. He didn’t ever ask for it. I hope he’s smiling down on us,” Estes says.

The touching tractor tribute was a nod to something Steve loved so much, as he took his final ride.

From the Famous SNL 'More Cowbell' Skit, to Iconic Bell in "It's a Wonderful Life,' The Magic of Bell-Making

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:37:25 GMT

Cici Bevin enjoys working in her family-owned business, which dates back to 1832 when her ancestors began what is Bevin Bells today.

“At one point in East Hampton, [Conn.,] we had over 20 bell manufacturers. Luckily, today we are the last one remaining,” Bevin says.

Of course, the use of bells back when the company began is much different than today.

Today, a cowbell might be a gift or a musical instrument, but back then, it was an essential part of raising livestock.

“There was a tremendous amount of safety use for bells, so sleigh bells were massive for us. We had catalogs, 20 pages long, of different cut styles and configurations of sleigh bells,” Bevin says.

Bells are still used today, though you probably never give much thought to who makes them.

“We make all of the bells for the Salvation Army across the country. Any time you see someone at a kettle ringing a bell asking for money that’s a Bevin Bell,” Bevin says.

Remember the sound that used to end stock trading in New York ? Or signal another round at a Muhammad Ali boxing match ? Those sounds are from Bevin Bells.

Of course there’s the famous bell from “Saturday Night Live,” which was a boost for business.

However, the most famous Bevin Bell is tied to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a Christmas movie from 1946.

“The bell that rings on the tree when Clarence says, ‘Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,’ that’s a Bevin Bell. Exactly how that bell ended up in the movie, we’re not entirely sure,” Bevin says.

They’re sure glad the classic Christmas movie featured a bell from their factory. To this day, the movie and the sound of bells ringing signal the Christmas season is here.

The Wonderful Life bells are just one of the many holiday bells made at Bevin Bells. In fact, the company does about 60% of its business in the fourth quarter.

While many people like the jingle of bells around the holidays, one has to wonder if working in a bell factory could get a bit annoying.

“I absolutely love hearing the bells ring and I honestly never get tired of it,” Bevin says. “I have bells in my car all the time because I might be making a delivery, and I jingle everywhere I go, which brings a real smile on my face.”

From sleigh bells to the bell from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” much Christmas cheer begins at Bevin Bells in East Hampton, Conn.

An 11-Year Old's Idea Sparked An Idea That's Grown Into an Annual Toy Drive Giving Out 13,000 Toys Each Year

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:02:29 GMT

The season of giving for Reed Marcum doesn’t just happen during Christmas. For this 19-year, the season of giving is year-round.

“I came up with the idea back in 2016 when I realized that I wanted to help put another toy under someone’s tree that year,” says Marcum, who’s now a Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H Ambassador.

At just 11 years-old, this 4-H member had an idea: Collect toys and give them out to children in his local community.

“He came home one day, he talked to me and his stepfather, and he said, ‘Mom, I want to help some kiddos in my class for Christmas,” remembers Angie Miller, Reed’s mother. “I said, ‘OK, what can we do?’ I told him he could do a little work, and he was like, ‘No, I want to give out toys.”

Reed Marcum at 11-Years-Old

(Angie Miller)

Started Out As a Small Idea
That first year, Reed’s small idea turned into a huge success, giving out around 5,000 toys at his stepfather’s law office. Little did this family know that was just the start of something grand.

“It was something we didn’t expect to do, especially have that much success and community reaction. They really loved it. We did not expect that,” Reed says.

J Michael Miller Toy Drive
What’s called the J Michael Miller Toy Drive has grown each year, even during COVID.

“What happened was COVID hit, and we had told Reed that it just can’t happen that year. And he said, ‘It can happen, Mom,’” Angie says.

And it did. With the help of the community, Reed moved the toy drive to Ragan’s Auto, a decision that helped this drive grow even more.

“He spoke with Mr. Ragan, and he told Reed we can do this. They moved all their cars out by noon that day. We moved in around 1:00, and we would set up all night long, and then we open the doors, they would start driving through,” Angie says.

