Jesse Bussard

Today we hear from Jesse Bussard a young agriculturist! She is very passionate about agriculture and her role in that aspiring task!

Hello, I’m Jesse Bussard, better known as Pearl Snaps to my friends and the blogosphere thanks to the name of my agriculture blog, Pearl Snaps’ Ponderings. You can read more about the story behind my nickname here.

I was raised in the south central Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania and am the fifth generation of my family to be involved directly in agriculture. My family owns a small cow-calf operation where they raise Hereford-Angus crossbred beef cattle. I grew showing livestock in 4-H and was an avid equestrian from the age of 5. Growing up, you were more likely to find me in the saddle or at the barn with my horse than anywhere else.

While it may seem to many that agriculture has always been my passion, it wasn’t always the case. When I graduated from high school in 2003 my life was somewhat of a mess and I had no direction in my life. It took 3 years and some very influential people to steer me onto the path I’m on now.

I went on to attend Penn State University, majoring in Animal Science. There I became involved with clubs like Block & Bridle, the Collegiate Cattlewomen, Agronomy Club, and the Equine Research Team. A part-time job at the USDA-ARS Pasture Lab and, later on, at the university’s agronomy research farm sparked an interest in forage and grazing research. Upon graduation in December of 2010, I decided to pursue this interest further by attending graduate school at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington to get my Masters degree in Crop Science. Along the way I started my blog, got involved in agvocacy efforts both on campus and online, and discovered I had a knack for writing. This has led to many great opportunities and new friendships.

Currently I’m still in Lexington and will be defending my Master thesis in a little less than 3 weeks. You might say the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight! What I’m going to do when I get to that light, however, has yet to be decided. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I know one thing for sure…I’ll continue to use my knowledge, skills, and talents for the betterment of agriculture. It’s my passion, my purpose, and like Thomas Jefferson once said: "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."

Learn more about Jesse’s story on her blog, Pearl Snaps’ Ponderings. In addition to her personal blog, Jesse also writes for Beef Producer and Feedstuffs. You can connect with Jesse via her blog’s Facebook Page, Twitter (@cowgirljesse and @pearlsnapsblog), Google+, Tumblr, or email (pearlsnapsponderings@gmail.com).

If you are interested in being a feature on Faces of Agriculture contact us!

Liz Lauck

Meet Liz Lauck of Wyoming. Liz works with Wyoming farmers and ranchers on a daily basis. She is one of the faces behind the great website RealRanchers.com! Her husband Tyler is busy on the farm and together they are today's Face of Agriculture Feature!

Growing up on our small horse operations in Wyoming and Colorado, my parents, Steve and Amy LeSatz, modeled a strong work ethic and taught my brother, Ben, and I the cattle and horse industries. My upbringing instilled a passion centered in agriculture and my Christian faith.

I attended the University of Wyoming to earn a B.S. in Agricultural Communications. While in college, I stayed connected to agriculture through my service as Wyoming State FFA Treasurer and my internships with the Platte County Extension Service, the Wyoming State Fair, the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and the National Western Stock Show.

My home is now in Wheatland, Wyo. with my husband, Tyler, who farms wheat, malt barley, pinto beans, sugar beets and corn. He is teaching me the ropes of farm life and I’m learning about the amazing technology and updated practices that are carrying agriculture into the future. Tyler is the true “Face of Agriculture.”

I graduated from UW in 2009 and was recruited as an intern for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. They were embarking on a new project in partnership with Encana Oil and Gas called Community Dialogues for Rural Wyoming (CDRW). Through CDRW we visited five rural Wyoming communities to conduct “listening sessions” about sustaining agriculture and rural communities. After analyzing the feedback, we discovered one common thread in all the discussions. Every community wanted to share their core values with the public, disseminate truthful and positive agriculture messages to correct misperceptions and educate consumers and policy makers about agriculture and rural issues.

My coworker and mentor, Kosha Olsen, and I looked at each other and said, “We need a blog.” We were inspired by Ree Drummond (a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman) who through creative content, beautiful photography and a unique personality is able to share stories from her rural Oklahoma ranch to literally tens of thousands of people each day, many of which have never so much as stepped foot in a cow pasture. So I went back into the communities and pitched the idea. After my presentation on the power of blogs and social media, they agreed to try it out and www.realranchers.com was born.

We launched RealRanchers.com in June 2010. Folks from each community sent their stories for me to post. We paired the blog with Twitter and Facebook accounts and later added a YouTube channel. We’ve had stories about monitoring rangeland, pulling calves out of snow banks, high altitude gardening, 4-H projects and many, many more. Over the past two years, the blog has had thousands of hits and our Facebook page has grown to more than 1,400 regular followers from 19 countries. We continue a steady growth to achieve our goal of sharing “what really happens in the meadows, mountains and Main Streets of Wyoming.”

