Four area teens serve as Rock-Nobles Beef Ambassadors
BY CHLOE FARNSWORTH The Globe
WORTHINGTON — Claire Knobloch, Aubrey Van Belle, Myranda Widboom, and Megan Rylaarsdam are several months into their role as beef ambassadors for the Rock-Nobles Cattlemen Association, and are eager to promote the beef industry.
Anna Haas, the ambassador coordinator, said beef ambassadors do not have to come from a farm. “We just want anybody that is passionate about the beef industry,” she said. “And loves to eat beef.”
A beef ambassador’s job is to spread the word about beef in the industry, not only to peers in their own schools, but to surrounding communities and the ultimate consumer.
Haas explained they can have anywhere from two to four individuals serve as
ambassadors each year, but typically have four because there are a lot of things they do throughout the year, especially in the summer.
Summer activities include parades where they pass out beef sticks, county fairs, a golf outing, and more. This year's golf outing is June 17 at the Adrian Country Club, during which there is free golfing for members of the Rock-Nobles Cattlemen’s Association as well as the Nobles County Corn and Soybean Growers Association.
The ambassadors also help serve at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s biggest fundraiser, Farm Fest, in Redwood Falls. They serve 15,000 ribeye sandwiches, so they need all the help they can get.
“They pretty much are just our right-hand people to help promote beef at various events throughout the year,” Haas said.
She added that the four young women serving as Rock-Nobles beef ambassadors were chosen because they were enthusiastic individuals.
“We knew that they would get the job done and do whatever we asked of them and do it with a positive attitude and a smile on their face,” Haas said.
Knobloch is a returning ambassador, having also represented the beef industry last year.
“We selected her to do a second term because of her dedication,” Haas said. “If you needed someone to show up and do the work, she was always there. And that’s what we are looking for with these candidates.”
With lots of weekend events, parades, and other summer activities, the four
Claire Knobloch, 2024 and 2025 Beef Ambassador
Megan Rylaarsdam, 2025 Beef Ambassador
SPRING 2025
Honoring area farms for Sesquicentennial & Century status
BY JULIE BUNTJER The Globe
REGIONAL — Two area farms are being honored this year as Sesquicentennial Farms, having been in family ownership for 150 years or more, while six area farms are being recognized as Century Farms, for 100 years of continuous family ownership.
Qualifying Century and Sesquicentennial farms must be 50 acres or more and involved in agricultural production.
All honorees receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Gov. Tim Walz. A display featuring all Sesquicentennial and Century farms will be available inside the Minnesota Farm Bureau building during the 2025 Minnesota State Fair.
Buckeye Farm
The Buckeye Farm of rural Heron Lake is among 46 Minnesota farms newly designated as Sesquicentennial Farms, recognizing 150 years of continuous family ownership.
The original 64-acre farm was purchased in 1868 by John and Anne (Knutsdatter) Buckeye at a cost of $1.65 per acre. Logs from their original log home have been preserved on the farm, while the present home, which was moved to the farm from an adjacent farm in the early 1900s, still stands today with a couple of additions made to it.
John and Anne emigrated from Vraadal, Telemark, Norway, to farm in southwest Minnesota. Over the years, the land produced corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, and soybeans, as well as dairy, chickens, and pigs.
Shared the family: “Our greatgrandparents, John and Anne, began working the farm in 1868. In the winter of 1872, John and a neighbor loaded an ox with a sack of wheat to be milled in Lakefield. Their journey, 12 to 14 miles each way, was probably an overnight trip.”
The route may have taken them across the frozen waters of Duck Lake and Heron Lake.
“On the return trip, both men perished in a snowstorm. It was determined that they were only hundreds of feet away from another settler’s home, but probably didn’t realize how close they were to safety,” the family wrote. “Grandpa John’s surviving wife and family, which included seven
children, continued to live on the farm despite that hardship.”
One of the stories that has been passed down from generation to generation involves how Anne and the children were able to save a portion of their wheat crop from the 1870 locust invasion by dragging a rope strung across the field of wheat to get the locusts to migrate on, thus not devouring the young green wheat plants. The effort probably ensured provisions for the family the following winter, they shared.