The annual J. Michael Miller Toy Drive gave out 13,000 toys this year.

(SUNUP)

Within a couple years, they even outgrew that space. Last year, Reed moved his toy drive again, this time, to the McAlester Expo Center.

“We are orchestrating with the local Expo Center here in McAlester for people to come, and it’s just an amazing venue for what we’re doing here. And it’s an amazing process that we have to set up and do,” Reed says.

Biggest Toy Giveaway Yet
On Dec. 7,2024, Reed had his biggest giveaway yet.

“We collected a ton, but we were able to give out around 13,000 this year, that day,” Reed says.

What started as one small idea has brought generosity through toys that touched 13,000 lives this year alone.

“It’s a year-long process,” Angie says. “The entire year we’re looking for toys, collecting them and getting donations from people. But when the day gets near and close, it really starts to ramp up.”

Cars line up 3 to 4 miles long for the annual toy drive.

(Bryan Fuller)

Recipients Come From Surrounding States
Since 2016, this toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys, an annual event that people wait in line for hours to receive. And as the event grows each year, lines of cars that now stretch three to four miles long, all with kids eager to receive toys that year.

“I was working the line this year, and we did see license plates from Texas and Arkansas. That’s normal,” says Greg Owen, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H educator. “I would ask the people in the line, ‘What was the experience like?’ And this year, I heard the comment ‘It was literally perfect.’”

Vital Volunteers
But for Reed, this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, all 100 of them.

“They can help us move the toys from point A to point B when we’re holding them or in help, give the toys, help, walk the line, be dressed up in costumes to help entertain the kids, give out small items that go through the lines. The kids aren’t just sitting there bored,” Reed says.

Loss Turned Into Love
Reed’s toy drive has become a beloved experience attracting thousands of people from miles away. But this kid who has brought so much joy to others has also seen heartache along the way.

“He had the most difficult year of his life his junior year,” Angie says. “We were moving to Ragan’s that year, and on July 28, he lost his grandmother that he was extremely close to.”

Reed’s brother, Sergeant Miles Tarron

(SUNUP)

Not even four months later, Reed suffered another devastating loss, just weeks away from his toy drive in 2021.

“We were notified by soldiers that Reed’s brother had passed in the military,” Angie says. “I talked with Reed and I told him I didn’t think we can do the toy giveaway. And he said, ‘Mom, brother would want us to do the toy giveaway, so we’re going to do the toy giveaway.’”

And he did, with an entire community rallying around Reed as a way to give back to one of their own who had done so much.

“They helped us get it over to Ragan’s. We got it all set up. And then they just helped us all the way through it,” Angie says. “After that, Reed had already created the Hudson Strong Foundation for a little boy that had cancer. And they provided some help with the costs of the storage buildings. Then after his brother passed, Reed created the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation, and that supports his toy giveaway, his backpack giveaway and his silent auction. His brother always had a hand in supporting him and sending money. So, now the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation and the Hudson Strong Foundation support those storage buildings.”

Reed has nine storage buildings, all bursting with donated toys each year. But this success is also because of one lady Reed deeply admired: his 4-H leader, Miss Donna Curry.

“After he lost his brother, June 28, 2022, he lost Miss Donna Curry, who was like a second mother to him, who got him into 4-H, and she supported this project thoroughly,” Angie says.

Today, Reed doesn’t just give away toys. Miss Donna had another idea two years before she died: to give out pajamas, socks and undergarments to those in need.

“We named it Miss Donna’s Closet. And when they drive through the toy giveaway, they get the pajamas, they get socks, they get undergarments all through the toy line. They get snacks. And so when we lost Miss Donna, Reed promised at that point that he would carry her tradition on.”

Reed is Now Inspiring Others
Reed’s heart of service is always on display, and it’s now inspiring others.

“It’s literally the goal that we try to set for our 4-H members. We hope that they’ll develop a level of mastery in their project work, and for Reed, his project has been civic engagement,” Greg says. “And when they get to that point, we’ll hope we hope that they’ll utilize that to teach and impact others to follow in their footsteps, which is exactly what Reed has done.”

