Our Journey, Agriculture’s Story

College years are often considered the most memorable and formative time in one’s life, providing the freedom to explore and discover one’s identity. It marks a significant transition for many as they leave home for the first time and face the realities of the real world.

During my freshman year in college, each student was assigned to give a 20-minute presentation on any single controversial topic, allowing three weeks of preparation. Hearing the teacher say that we were supposed to give a 20-minute presentation made my heart stop, and my body temperature go up. Public speaking is not my forte. I take pride in my work but prefer to work alone; therefore, I prefer to get the tasks done that were asked of me by myself, in a quiet room, and on my time.

The day I was scheduled to give my presentation, I was the second one to present, which meant I just had more time to stew in everything that could go wrong. The first presenter of the day started talking and they spoke on the exact topic I was speaking on. Already terrified, this really made me panic and filled my head with self-doubt. I was sweating profusely, and I felt weak. Ultimately, I failed at my presentation that day. The experience haunted me, affecting future public speaking engagements.

Interestingly, interacting with customers at our family farm is a stark contrast. I don’t run and hide from them. I am not looking to detour from them, and the self-doubt seems to be minimal, at the very back of my mind. In fact, I enjoy talking to our customers about our lifestyle, our products and why we do what we do. The fact that we are a 5th-generation family farm that depends on the family’s involvement to make it thrive. Or how I get to see their faces light up and the giggles throughout the barn as they touch the animals, come up with names for them and hand feed them. As we walk around the farm, showing them different aspects of our family farm, I get to show them the original farmhouse with pride.

Engaging with customers and sharing our farm’s heritage, products, and values brings me joy and purpose. Guests experience the hustle and bustle of farm life and when I get the opportunity to help a young child live out his dream of being in a real tractor, time seems to stand still for just a minute. Witnessing their excitement as they interact with our animals, explore the farm, and learn about our family’s history fills me with pride.

It’s in those moments that your heart is full, and your life has purpose. I want people to experience why we love this life and see firsthand how we treat our animals. These interactions allow me to convey our passion and dedication, creating meaningful connections and showcasing our commitment to our farming practices.

Conversations with our customers about our meat products are valued. I want to hear the good and the things that they might change. I encourage them to share any new suggestions for products or flavors. If something wasn’t right, we want to hear about it. Their input is vital to our business, driving us to continuously enhance our offerings and customer experience.

Sharing our agricultural journey is not only rewarding but also serves as an opportunity to educate and inspire others about the importance of farming in our daily lives. By narrating our journey from farm to fork, I can highlight the dedication, innovation, and challenges faced by farmers. Each story is a testament to their resilience and the vital role they play in sustaining our communities.

Heather Lang is a family farmer in North Dakota with local, state and national Farm Bureau leadership experience. She currently serves as president of her county Farm Bureau (Burleigh). Follow her on Instagram (ndpiggytales) to learn more about her journey. This column was originally published on North Dakota Farm Bureau’s “On Your Table” blog.