Anne Buckeye remained the land’s owner until 1895, when it transferred to their son and daughter-in-law, Charlie and Mary Buckeye. Charlie was just 2 years old at the time of his dad’s death. He also suffered a tragic death in a farm accident in 1931, leaving Mary with eight children to carry on the farm.
“Despite the struggles of the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II, the family maintained ownership,” the family wrote.
Mary Buckeye retained the farm until 1959, when it was purchased by her son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Agnes Buckeye, who farmed the land until 1981. Since 1988, the land has been in the Buckeye Family Partnership, which consists of seven owners, including five children of Glenn and Agnes, along with two grandchildren — Dorothy Burch, Charles Buckeye, Kathleen Langer, Jeanne Buckeye, Kenneth Buckeye, Terry Buckeye and Tina Buttner.
The farm consists of 235 acres today. It was recognized as a Minnesota Century Farm in 1981.
The Rollag Family Farm
The Rollag family of rural Beaver Creek is also celebrating a Sesquicentennial Farm designation in 2025. A story about the family farm will be featured at a later date this summer in The Globe.
The Paulson Farm
Located in rural Hardwick, the Paulson Farm is one of 77 Minnesota farms to be recognized as Century Farms in 2025. Currently owned by Hallie and Donna Paulson, the farm was purchased by Hallie’s great-great-grandfather, JL Tenderholt, in 1906. The original home still stands on the parcel and was updated in 1937. JL owned the 154.47-acre farm for 15 years before it transitioned to his son, Christian Tinderholt, in 1921. Christian was the farm’s owner for just five years before ownership transferred to Agatha Paulson, granddaughter of JL. A decade later, Agatha’s farm transferred to her son, Hallie Adrian Paulson, and in 1970, the farm’s present owners gained ownership of the now 170.78-acre farm. Hallie and Donna continue to farm the land, which has produced corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and wheat over the past 100 years.
SAM COOK / FORUM NEWS SERVICE Relic from a bygone era, a dump rake serves as a contrast to a December sunrise where it sits in its final resting place on a farm in western Minnesota.
Considerations for cows that have lost calves
her in the herd and her future success as a breeding female.
WORTHINGTON — As spring calving winds down — or is just beginning for some — one question, I’ve been hearing from a lot of producers is: What should I do with a cow or heifer that lost her calf?
With cull cow prices at record highs, it’s encouraging to see many producers thoughtfully weighing their options rather than just hauling her to town. While our ideal outcome is always for a female to wean a calf — whether her own or a successfully grafted one — that’s not always feasible, and in some cases, not even an option.
This situation brings up several important considerations that should guide our decision-making, especially in light of the current cow market.
The first question to ask is: Why did she lose her calf? If the answer is due to poor mothering ability, refusing to claim the calf, not enough quantity/quality of milk (due to poor milking ability or age), then the logical answer is that she needs to be in the cull pen. However, if the calf was lost due to no fault of her own, then we need to carefully evaluate the possibility of keeping
Every operation is different, and decisions must reflect individual goals and resources. That being said, producers generally have three viable options when managing females that have lost a calf:
• Cull now and consider replacing her immediately with a cow-calf pair to maintain weaning numbers and stocking density for summer grazing.
• Keep her and expose her again for the 2026 spring calving season.
• Sell now and wait to replace her this fall with a bred heifer or cow.
Use the following factors to help make the most informed decision based on the considerations listed above.
Cow age and longevity
How old is she, and how many calves has she raised? Her net present value is defined as her future production potential minus her remaining production costs. If she is a young cow that still has money borrowed against her, can you afford to sell her at cull price and purchase another animal to replace her? How many more calves can we expect her to wean in the future? Younger cows (2-5 years) have more potential to spread out production costs over more years compared to older cows (6 years plus), and older cows are at a higher risk of having more issues with broken or worn teeth and are more prone to udder, feet, and leg issues.
Feed availability
What is your current feed situation? If feed resources are tight and you typically run
out of grass before the grazing season ends, it may make sense to cull her now and delay replacement until fall. However, if stocking density is well managed and forage is sufficient, replacing her before turnout may be more cost-effective. This allows the new female to be bred in time to stay within your calving window and helps distribute pasture costs across more animal units.