“That’s the best thing with 4-H; they always want you to strive to be the best version of yourself. And that’s something this project really does every year,” Reed says. “It’s not just staying the same or leveling out each year. It’s getting bigger and better than the last.”

True Gift of Giving
Reed’s one idea in 2016 continues to spread joy year-round, as it showcases the true gift of giving.

“Little 11-year-old Reed could never see such a thing happening, especially when I was so young and couldn’t even talk to a group of ten people, let alone do something like this. I never thought it would reach this,” Reed says.

“I always share this. That came from the idea of an 11-year-old child. That shows the impact of the 4-H program. That shows the impact of a student that wants to give, that wants to make a difference and wants to make a positive impact on their community,” Greg says.

Reed Accepts Donations Year-Round
In order to make the annual toy drive possible, Reed accepts donations year-round. If you’d like to contribute to the annual toy drive or Reed’s other service projects, you can donate here .

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The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:58:23 GMT

When one thinks of a dairy farmer, the image often conjured is that of a hardworking individual, dedicated to the care of their cattle and land. Brian Forrest, who leads with a kind-hearted and giving spirit at his family farm, Maple Ridge Dairy near Stratford, Wisconsin, epitomizes this image and so much more.

Forrest works tirelessly alongside his wife, Elaine, and their five children, tending to roughly 2,000 cows and farming 4,000 acres. Although farming is undeniably a demanding job, Forrest thrives on the mixture of hard work and familial teamwork it entails.

Leadership Beyond Farming
Away from the hustle and bustle of farming, Forrest dedicates his time in boardrooms and volunteering on various committees and organizations. His contributions as a leader have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded the Dean Strauss Leadership Award at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Meeting earlier this year.

“Ask anyone who knows Brian and they’ll tell you he’d give you the shirt off his back without blinking, as his track record clearly shows,” Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDP, shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with Brian for several years and I can say firsthand that he is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate people one could ever hope to work with.”

Maple Ridge has earned recognition on state and national levels, including Focus on Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award and platinum-level recognition in 2020 from the National Mastitis Council for the dairy’s consistently low Somatic Cell Count. Forrest was also named a 2021 Wisconsin Agriculturist Master Agriculturist. Forrest serves as Board Chair of Dairy’s Foundation and also served on the PDP board of directors for six years, acting as treasurer for three years. He’s an FFA alumnus and regularly supports the FFA.

A Selfless Donor
Forrest’s generosity extends beyond his time and expertise. In July 2019, he served as a living liver donor for his cousin Richard Gillette, who was battling end-stage liver disease.

“Richard is one of five brothers who I had always looked up to when I was a kid,” Forrest fondly recalls. “When they were young, all five of them came up from Illinois during the summer to help out on my dad’s farm in Stratford.”

Two of the five brothers died in their 50s - and Forrest didn’t want to see a third Gillette brother die before his time. And, as sick as Richard was in the spring of 2019, he was unlikely to receive a new liver from a deceased donor in time to save his life. Too many patients were ahead of him on the transplant list - and most of them were even sicker. Forrest offered to see if he could be a match.

“I thought maybe I could be a donor. I’m older, but I have O-negative blood.” After discussing it with his wife and giving it careful thought, he decided to go through with the donation.

A football fan at heart, Forrest knows that when it’s game day, rivalries don’t matter. Or least this was the case for the fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“He’s a Bears fan. I’m a Packer fan. But we were united the morning that we both met with our incredible surgeons,” Forrest remembers back to the day of live transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Hospital. We joked together right before the surgery that after he gets part of my liver, he very well may come out a Packers fan! He beamingly shares that his cousin recovered well. “It was a tough road for a while, but it was all worthwhile.”

Four years later, Forrest donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient, demonstrating his willingness to help those in need yet again.

