Farmer Resilience
After a devastating windstorm leveled his finishing barns in 2013, Kameron Donaldson leveraged community support and a data-driven partnership with Dykhuis Farms to secure a future for the next generation.
Praise God for the goodness that being a farmer is — not because it is easy and not because it is always profitable, but because it gives us the eyes to see that an ordinary Tuesday can be the best day we have ever asked for.
Years after her story first touched the agriculture industry, a suicide attempt survivor reflects on the reality of long-term healing and the power of uncomfortable conversations.
PIC’s Dan Hamilton shares his raw, inspiring story of losing his wife during childbirth and how the resilience of the agricultural community helped him find hope again.
Lessons forged on a wrestling mat and a ranch serve as a powerful reminder to separate your worth from your work. In the face of life’s hardest hits, it is the courage to share our stories that helps us find the way forward.
Nathan Isler shares his journey through grief after losing his father, offering insights on the resilience that comes on the other side of loss.
From the fashion world to farm life, Chelsea Schminke Grieder learns Her Mother’s Kidney Transplant Journey Forged Resilience and Leadership at Team Purebred
Nashville singer and songwriter Adam Sanders is one of the final six contestants in CBS’ new series, “The Road.” Here’s a look at the story behind his new release, “Get It If You Did It” co-written with Missouri pig farmer Jesse Heimer.
Legendary Coach K once advised, “Be as tough as your mothers.” This message resonates deeply with those of us who grew up as farm kids, where our mothers proved to be the unsung heroes of our upbringing.
After multiple doctor visits, tests with no answers and excruciating pain, sow farm manager Jennifer Romero knew something was wrong. A trip to the emergency room followed by hospital admission finally resulted in a diagnosis.
When the going gets tough, is adjusting your focus enough? Experts say one of the best ways to build resilience and manage stress is to pay attention in the present moment.
Maddie Hokanson follows a simple, but profound, philosophy in life: start with why. As a seventh-generation farmer with Schafer Farms, she says the farm has served as a lifeline while adjusting to parenting a child with serious health challenges.
A growing crisis is silently unfolding in agriculture. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. With mounting financial stress, that number could be on the rise this year.
Transitions of any kind are hard — but farmland might be one of the toughest, says Steve Bohr of Farm Financial Strategies.
It’s important to check in with ourselves and others as mental health is just as important as physical health.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the hot topics discussed at National Pork Industry Forum.
Sometimes waiting for answers to questions prevents us from realizing opportunities in agriculture. Tracy Walder shares how saying “yes” led her to an incredible career in the CIA and FBI chasing down terrorists.
We must address the needs of Millennials and Gen Zs to remain relevant and continue advancing the pork industry.
What we do with where we’re placed is up to us. Don’t doubt the cumulative power of the little things. I’ve seen them add up to make a big difference in the world.
Here’s a look at some familiar faces in the pork industry who credit FFA with helping them find their way into the pork industry and how it changed their lives.
To combat misconceptions, we must build relationships. You can’t simply meet a legislator once and then expect them to take your side on labor policy, Proposition 12 or line speeds.
There’s just something about the way love sparks in a pig barn. For the Archers and the Sidwells, this proved to be the perfect place for authenticity, trust and friendship to explode into a love that has stood the test of time.
The swine barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds is the site where many pork love stories have begun. For the Bakkers, it was even the site of their honeymoon.
It takes a strong team to achieve nearly 44 years of marriage. Here’s the secret behind one of the pork industry’s most beloved couples.
A friendly competition grew into much more for two young show pig enthusiasts from North Carolina.
From the Madison County Fair to the Illinois State Fair, how one couple’s love story led to a multi-generational passion for pigs.
Some days are harder than others, especially when your livelihood depends on factors outside of your control. But the good days remind Zach and Katlyn Cain why they do what they do. Here’s the first in our #porklovestories series.