04/16/2026
When was the last time you had one of those “this is what it’s all about” moments? We imagine that the “we made it” moments only exist in the grandiosity of standing on top of a mountain or signing off on a mansion. Sometimes it’s the recognition of the smallest experience of everyday life that you’ve worked to make normal. Around the corner from my farm I see my neighbor working in the yard with his young son. I’m on my way to our local dairy farm to pick up fresh milk for the community. I know I’ll see that same neighbor later today when he comes with his son to stock up on their groceries for the week, at my store that’s less than 5 miles away. I notice my other neighbor across the street and her chickens, ducks, and geese, grazing their property. I admire the peacocks that are perched on the fence line. This neighbor supplies fresh eggs to my shop, which are then also picked up by other fellow neighbors. I’ve been farming for over 10 years now, and from day one this was what I wanted. A strong local network of producers providing for families and families supporting producers all deeply rooted in the same few mile radius. Where agriculture doesn’t have to just be a massive commercial operation separated from the people it feeds, but instead little farms that can integrate into the landscape of every region. Where resiliency, sustainability, and community, become the fabric of the nation. Of course the work is unforgiving, the goals can seem light years away, and nothing is ever perfect. But every now and then, you get a glimpse of the pieces that are.
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- Annemarie