The kidney he donated went to a person in Virginia. The surgeon showed Forrest a picture of his kidney functioning perfectly inside the recipient the evening after his surgery.

“It was pink inside the recipient and doing its job,” Forrest shared emotionally. “It is all so remarkable.”

Both surgeries required others to pick up the ‘slack’ from Forrest back at the dairy. He proudly shares that he is lucky to have such a great village that could help out while he took 6-8 weeks to fully recover from both surgeries.

“I would do this again in a heartbeat,” he shares. “There is no price tag for giving someone life and the whole experience brought my family closer together.”

A Farmer’s Faith
Forrest says the feeling of helping someone else is hard to describe but incredibly fulfilling.

“I know God is driving the way,” he says. “I’m not sure what direction we are heading, but I know he is in the driver’s seat and I’m in the backseat.”

When it comes to farming, Forrest—like most farmers—believes in a better tomorrow. Before his surgeries, Forrest had to undergo a mental health evaluation, ensuring he was prepared for all eventualities, even the possibility of the surgery not resulting in success.

“I go back to the highs and lows of farming. With milk prices and Mother Nature, you must be okay with not being in control,” he says.

Forrest’s mindset of focusing on what can go right instead of what could go wrong is just his natural way of thinking. This positive attitude has helped foster a healthy and positive culture at Maple Ridge Dairy, where 34 full-time employees work in harmony.

“Our mission and values are communicated, and we all work towards the same goal,” he shares.

In an industry full of challenges and unpredictability, this Wisconsin dairy farmer stands out not just for his farming practices but for his exemplary character and unwavering optimism. Whether on the farm, in the operating room, or during acts of heroism, Forrest truly embodies a spirit of selflessness and resilience.

“I try to make more deposits than withdrawals,” he says. “There are good days and bad days, but we really need to focus on the good. My hopes are that others who hear my story also consider organ donation. UW Madison is an incredible resource and I’d be happy to talk to anyone whose heart has tugged on them regarding organ donation. I have no regrets.”

Love For Lexi: A Wisconsin Dairy Farm Kid's Big Battle For a New Heart

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:35:38 GMT

Lexi Anderson looks like a typical 12-year-old kid. The sixth grader is full of life and so much spunk.

“How long have you been coming to World Dairy Expo,” I asked.

“12 years,” said Lexi.

Her entire life, she’s been traveling to World dairy Expo with her family to show cows. An annual trip that’s always packed with family fun. But Lexi’s life took a dramatic turn nearly 10 months ago, just two months after she showed during the 2023 World Dairy Expo.

“In December of 2023, she [Lexi] started feeling dizzy on the basketball court. And at first, we weren’t really sure what was going on, whether it was dehydration or what it was,” said Tamala Anderson, who is Lexi’s mom.

Unsure how serious it was, it wasn’t until Lexi blacked out on the court that they knew something wasn’t right.

“They decided to bring me in to the doctor. And then we figured out that I had this heart problem,” Lexi said.

The Diagnosis

It wasn’t just a minor problem. The diagnosis? Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM).

“It’s a hardening of the heart, the lining of the heart. So, the walls of the heart are eventually going to harden and stop pumping” Tamala explained.

“It’s really rare,” Lexi said. “Only like 2% of the world has it.”

Lexi Anderson

(Tamala Anderson)

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a less common type of cardiomyopathy. According to the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry, the average age of diagnosis is 5 to 6 years.

Lexi’s diagnosis meant her only cure would be a heart transplant

“When we first got the news, it was extremely hard to get that news,” said Tamala. “To hear that your daughter…. sometimes kids only have a year and a half after they’re diagnosed with this. It’s such a hard thing to hear that your daughter could die,” she said.

A heartbreaking diagnosis that shocked the family, but Tamala says they were sent to specialists at the children’s hospital in Milwaukee and got connected with an amazing team of doctors that immediately planted seeds of hope.

“We’ve got a great team. They don’t even let us look at the negative. They told us that we didn’t need to worry about it. They said they we’re going to find it [a heart] and fix it,” Tamala said.