Biosecurity concerns and potential risk
While each producer has their own threshold for risk, opinions are often strong when it comes to grafting a calf onto a cow that has lost her own. Some producers believe cows should remain in the herd only if they successfully wean a calf each year, and many find success grafting calves, either from within their herd or purchased from outside. However, introducing calves from external sources brings biosecurity risks. Consult your veterinarian to assess potential disease exposure and the impact on your herd.
Also, remember: it’s not just orphan calves that pose a risk — so do replacement females and cow/calf pairs. A female that has already had a calf has been exposed to another herd’s bull; whatever she may carry could be picked up by your herd bull and transmitted to your cows.
Replacement cost and financial considerations
With high cattle prices and national cow herd numbers down, consider what it will cost to replace a breeding female later on, and whether the replacement will be of comparable quality.
Any cows kept over (without a calf at side) can be considered replacement females, as they will not be weaning a calf in the fall to offset their production costs now. Does this scenario fit into your herd’s production plans, or does another management strategy need to be considered? Also, any cows that are borrowed against may require you to offset that cost for the current production year, which would be a conversation to have with your ag lender.
Finally, consider the harder-to-measure costs. What will it really take to replace her, not just in dollars, but in genetics, temperament, and adaptability? Is she a cow that you raised, and the product of a carefully planned mating decision? Is she from one of your top-producing cow families, has a good disposition and udder, and has been bred to succeed within your production setting?
While this is harder to assign a true dollar value to, these are all important factors to take into consideration when deciding what call to make. These intangibles may not have a line on a balance sheet, but they matter in the long-term success of your herd.
In short, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each case should be evaluated on a per-head basis, weighing short-term costs against long-term goals. Whether you choose to keep her or look for a replacement, make the decision intentionally and choose what works best for both your operational and financial objectives. What we decide to do with her today will have a lasting impact on our herd in the future.
Melissa Runck
MELISSA RUNCK University of Minnesota Extension Beef Production Systems educator
Preparing cattle for breeding season
herd. Were the cows and heifers in adequate body condition? Was there a health program in place? Was there stressful weather that caused a loss of pregnancies?
clean water, salt, minerals, and vitamins is critical.
Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE)
ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Recently, a producer called asking why his cows were open. A few had calved earlier, but none had calved in the past six weeks. He questioned the bulls he had been using.
Bulls are commonly blamed for open cows. But before assuming the bull is the problem, evaluate the cow
Then turn your attention to the management of the bull. Breeding involves more than just turning the bull out!
Body condition and nutrition
Aim for a body condition score of 6.0 for a mature bull and 6.5 for a younger bull at turnout. Bulls that are too fat or too thin may have reduced fertility. Transition bulls from a higher energy ration to a lower energy ration before turnout. But remember, a yearling bull will still be growing and may require supplementation while breeding to minimize weight loss and to maintain reproduction. Free access to
The BSE is an evaluation of the bull’s reproductive health consisting of an examination for general health, semen quality (motility, morphology, concentration), and scrotal circumference. It should be conducted 30-60 days prior to breeding. A higher-scoring bull will have a greater chance of breeding.
Socially adjusting bulls
If bulls have not been together, put them in a large area several weeks before turnout to establish their social order. There will be a certain amount of fighting initially. One means to reduce fighting is to remove their feed the night before grouping. If fresh feed is available in a large area, the bulls will
tend to seek the feed instead of fighting when co-mingled the next morning.
Management
Like an athlete, the bull needs to be conditioned. Provide a large area for exercise. Inspect the feet and legs for structural soundness. Implement a parasite and fly control program, and make sure vaccinations for respiratory and reproductive diseases are up to date. When using fly tags, insert one in each ear. If using a single bull in the pasture, consider rotating bulls every 21 days to minimize injury and fertility issues.
breeding season: 10
BETH DORAN Iowa State University Extension Beef Specialist
Beth Doran
ambassadors make it easier to divide and conquer.
“We understand they're kids and they still have a very busy summer as well,” Haas said. “So we don’t want to take up all their time.”
Knobloch is a junior at Hills-Beaver Creek High School. She is involved in volleyball, basketball, student council, math league, FFA, and 4-H. She enjoys working on her family farm, where her family raises beef cattle and has a cow/calf herd.
Knobloch was definitely excited when she learned she would be a beef ambassador again. She said she had fun last year with the other ambassadors and the adult members going through parades, helping at meals, and talking to community members.
She said she is looking forward to getting to know the other beef ambassadors better as well as promoting beef and agriculture.
