Category Archives: Features
Pushing Forward to Live the Dream
By Danny Hoots, FSA Tommy Turner Jr., is a new farmer who operates near Eudora, Arkansas. Many doors of opportunity opened for Tommy when he graduated college, but it was the dream of farming that called him back home. Where … Continue reading
Keeping the Momentum
By Leila Naylor, FSA Ian and Stesha Campbell are siblings and owners of Mooresfield Oyster Farm located in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Ian starts off every morning commercial fishing, followed by an afternoon of helping his sister tend to their oyster … Continue reading
Commitment to Habitat Renewal
By Kathy Ferge, USDA One of the state’s smaller tribes, the Burns Paiute tribe has established itself as an active conservation partner in eastern Oregon. The tribe worked with the Bonneville Power Administration to purchase two off-reservation properties through the … Continue reading
Holiday Tradition Years in The Making
By Dana Rogge, USDA Meet the Schweizer family of northwest Missouri. The Friday after Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday shopping season, and for the Schweizers, it’s opening day for Christmas tree season on the farm. Business Evolution The Schweizer’s farm … Continue reading
Thanksgiving on the Palouse
By Gina Kerzman, USDA Allen and Emmy Widman, of Palouse Pasture Poultry in Rosalia, Washington, raise annual grain crops, manage a chicken layer flock, and raise several hundred broiler chickens and turkeys for Thanksgiving. Season to Season The Widmans built … Continue reading
Gobbles and Good Soil
By Kris Vance, USDA Jarrod and Amy Burris of Loogootee, Indiana. The core of their diversified farming operation is raising the star of most Thanksgiving dinners – turkeys. Managing Together Jarrod and Amy are contract turkey producers who raise about … Continue reading
An Investment in Efficiency
By Lindsey New, Farm Service Agency Grain producers Russell and Lora Mullins, of Beelick Farms in Eubank, Kentucky, have been in the business over 30 years. “These days, on top of tough prices and unpredictable weather, we’re up against the … Continue reading
Veteran Returns to Farming Roots
Story & Photo Credit: Heather Emmons, USDA Bill Renfroe is an Air Force veteran in Lovelock, Nevada, who can now add “beginning farmer” to his resume. While Bill had initially dreamt of retiring somewhere green, that vision enfolded into fields … Continue reading
Working to Conserve the Land and Serve Local Producers
By Anthony Landrum, FSA Barbara Jean Hunter grew up on her father’s farm in Appomattox County, Virginia, and took over the farm as an adult. Passionate about conservation, she worked with USDA to transition her farm to protect the land. … Continue reading
Transitions and Traditions on a Century-Old Farm
By Lauren Moore, USDA David and Gail Hodge are the owners and operators of Hodge Farms in Newberry, Florida. Established in 1919, the operation has transitioned with the ever-changing agricultural environment over the last 100 years. A Family Farm Originally … Continue reading