Her New Normal

At 12 years old, Lexi’s life quickly turned to anything but normal. She has doctor visits at least every six weeks with strict orders to cut out physical activity that could stress her heart.

“I got banned from playing all sports, to stop it from growing,” Lexi said.

Lexi’s favorite sport is softball, a sport she can’t play until she receives her heart transplant.

(Tamala Anderson)

Lexi was extremely active before, playing basketball, riding horses and playing softball, which she says is her favorite sport.

“I really miss playing softball,” said Lexi.

“It’s hard,” said Tamala. “I kind of do have her wrapped up in a bubble as she has strict orders at school. All of her teachers know the strict orders. She’s not allowed to run, and she’s not allowed to do any of that stuff that might affect her. So she’s kind of limited in every aspect.”

Lexi loves all things outdoors, which includes riding horses and going fishing.

(Tamala Anderson)

Helpless in so many ways, Tamela did the only thing she could and that was to protect her little girl, all while waiting on the call that could save her life.

“Her timeline went from living 60 years, 80 years, down to we don’t know what,” said Tamala. “We could get a phone call at any time.”

Waiting on the Life-Saving Call

It’s that phone call that Tamala, Lexi and her entire family are anxiously awaiting.

“Honestly, my bags are packed in the car,” said Tamala. “I’ve got Lexi’s bags packed in the car. We’re waiting, and we’re ready.”

“Are you scared at all or are you nervous at all,” I asked Lexi.

“I’m a little nervous. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to get back home. And I don’t know if they’re going to hold me for the three months recovery, but hopefully they let me go home and just recover at my house.”

Love for Lexi

At 12 years old, Lexi’s courage is contagious and her support is inspiring. She has an army of family and friends who are rooting her on, with a group called “Love for Lexi.”

“A couple of her friends at home decided to do a website, it’s called Love for Lexi, where we have Caring Bridge connected,” said Tamala “Some of it’s to raise money. Some of it’s just to let people know how she’s doing.”

Whether it’s at the County Fair or World Dairy Expo, you’ll find Lexi shining in the show ring.

(Tamala Anderson)

That love was put on center stage this summer, when Lexi’s friends Hattie and Holly Hargrave gave the ultimate gift of generosity with a lamb for Lexi.

“We went to a county fair, and I was showing sheep, and I didn’t make the sale, and one of my friends did and that raised over $27,000 and she gave it to me for the benefit,” said Lexi.

“It was amazing,” Tama said. “It was absolutely amazing. Honestly, the first buyer, when the first buyer bought the lamb, I was in tears . Then, he’s like, ‘Nope, I want to sell it again.’ And he so he gave it back and they sold it again. And I mean, it sold four times.

That sale raised $27,000 from four business who all came together to show Lexi love and support.

“We live in a really, really great community,” Tamala said.

“I feel really, really loved,” said Lexi.

Lexi looks happy and normal, but as her heart works in overdrive, the reality is Lexi’s body is tired and worn down.

“Some days it takes her breath away just to walk across the parking lot. Some days she is jumping around saying, ‘I’m ready to go,’” Tamala said.

Success at World Dairy Expo

This week during the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc, Lexi was determined to go in the ring, and she brought home hardware, as well as memories she won’t forget. One of the best memories was when her cousin won Junior Champion of the World Dairy Expo Junior Show.

“I was super happy, because it’s like a victory for the farm,” said Lexi. “We just cheered each other on and we started supporting each other and stuff.”

That’s who Lexi is; a spirited kid who’s always supporting those around her.

“She’s a great kid, honestly,” said Tamala. “She’s got such a big heart. If she sees someone down or if she sees someone even getting bullied, she’s more of a protector. So she’s just a great kid.”

Lexi’s big heart is now what’s needing saved, but it’s a constant showing of love and support that’s getting this family through.

An Idea Out of This World: University of Nebraska Researchers Work to Launch Agriculture in Space

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:30:14 GMT

A team of University of Nebraska researchers have one major goal: to launch the first center for agriculture in space . Whether it’s Mars or the moon, if people will be there, they’ll have to eat, and so researchers are exploring how to take agriculture out of this world.