Her favorite cut of beef is a ribeye steak, but “any kind of beef is great,” she said.
The three other beef ambassadors serving Rock and Nobles County are excited about fulfilling the role for the first time.
“I had wanted to be a beef ambassador since I was little,” Van Belle said. “I always
Anna Haas
wanted to be in the parades, so it was a big excitement for me.”
Van Belle is a sophomore at Luverne High School. She is involved in FFA, Magnolia Juniors 4-H club, and the Rock County SnoMasters snowmobile club.
She grew up on a family farm with cattle, so she enjoys spreading her love for cows and beef and teaching others more about the industry. Van Belle is specifically looking forward to the parade in Luverne for Buffalo Days, as she will know a lot of people.
Her favorite cut of beef is a t-bone steak.
Widboom is a junior at Worthington High School and a part-time PSEO student through Minnesota West. She is a member of the Elk Tip Toppers 4-H club in Nobles County and is also involved in FFA, cross country, track, choir, Future Teachers Club, youth group, and dance. She also participates in the Ag Ed Leader Program, where she goes into local classrooms and teaches children about where their food comes from.
Widboom said she felt honored and grateful to have this opportunity. She grew up on a cattle farm north of Worthington.
“Being a beef ambassador means new doors are opening with new leadership roles for motivated youth like me that are striving to make a difference,” she said. “We should work together and make sure that everything gets done by communicating with one another. It’s important that we get our assigned jobs done, whether that’s participating in parades or serving at a local event.”
She is looking forward to being able to promote the good word about the beef industry to those in the community who are eager to learn more. She is excited to take on this leadership role and learn through this experience.
Aubrey Van Belle, 2025 Beef Ambassador
Beef AmBAssAdors
CONTINUED FROM 6 “They pretty much are just our right-hand people to help promote beef at various events throughout the year.”
Her favorite cut of beef is steak, specifically grilled by her dad.
Rylaarsdam is a junior at Southwest Christian High School, where she participates in basketball, praise team, and choir. She enjoys working with her dad on their farm, where they raise beef cattle as well as crops.
“I was really excited about it,” she said about becoming a beef ambassador. “I am really passionate about farming and the beef industry, and I’m really excited to get to represent and advocate for it.”
Anna Haas
She believes that it is important for people who are not in the ag industry and who don’t farm to be educated on raising beef cattle.
Rylaarsdam said she is looking forward to the parades and the other events going on this summer. Her favorite cut of beef is steak.
Each ambassador earns a scholarship at the end of their term to apply toward their future education. The application process offers an opportunity for high school students in grades 10 through 12. There is no requirement for gender or beef industry experience.
Myranda Widboom, 2025 Beef Ambassador
Hansen Repair brings repairs out into the field
EBY SAMUEL MARTIN The Globe
DGERTON — With the planting season essentially wrapped up in southwest Minnesota, Cody Hansen's on-site repair business is in full swing with farmers needing semi tractor-trailer repairs out in the field.
Hansen is in his second year as a business owner doing agricultural repairs around the region. His home base is Edgerton.
Hansen said the origins of his business can be traced back as far as his childhood.
“When I was younger, I'd always work with my grandpa on the farm on vehicles and stuff,” he shared. “I just kinda started getting into more of the mechanical side of everything, and I just enjoyed doing that. I guess that's kinda where it all started."
In much more recent memory, he noticed there weren’t any mechanics that would go out in the field when farmers needed repairs made.
“I knew there wasn't a lot of that going on,” Hansen said. “I knew a lot of people took their stuff to the shops. I was like, ‘Well, why don't I go to them? They probably would like that, and it’d maybe be a little better sometimes too.'
"That's kinda what just inspired me to buy a service pickup and go out to the people," he added. "There are a lot of shops and stuff, but what inspired me the most, just from the business side, was just being able to go right to them.”
Current prices make future look stormy for farmers
WORTHINGTON — Farm Business Management has been around for 72 years and works with local farmers. Seventeen instructors at Minnesota West Community and Technical College assist farm producers with recordkeeping, organizing, and planning farm business records in southwest Minnesota.
Farm Business Management has historical data that can help producers manage their decisions and increase their odds for success. Farmers can compare and analyze their farm numbers and use our database to determine what they are good at and what they could improve on.