Encana has continued to be a supportive partner and with their ongoing funding, we’ve traveled across the state to meet with “RealRanchers” and take photos and videos for blog content. Those posts are still in the works and will be published over the coming months.

During my travels I participated in a tour of the Jonah Field, a very large oil and gas field near Pinedale, Wyo. The resemblances between energy workers and agriculturists were striking. They are all so proud of the work they do to provide vital resources to the world. This inspired me to start a new section of the blog, called RealEnergy. RealEnergy does the same thing as RealRanchers; tells the real stories of Wyoming’s rural citizens. There is so much misinformation about both industries and, in Wyoming, both industries are greatly intertwined. So keep checking back as www.realranchers.com evolves!

I’ve been a WSGA staff member for more than three years now and am now the Communication and Publications Director. In addition to RealRanchers.com, I also publish our quarterly CowCountry magazine and our monthly No Bull Sheet newsletter. I coordinate media relations, help plan events, serve on boards and promote the livestock industry any other way we can. I am proud that all my work is in service to an organization that has represented Wyoming livestock producers since 1872 (we’re 140 years old this year!).

Thanks to Liz for this great feature and sharing the background of the RealRanchers.com website. I encourage everyone to visit this page for stories and info on our great farmers and ranchers in Wyoming! Be sure to like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter!

Are you passionate about agriculture? Do you feel the need to share you story with others? Perfect! We need to hear from you! Contact us today about being a feature FOA! Be sure to visit our Facebook page for updates about FOA and past features!

Uncle Monty & Kahua Ranch

Today we welcome 4Ag Hawaii who shares the story of "Uncle Monty", a Hawaii cattle industry icon. Monty will turn 83 next month and is still going strong in the agricultural and cattle industry! 

Herbert Montague Richards (Uncle Monty) was born on Kahua Ranch in 1929. Kahua means "the beginning; the source or foundation" and is located on the western slope of the Kohala Mountains, 3,000 feet above sea level just 12 miles from the town of Waimea, Hawaii. The 8,500 acre ranch grazes cattle, sheep and horses from the mountains to the coastal shoreline.

Monty is a fifth-generation kama'aina and is considered an innovator by many for his efforts in introducing alternative renewable energy to Kahua Ranch; as well as being the first on Hawaii Island to use rapid rotational grazing. He has been further credited with leading the field in hydroponic farming, wind and solar energy. He currently serves as Chairman and Trustee of Kahua Ranch.

He is a true community leader, serving on many boards such as the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Commission on Water Resource, Bank of Hawaii, Parker Ranch, 4 Ag Hawaii and was a regent at the University of Hawaii for 16 years. He was inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame in 2000.

Monty lives as he believes saying "we have a responsibility to our land and our people to perpetuate this life and heritage for future generations" - no one doubts he is doing just that.

Thanks to Uncle Monty and Kahua Ranch for being an inspiration to all of us who have been touched by his spirit and passion.

Thanks again 4Ag Hawaii for sharing Monty's story with us - it's so exciting to hear about agriculture in Hawaii! You can learn more about agriculture in Hawaii at the 4AgHawaii website, and their facebook page. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing your story with us, please contact us, we need your story today!

Jamie Rhoades

Hi everyone, I’m Jamie Rhoades. I blog over at This Uncharted Rhoade and I am also one of the girls “behind the scenes” here at Faces of Agriculture. While we share everyone else’s story, we thought it was about time to share our own also (look for Elizabeth’s in the next couple of weeks)!

I live and work in the great state of Missouri, where we’re not quite southern, not quite western, but defiantly brimming with agriculture. My husband and I live on his parent’s farm and we have about 20 head of cattle, mostly Angus. My husband works with his dad on the farm where they raise cattle, hogs, and crops. I work for a University where I’m in charge of a research project that includes 24 gilts (female pigs that haven’t given birth yet). In addition to work, I love working with our cattle, writing and advocating for agriculture, hanging our with our husky puppy and photography.

I’ve been involved in agriculture for almost as long as I can remember. Although I didn’t live on farm or have animals when I was a kid, both of my grandfathers had farms – where they raised everything from cattle and sheep to hogs and crops. I was a long time member of 4-H, and when I hit high school I became very involved in FFA. I showed cattle at the county fair for a few years and found my real passion in animal agriculture. I also met my husband in high school where I fell in love not only with him, but also with the idea of working with and raising pigs and spending the rest of my life on a farm.