It may seem like a far-out idea, but it’s research with one burning question at its core.

“One of the thing we are looking at is how do we grow food in space,” says Santosh Pitla, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of Advanced Machinery Systems who also leads Machine Automation and Agricultural Robotics (MAARS).

The team’s goal is to grow the first acre of corn on Mars’ soil, but today, the focus first is on growing leafy greens like lettuce. While the idea sounds like it’s worlds away, the work in the MAARS lab could revolutionize the future of agriculture.

Pitla has already cracked the ag engineering code on creating autonomous vehicles that can serve multiple purposes. One example is the creation of Flex-Ro, which is short for flexible robot. The autonomous Flex-Ro was built by UNL’s Biological Systems Engineering Department.

“When I say multi-purpose, our goal was to do planting and then spraying nitrogen application. And then we are looking at targeted weeding as well,” Pitla says.

It’s those creations that could level up what they’re trying to accomplish in space, revealing answers on earth that will then be transplanted in space.

“On Earth, we understand irrigation, but in space where there is zero gravity, we don’t know how irrigation works,” he says. “When the plant is deficient in, let’s say fertilizer, or it is stressed because of no water, we can do manual interventions here, but when you are on the surface of Mars or the Moon, it needs to happen robotically. So, it’s those types of scenarios we are envisioning and then trying to come up with this engineered system to address it.”

What started five years ago with Flex-Ro robot, is just starting to scratch the surface on what may be possible in space.

“In space, the environment is toxic. So, it takes a lot of effort for a person to go out and scout for resources, for example,” says Pitla “So then we can send these robots out, just like NASA has Rovers specifically aimed at looking for water and looking for other things. But what we can be looking at is what sort of resources can be reclaimed to support agriculture.”

One of the ways to unlock answers is with a small-scale version of a greenhouse. The researchers are looking into controlled environments as a way to grow food in space.

“We were thinking that in order to have some agriculture in the extreme environment of space, we need to provide an environment for plants so that they can grow in that condition. We have to provide that condition for them,” says Ehsan Fazayeli, a graduate research assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Once the team decided a controlled environment with indoor agriculture made the most sense, they then started exploring sensors that can monitor the plants needs and manage those resources.

“With multiple sensors, we can monitor the light. When there is no light on the surface of moon or mars, it is dark, so we can provide the light and monitor it,” says Fazayeli.

The team is exploring what’s possible with leafy plants today, as agriculture in space may be closer than you think.

“I believe some day we can have some perfect platform for the surface of the Moon and Mars to provide food for crew members without making them busy, so they can focus on their own task, and we will provide food for them,” says Fazayeli.

It may be one small step for researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but it’s one that could truly be a giant leap for mankind, and it’s all because the researchers are exploring and manufacturing tools that could create a new galaxy of possibilities.

“It is out of this world; it’s very exciting,” says Pitla. “I think it’s a very bold idea, but we know over the last decade we have done a lot of advancements in going into space and with large rocket launchings using reusable rockets. I see a day where we will have settlements on space, so I think it’s a very exciting.”

A Work Of Art: The 108 Feet Tall Wheat Harvest Mural in Kansas That's Going Viral

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:29:32 GMT

It all started with an aging grain solo.

“It is 108 feet tall and 49 feet wide to be exact,” says Mindy Allen, owner of Mindy’s Murals in Junction City, Kan.

That one structure in Inman, Kan., served as Allen’s blank canvas, and over six weeks she transformed it into her largest mural yet.

As a full-time mural artist based in Kansas, she’s completed so many paintings and murals, Allen admits she’s actually lost count. But her latest masterpiece is one that took her more than a month to complete.

“It’s the largest on all aspects. I mean, largest as far as time frame, size, budget, exposure, every single thing about it. This is the biggest that I’ve ever done,” says Allen.

