I grew up on a family farm and have been fortunate to have agriculture around me every day.

My family raises forages, beef cattle and meat goats, and I have been involved in 4-H and FFA activities for nearly a decade. I am also a South Dakota Junior Beef Ambassador, and my career plans are to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – and own and operate my own livestock farm one day.

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Even though I live in a rural state – South Dakota – and a rural community – Sturgis (population 7,102) – I know many people here and across the country don’t have the opportunity to visit a farm or learn about where the food on their dinner tables comes from. My goal is to change that.

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Through the Hello Ag Facebook page I am spotlighting the many agritourism destinations across the United States – and even some international locations – that welcome visitors to their farms. These places offer an opportunity for youth and adults to learn about the people and places where agriculture grows – from livestock production, to crops, fruits, vegetables, honeybees, and even Christmas trees! I encourage you to take time to visit one – or many – of these interesting and important agricultural places.

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My goal is for everyone to realize that agriculture is used by everyone, every day, everywhere.

I hope everyone will explore and come to appreciate agriculture in their lives, communities, country and the world. In short, we need agriculture! I believe this quote sums up the importance of agriculture best:

“Agriculture is the greatest and fundamentally the most important of our industries.

The cities are but the branches of the tree of national life, the roots of which go deeply into the land. We all flourish or decline with the farmer.”

- Bernard Baruch,

Presidential advisor to Woodrow Wilson