Farming is a business where nickels and dimes in income and dollars and cents in costs can make or break a profit point on any given year.
Here is a summary of what we learned in 2024 from over 1,525 farms in the southern half of Minnesota for our two most popular crops:
1. Cash-rented corn acres lost $64.92 per acre with an average yield of 180.72 bushels per acre.
2. Cash-rented soybeans had an average loss of $44.08 per acre with an average yield of 51.53 bushels per acre.
Last year, cash-rented corn production cost over $1,000 per acre to raise. If we assume that costs cannot be changed much this year, it would take $5.08 a bushel to pay all the bills, if the farm could raise a 200-bushel corn crop. The fall cash corn price after harvest for 2025 corn was $4.07 a bushel at the local co-op in mid-May. That means the farmer has calculated a potential shortage of almost $200 per acre to pay all the bills.
We can also look at soybeans the same way. In 2024, it cost $667 per acre to raise an acre of soybeans. If we take the same production costs and yields at 55 bushels per acre, the
farmer needs at least $12.13 per bushel to pay all the bills.
The cash price in early May at the local elevator for fall soybean delivery was $9.59 a bushel, creating a projected shortage of $139.70 per acre. Inconsistent weather and poorer yields last year set the stage for a tighter financial situation this year. Current price offerings are not welcoming
and make the future financial picture look stormy and similar to last year.
Farming has always been a high-stakes business, like rolling the dice in a casino. Farming is one of the only businesses where the price is set by others and the production cannot be controlled due to weather events and natural elements.
Managing risks to the best of their abilities is what helps farmers survive. There is an old saying that “a rising tide lifts all boats, “and the farm world is no different because most farms will experience similar trends at the same time.
MIKE DIERKS Minnesota West Farm Business Management
Mike Dierks
hONOred farms
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The atz farm
Siblings Wayne Finnern and Ruth Finnern Stephens are the current owners of the Atz Farm in rural Okabena. Honored as a 2025 Minnesota Century Farm, the original 200-acre parcel was purchased by Henry Atz in 1925 for $125 per acre. Henry had moved to rural Okabena from Illinois and farmed the land during his 50 years of ownership. The land was then transferred to his son, Howard Atz, who retained ownership for the next 19 years. Upon Howard’s death, the six-acre building site was sold, and the 194-acre farm was transferred to the current owners. The siblings have owned the farm for 31 years and rent the land out for production agriculture.
The Kruse farm
Ruth (Kruse) and Richard Opsata are the present owners of the Kruse Century Farm in rural Luverne. Ruth is the granddaughter of Henry Kruse, who purchased the 150.16-acre parcel in 1918 at a cost of $134.86 per acre.
“Henry Kruse purchased this property in 1918 and died just a year later, a casualty of the 1918 influenza pandemic,” wrote his family on the application for century farm designation. “The land was held in his estate until 1923, when it was finally probated to his widow, Minnie, and their six children, Hannah, Carl, Vernie, Amber, Roy, and Caroline.”
breediNg seasON
CONTINUED FROM 5
Number of bulls
The ratio of bulls to females depends upon the pasture size, terrain, and age of the bull. Larger or rougher pastures require more bulls to adequately service the cows. One guide is to match the number of cows to the age (in months) of the yearling, two-year-old, or three-year-old bull.
For example, a yearling bull (12 months of age) would service 12 cows. A three-year-old bull (36 months of age) could be used with 36 cows. However, some producers will run more bulls with their cows to ensure the cows are getting bred.
Observation is key
The “eye of the master” still holds true. Observe your cows at sunrise and sunset for signs of estrus and bull activity. When the breeding season is over, keep a close watch for cows that did not settle. If in doubt, work with your veterinarian to palpate or ultrasound the cows to determine pregnancy.
Despite the struggles of the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II, the family maintained ownership.
The Buckeye family
The children ranged in age from four to 20 at the time of their father’s death.
When Minnie died in 1956, it was her youngest son, Roy, who was given sole ownership. Roy owned the farm from 1957 until 2002. Upon his death, his son and daughter, Dan Kruse and Ruth (Kruse) Opsata, became the farm’s owners. Dan later sold his share to Ruth.