Although working in the agricultural industry isn’t for the faint of heart, I still love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I started off in college majoring in agricultural journalism and later switched to animal sciences, but retained my love for writing. While in college I became aware for the first time of organizations such as HSUS and PETA and realized that my potential career path and way of life was at stake. I became passionate about spreading information about real farms and farmers, and sharing the story of agriculture to anyone who would listen.

I started my blog with the intention of sharing my little slice of life with anyone who might care to listen, in the hope that I could help just one person understand a little more about farmers and agriculture. It’s not easy to wake up everyday and go to work in an industry where you are rarely respected or appreciated by the people you are providing food for. But I honestly wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to live in the country, surrounded by open fields and cows. I get to work at job that I’m passionate about, and I get to try to make a difference by sharing my opinion and experiences with others.

If I could help the public to understand one thing about this industry, it’s that farmers and ranchers are real people just like everyone else – not a huge business or cooperation. We have goals and dreams, successes and failures. Everything that happens on farm happens for a reason – our practices have been research and perfected over many years to give our animals the best possible care and treatment. If you have question about your food – talk to farmer. Don’t know a farmer? That’s what we’re here for!

Thanks Jamie for sharing your story! Check out her blog, Facebook page, and twitter to keep up with this farm girl!

We NEED your story! Contact us about being a feature!

Gayle Anderson

Welcome Gayle, a farm wife who is determined to help put a face to agriculture and connect consumers with the farmers who produce their food. 

Hi, my name is Gayle Anderson and I am married to a 4th generation farmer in North Idaho.

I began my passion for being an “Agra-diva” back in 2009 when I attended a Women’s Leadership conference in beautiful North Carolina which was sponsored by Syngenta and the National Assoc. of Wheat Growers. From there, one of the most important messages that I took back with me was that women in Ag can reach consumers like no one else. Women tend to have better communication skills and as they put it, “are more believable” when we tell our story. After all, who is going to argue with a farm-mom? 

So I started blogging about our farm to put a face on the family farmer as a way to “tell our story, our way”. I also use my blog as a tool to interact with consumers and at the end of my blog; I always post my email address for questions. 

My husband and I also started our “Dinner on the Farm” where the consumer guest comes out to the farm, we have about an hour farm tour of crop/equipment, then we all head to the farmhouse for a hearty meal and great conversation. This is our fourth year of doing it and this year, Farm Journal magazine is coming to do a story on it. Our dinner is a free event, but it is by application or invite only to keep the numbers small and manageable so people have a small intimate group where they can freely ask questions and almost have a one on one visit with the farmer (we usually have 8 guests and 4 farm hosts).

 A video from one of last year’s dinners is included below. I took this video with me back to Chicago when I presented at the first Agriculture Women’s Executive conference on my role of using outreach efforts to help bridge the gap between consumer and those of us who grow what we all eat. Our Dinner on the Farm is during our garbanzo harvest, which is less hectic than the wheat harvest and the guests love this event. 

Our local state grain associations also have us host “trade teams” that come to Idaho, so they can meet the actual growers. So far we have hosted the Philippine Bakers & Millers trade team as well as the Japan Trade team in our home. The international guests marvel at being invited to a grower’s home, having a dinner and the rapport it builds between growers and buyers.

Thanks so much Gayle for sharing your story and for being such a great voice for agriculture! 

Be sure you watch the video of the Anderson's Dinner on the Farm, visit Gayle at her blog, and follow her on twitter! If you or someone you know should be featured as a Face of Agriculture, please contact us, we need to share your story!

Lauren Chase

Meet Lauren Chase - she wasn't raised in an agricultural setting, but through an internship she found her way and is now a great advocate for agriculture!

I live in Helena, Montana – Big Sky Country, but I wasn’t raised as a Montana girl. I am originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and before any one starts asking me questions about the corn crop, I must point out that I didn’t grow up on a farm or have any involvement in agriculture. In fact, I couldn’t have told you the first thing about it. Looking back, I wish that wasn’t the case.

I went to school at the University of Iowa and received degrees in both Journalism and Anthropology with a minor in Spanish. All three of those are broad scopes and therefore, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. One summer, the Montana Stockgrowers Association had an internship opportunity for multimedia communications work. I thought that would be an interesting way to combine my majors so I headed out west, full of excitement about what would be on those ranches.

The first time I was on a ranch, I was invited to watch a branding. And boy, when you see that for the first time, it’s a stimulation overload!

During that summer, I learned the differences between a bull and a steer, where to stand while cattle are being worked, and why some cattle are black and some are red. But more importantly, I learned just how important agriculture is for everything we do and how wonderful the people are who raise the beef we eat.

