Grow your Graditude

2020 has been a YEAR. We could all focus on the negatives, the disappointments, the hardships that happened to the world this year. Thousands of deaths, lay-offs and unemployment, being isolated and alone, cancelled weddings, events, sports games, and more, not seeing friends or family for their safety, sickness and mental health hardships, the list …

Importance of Routine (AKA being productive and surviving working from home)

With the current state of the world / country / state, most of us are officially working remotely or telecommuting. Myself included. I'm a self-described full workaholic. I love my job, and I love being able to spend my nights and weekends doing everything related to 4-H. 50+ hour work weeks don't bother me when …

Investing in the future of agriculture

If you clicked on this article, it's pretty likely you have some connection to the agriculture industry. The future can be scary. Especially with things threatening the livelihood of so much of our community here in North Dakota and the Midwest. Fear-based marketing, straight INSANE food labeling, and a general fear of chemicals. By 2050 the …

Cows, Coffee, and Cardio. (And College, Cello, Cameras, Climbing, and a Cattle Dog)

I’ve always had my hands and head in 13 places at once. Varied interests, ideas, activities. This hasn’t changed in my adult life, and I still have such a wide variety of interests it even confuses me how I got started in some of my hobbies and activities. Being heavily involved in the classical music …

Consumer Connection

Hormone Free. Antibiotic Free. GMO Free. Added Hormone Free. Cage Free. Cruelty Free. Gluten Free. Grain Free. Lactose Free. Is there even anything in food anymore? The majority of us in the agriculture industry know what these labels all mean when we see them in the grocery store shelves, but what about the average consumer …

Don’t be a Burnout

01.01.19 The first day of a new year might be the most popular day for people to reinvent themselves, start new routines, or start working towards goals. *I personally don't like New Year's resolutions because why bother waiting for a new year to make a change? If you want to work on yourself do it …

Why even “city kids” should pursue a career in the agriculture industry

I'll be the first to admit - No one in my family farms, and my parents' paychecks never relied on the combination of 6 inches of topsoil and good weather. From a military brat, to living on a rural hobby farm, to immersed in agriculture classes at NDSU, to now covering agriculture news for the …

No, I’m not an intern: Navigating the transition from college to career

Navigating the transition from being a full-time college student to working full-time in your career is an interesting time in life. You're young enough where you'll probably be the youngest full-time staff person in your office, but you'll also look like an intern. So how do you go from fresh-faced college graduate, to be taken …

So your candidate wasn’t elected…

Disappointment. Broken expectations. Hope being dashed. You did your civic duty, researched the options from candidates to measures, you marched to the polls, waited in line, and cast your vote. Maybe you were even more involved. Campaigning for the person you just KNEW was going to change your community or state. Volunteering your time going …

Better connecting agriculture with consumers

Hormone Free. Antibiotic Free. GMO Free. Added Hormone Free. Cage Free. Cruelty Free. Gluten Free. Grain Free. Lactose Free. Is there even anything in food anymore? The majority of us in the agriculture industry know what these labels all mean when we see them in the grocery store shelves, but what about the average consumer …