Odds are you’ve never even heard of Inman, Kansas. It’s situated in the central part of the state, but only boasts a population of just over 1,300 people. Until now, its identity was “a small town outside of McPherson,” but thanks to the larger-than-life mural, Inman has a new claim to fame.

“It took me six weeks, but I did take a lot of days off because of weather,” she says. “Between the wind and the rain, it just took time, but Mother Nature finally was like, ‘ Fine, she’s doing the mural, I’m just going to let her let her go.’ So, she finally let me finish it.”

Other than the weather, her biggest challenge in creating the giant mural was her lift.

“The speed of the lift was the biggest challenge,” she explains. “It just takes a long time to get up to the top or to get to where you want to go, and just maneuvering the lift and making it get to the right spot, it takes a lot of time.”

The process of actually painting the mural is no easy feat, and it’s one that starts with a digital drawing.

“Then, with a digital drawing, when I know the exact height and width of the building, then I can put those measurements onto my digital drawing,” says Allen. “I use a method called a ‘doodle grid.’ I basically just spray paint doodles all over the wall where I’m going to have like main parts of the drawings. And then I take a photo of those doodles and layer those over top of my digital drawing. So then I use that as a grid and I can go back in and with spray paint, I just sketch everything out and draw it so that I know where things are and then I can start painting.”

From the digital drawing of the mural on the left to the actual finished product on the right, it’s a vivid picture that highlights wheat harvest in Kansas. And the idea all started with one man.

“The picture of the farmer standing here and looking at all this, so many of us can drive up and say, ‘That is my dad. I can see my dad doing that.’ So, that just tells the whole story of what it’s all about,” Ron Regehr, with the Inman Museum, told U.S. Farm Report affiliate KWCH.

A man on a mission, he wanted to draw attention to the museum. So, he contacted Allen to bring his idea to life.

“Without him, it wouldn’t have been possible,” she says. “And with them adding onto the museum, he’s really hoping that this would give that a push, as well and, you know, help make that more possible, too.”

What started as a dream, has turned into a picture-perfect reality that’s now a new attraction for this rural Kansas town.

“I love painting, of course. I love doing the murals. But I think that it’s so rewarding when I finished the mural to be able to see how it has affected everybody else as well,” says Allen. “That to me is my favorite part, just knowing that so many people are seeing it and so many people are having a reaction to it and appreciating it. To me, that’s what makes it all worth it. “

Allen is already on to her next project. You can follow her work on her Facebook page .

How a Group of Veterinarians Helped Save a Rural Iowa Community

Fifteen years ago, Audubon, Iowa, was the typical picture of rural decline. Disheveled downtown buildings and vacant storefronts signaled the death of small businesses and a sense of community.

But a small group of people decided to change that. They came together, proving the power of hard work, renovations and financial dedication, to bring the small town of 2,100 people in central Iowa back to life.

“Audubon looks very different today than it did years ago with new businesses and housing efforts,” says Kate Hargens, owner of The Bakery on Broadway. “Rural communities are the heartbeat of America’s farm country. Unfortunately, aging infrastructure and declining populations in small towns drive the loss of small businesses in rural towns.”

Reviving Rural America
Maintaining grocery stores, coffee shops and recreation opportunities is critical for quality of life, Hargens points out.

The Bakery on Broadway

(Kate Hargens)

“In order to continue to recruit people back into rural communities for jobs, we need to support the growth and essential businesses like a grocery store and stores that improve quality of life such as a rec center, coffee shop or movie theater,” she explains. “Young professionals currently entering the workforce with young families are not willing to sacrifice the comforts of a larger town or city when looking for a job.”

Providing a place to bring the community together is crucial and one of the reasons why AMVC, a diversified agricultural business decided to get in the game, literally. AMVC is headquartered in Audubon and heavily invested in the community where they have a swine management company, traditional mixed animal veterinary clinics, a research business and construction and remodeling equipment sales business.

“When I came and interviewed here 18 years ago, I remember riding around with Steve Schmitz, one of our senior partners and current chairman of our board of directors, and he was talking about this idea of a rec center for Audubon,” says Jason Hocker, AMVC partner and veterinarian. “He wanted to build a place where everybody could get together and have a common meeting place.”