The current farm is now 140 acres.
stavnes farms
Located in Highwater Township, Cottonwood County, Stavnes Farms of rural Lamberton is in its third generation of family ownership. Originally settled by Norwegian immigrant Gunder Stavnes and his wife, Bertha, in 1898, the couple grew wheat, barley and flax on the land — and
later corn and soybeans. They retained ownership for 48 years before their son, Clifford Stavnes and his wife, Vernette Stavnes/Olson, took over the operation. From 1957 until 1973, they farmed the land, and then their son, Juhl Stavnes, took over.
Juhl has owned the farm, which is now 695 acres, for the past 52 years.
marlene and harvey Pedersen farm
Also located in Highwater Township, Cottonwood County, is the newly designated Century Farm owned by Marlene (Stavnes) and Harvey Pedersen. The rural Lamberton couple is the third generation owner of an 80-acre parcel originally purchased by Gunder Stavnes in July 1924.
Gunder had emigrated from Norway and came to Minnesota to be an indentured
servant, according to the family. After he had saved enough money to make a down payment on the land, he began farming for himself.
Gunder Stavnes remained the farm’s owner until June 1934, when it went to his son, Palmer M. Stavnes. Palmer would own and operate the farm for the next 72 years, until July 1996. At that time, his wife was the sole owner until December 2003. Their daughter, Marlene, then became the farm’s owner.
343 farms, inc.
Wayne and Judy Pankonin, Brad Pankonin, Christy Jackson, and Camie Pederson are the owners of 343 Farms, Inc., a newly designated Century Farm in Germantown Township, Cottonwood County. The farm has a rural Sanborn address, with Wayne being the third-generation owner.
Originally a 160-acre farm purchased by Gustav A. Pankonin in 1906 from the Bank of Winona, Gustav had emigrated from Germany to become a farmer. He owned the quarter-section for 15 years before ownership transferred to his son, Walter Pankonin. In 1968, Walter’s son, Wayne, took over the operation, which has grown to 2,500 acres.
Today, the farm produces corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
BETH DORAN / ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH Charolais bulls ready for the breeding season.
"There are a lot of shops and stuff, but what inspired me the most, just from the business side, was just being able to go right to them.”
Cody Hansen
Hansen RepaiR
CONTINUED FROM 8
While the business has had challenges, that may also be Hansen’s favorite part of having his own business.
“Of course, we got our slow times in the midwinter and stuff, but other than that, it's really pretty steady,” he said of his business. “I'm only more of a truck-trailer repair guy, it's more so semis and trailers or whatever. You may have a lack of tools and stuff from time to time, but you can
usually adapt and overcome the problem, and do a little brainstorming, and you can usually figure it out without 100% needing the tool that you need there."
Hansen said his favorite part of the business is just doing what he enjoys.
"That is rewarding to me, just being able to go out and help customers out and then they're happy at the end of it and everything," he said. "We’re a really good, driven business. We're excited to help people. There's nothing that's hopefully not too big or not too small.”
CuRRent pRiCes
CONTINUED FROM 9
The current trends argue for a shortage of fall cash. Sometimes, all this farm data can be mindboggling and even overwhelming for those who do not farm. Occasionally, I hear comments like “The yields will be better than that,” or “Prices will go up by harvest,” or “They made a lot of money two years ago.” These statements may happen or even be true, and looking for a bright spot is always admirable, but that does not solve the math that local farmers are currently facing.
The farmers gamble annually with cash markets, weather, unpredictable breakdowns, and other erratic farm events. Working hard each spring and reinvesting all their money does not guarantee that the producers there will have enough cash to pay all the bills next fall.
Until the farm outlook improves, producers will be rolling the dice several more times by implementing different management practices to improve prices and increase yields. If they can find the right combination, maybe income levels can reach the cost of producing corn and soybeans.
If you don’t farm, all you can do to help at the moment is let our local farm producers know we support them. We want them to succeed. After all, a profitable farm supports our local businesses, schools, and churches. A successful farm community is a thriving farm community. While the farmer waits for a better price and does his best to raise a better yield, we can say thank you next time we bump into a farmer. We still have the most abundant and safest food supply in the world due to the risktaking commitment and hard work of the American farmer!
Another old saying goes, “You cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.” Farm survival starts by keeping costs down so break-even prices stay as low as possible. Selling farm products at a profit is important, and being patient for that price to rebound is a sought-after and learned trait in farming.