After my internship, I returned to the university to finish my degrees, but knew that advocating for farmers and ranchers was something that I wanted to do and is extremely necessary.

MSGA created a full-time position for me upon graduation, with help from very generous sponsors, where I would use photographs, videos, blogs, social media, and print to give a voice to the ranchers and teach the consumers about where their beef comes from and who produces it.

Most of the time ranchers work all day long and are outside with their cattle. They have a hard time sitting down at night to write blog posts or upload images of the newborn calf, so it’s my job to help them tell their story and get rid of misinformation about agriculture. I love every second of this because I am constantly learning, my “family” grows larger every day, and I truly believe that my story-telling skill set helps those who need it.

What’s even better is that while I primarily photograph and interview Montana’s ranchers, I have been fortunate enough to travel around the country and meet America’s beef producers. And the same message holds true: Farmers and ranchers are the nicest people and work tirelessly to provide you and me with food for our tables.

Have questions about the food you eat? Just ask your local farmer or rancher. They really do want to teach you and will explain things in a way you’ll understand. Trust me. I’ve been there and they have done nothing but help me learn. You can always check out Twitter feeds like #agchat, #foodD, and #ranchlife for information straight from the farmers and ranchers and visit Montana beef producers on our Facebook page: Montana Stockgrowers Association.

Agriculture is the foundation of everything we do on this planet. It’s time more people figured that out.

Thanks Lauren for a great feature! If you would like to learn more about the producers Lauren is working with visit her blog, follow her on Twitter, and check out her other work with Young Producers Council!

We are proud to bring you stories about people involved in agriculture! We need your story to make this possible! Contact us about being a feature today!

Dairy Carrie

Today we meet Carrie! She and her husband are part of a dariy farm in the great state of Wisconsin. She feels that it is now part of the job description for farmers to get involved with the discussion about food!

Our farm is located in Jefferson County WI, which lies between Madison and Milwaukee.

I am a Jill of all trades...currently we are dairy farming in conjunction with my husband's Uncle. The farm milks a little over 100 cows. The calves and dry cows are housed on our farm and the milk cows and older heifers are housed on the dairy across the road from our farm. We hope to be farming on our own in the near future. In addition to the farm I work as the Marketing Director for Waupun Equipment, a local farm implement dealer. I also work for Udder Comfort as a Dealer Representative and I sell dairy cattle genetics for Sierra Dessert Breeders and Dairy Bulls Online. So I guess I am fully immersed in everything dairy.

I was raised in Madison WI. I'm not the farmer's daughter or even the farmer's granddaughter. However, I have always had a deep love for animals and always wanted a farm. I purchased my first horse when I was 16 and he was the gateway drug to the world of agriculture. I never thought I wanted to be involved with dairy farming, instead I thought I would have my horses and some beef . Then I met and married the son of a dairy farmer and fell in love with dairy cows and the dairy industry. I can't imagine a life without my "girls" in it. The challenges and triumphs I experience each day are unlike any other job and I feel like I have found my calling on the dairy farm.

On the farm my main job is caring for our calves and dry cows. I think of it as the labor and delivery department as well as the nursery. Calves stay on our farm until they are about 5 months old so I am responsible for their feeding, health and well being during the most critical time of their lives. Even after seeing calves being born for years, it still excites me to see each calf come into this world and watching them grow.

I love the freedom that living in the country allows. Not having neighbors right on top of you, quiet nights, and star filled skies. But I think most of all I love the sense of community that comes with living in the country. In town you may not know your neighbors, but when you farm, you know them all and when someone needs help, a neighbor is there to lend a hand.

We asked Carrie what is the one thing you wish people understood about your farm?

I could write for days about this. There are thousands of misconceptions out there about agriculture and dairy farming. If I only had to choose one thing that I want people to realize it's that every decision that a dairy farmer makes for their farm is much more complicated than it seems. The choice to use antibiotics on a sick cow, how many cows to milk, what variety of seed corn to plant, the type of bedding the cows lay on, whether or not to graze your cows, when to sell a cow, are all much more involved decisions than the average person realizes. There are many discussions going on about where our food comes from. Farmers in general are late in joining these conversations. It's time for all of us dairy people to put ourselves and our industry out there and speak up. We can't expect that the growing opposition to our livelihoods will disappear if we just stick our heads in the sand. We need to be transparent in our actions, open and honest with those who have questions and most importantly we need to be realize that it is now part of our job as dairy producers to be a part of the discussion about food.

You can learn more about Carrie and their dairy on her blog Dairy Carrie and be sure to like her page on Facebook.

Thanks Carrie for teaching us more about the Dairy Industry! You can join the discussion too by becoming a feature! Want to learn more? Contact us today!