The Audubon Recreation Center is a central place for the entire community to come together.

(Jason Hocker)

Schmitz says the idea started when their kids told them there wasn’t anything to do in the evenings in town. In 2007, Schmitz and his wife Jane organized a group of people to come up with options.

“We surveyed the community, went to the schools, talked to the kids and came up with the concept of a recreation center consisting of a bowling center with restaurant, community room, half-court basketball, racquetball court, children’s play area and a walking track. The thought was to involve all ages. The original group that met eventually became the board of our non-profit and has been key to the rec center’s success,” Schmitz says.

Eleven years later, after raising $2.6 million through fundraisers, business and private donations, and grants, the rec center finally opened in the fall of 2018. Three years ago, another group started the push to add a full-sized gym and fitness area. Hocker led the subcommittee group focused on the gym process.

New gymnasium in the Audubon Recreation Center

(Jason Hocker)

“The initial committee invested over a decade of time and energy into it. So, we said, ‘You guys have done the heavy lifting, let us finish it.’ A group of eight couples with kids that are in that age range who will utilize this facility to its fullest potential moved it on by leading the phase two fundraising effort, applied for grants, and coordinated getting it built,” Hocker says.

Bringing Audubon Back to Life
The $6-million facility was completed in 2024. As the largest employer in the county, AMVC believes it’s important to have a rural community that is inviting and thriving.

“There are probably a lot of philosophical reasons we need to invest in our rural communities but ultimately, they are where we live, raise our families and have our friends. AMVC wants to see our communities grow, not only economically, but also in the quality of life that rural communities can provide,” Schmitz says.

The rec center has done a lot to foster community in the small town.

“This summer we had a regional final for softball and made it to state, which is super cool. Afterwards, we all walked across the street to the rec center and hung out with the teams and the families. It’s been great to have a common meeting place to do cool things like that,” Hocker says. “If we didn’t have this facility, people would have gone to somebody’s house and congregated in smaller groups. But this is a place where the entire community can come together and celebrate community things like a state softball championship berth.”

The Audubon Recreation Center was the perfect place for the entire town to celebrate qualifying for the state softball tournament.

(Jason Hocker)

AMVC is very supportive of these opportunities, he adds. Many AMVC employees are involved in the community, from economic development groups to the city council to the sports boosters to the chamber of commerce.

“AMVC has been a successful company over the years, which has given us the ability to give back to our community. We have a lot of very talented people that are willing to donate their time and talent,” Schmitz says. “AMVC has supported the renovation of an old movie theater which draws many people to town. Over the years, AMVC has taken the lead on other projects including turning an unsightly salvage yard at the intersection of two highways into a park, buying a dilapidated swine operation and turning it back into farmland and the removal of an old gas station.”

Hargens says the work AMVC does for the community doesn’t go unnoticed. She appreciates AMVC’s support of new growth and improvements that have been so important in continuing the momentum of renewal in Audubon.

“People are invested in pushing the community forward,” Hocker says. “I like to think as a company we are big proponents of that, because it not only benefits us from a business perspective, but also personally by keeping the town vibrant and growing.”

One of the popular phrases in town has become, “If you can’t get out, get in.” Hargens coined that phrase years ago when she built her coffee shop, The Bakery on Broadway, that has become a popular hang-out in the community.

The Bakery on Broadway in Audubon

(Kate Hargens)

Hocker is proud of the way Hargens and others continue to find ways to make the best of what they have. He says it’s a great environment to raise a family in – around people who look for ways to make things better for everyone, not just themselves.

“It’s important to invest within your community so there’s places for people to come back to,” he says. “When small towns start to die out, some of that’s self-induced because you’re not looking at what would bring people back. That’s what you need to provide the engine for your school system and your workforce – families and kids. Making sure you’re providing that is going to help your community thrive.”

Your Next Read: The Power of Community in Rural America