Meet Aaron Young, Herd Manager at JC Simmentals. Although he didn’t begin his career in the cattle industry, he always felt a pull toward rural life. When he met John and Connie Miller, he found a home in agriculture and never looked back. JC Simmentals is known not only for its strong sires, simmentals, and angus cattle but also for hosting the Great Lakes Annual Beef Connection. People from all over the country fly in to attend this event, where the Miller family showcases some of their best cows. More important than the cows to their operation’s success are the…

“One person can only do so much” These are the words of farm owner Jason Lay. As he and his wife, Misty, watched their family grow, they realized there simply weren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week. That’s when they made a plan to bring in additional help on the farm. Enter Austin Baer, now the Operations Manager at Lay Farms. Austin loved hands-on work and knew he wanted to be close to where his food was grown. It was his passion, and the Lay family opened that door for him.

In today’s fast-paced world, where technology dominates our lives and urban environments tend to suffocate us, it’s becoming increasingly important to seek solace in the simplicity and serenity of the countryside. The benefits of rural living are numerous, especially for children and families.

U.S. President Thomas Jefferson once stated, “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, and the most wedded to its liberty and interests, by the most lasting bonds.