Tim Meagher Explores Bruce Haines' Farm and its Ties to the Food Industry
Having open conversations about food and farming with South Dakotans and the farmers who grow it is what we do. In fact, that’s what Hungry for Truth is all about. We had an exciting opportunity to connect Vanguard Hospitality Chief Operating Officer, Tim Meagher, with Bruce Haines, a corn and soybean farmer from Mitchell, S.D., to chat about farming in Mitchell, the importance of farmers, substainability and much more. Below, Tim shares his learnings from his visit to Bruce’s farm.
Arriving at the Haine’s farm just outside of Mitchell on what would be considered a pristine South Dakota day (ya know, the kind where you aren’t sure if it’s warm enough to keep your sweatshirt on or get hit by a cold front in the very next breath) Bruce stood outside his home in his soft but stoic demeanor waiting for our arrival. At first glance the farm was as well kept and organized as what an upscale urban neighbor would spend his or her time doing with a hedge clipper and weed eater. But this was a beautiful farm where every piece of machinery had a parking spot, and we were greeted by an antique red tractor as we began to walk into where the magic happens on the farm.
I don’t even think we officially greeted each other before instantly engaging in deep conversation on the subject of “why it is important to the US to protect and support INDEPENDENT farmers keeping the freedom in the hands of our diverse group of individuals who serve our country on many levels through their participation in SD agriculture. Bruce and I seemed to be in alignment with our outlook on farming both from his perspective (land stewardship, healthy crops, community service, lifting up others in your community, sustainable business models within the Ag sector) and mine, which is (farmers are the last free men and women who serve our communities both rural and urban, the need to keep farming profitable for national security, family transitioning is very difficult and how urban awareness can help support our farming industry in SD.)
We had to be prompted by the camera crew to continue moving from the red tractor further into the farm as our conversation had bloomed into a bonfire of subjects we continued to feed as we walked toward his combine (I had never stepped foot in a combine before). I have to say I felt like a big kid in a new “hot wheels” as we harvested a few rows of soybean he had left for our visit. (I don't think my neighbors back home would appreciate me taking a combine through our side streets, hacking off some of their well-manicured bushes, but I might take that chance.)
We spent most of the time in the combine, talking about soil health and his current practices. Sustainability is one of the most important parts of farming his crop. Bruce has done a “no-till” operation for the past 8-10 years on his land and showed the contrast between compacted soil and healthy “chocolate cake” level soil. At this point in time I could see the thread of awareness and intentionality Bruce leads with around “doing what is right for the sake of what's right” in all aspects of his life.
After we finished harvesting the leftover rows, Bruce pulled up next to his large truck and trailer and unloaded the soybean into the back. We started to “nerd out” (in my words) on the math behind calculating what would soon be a hopeful profit for his efforts. (My 6th grade teacher would be proud of me, just saying.) We stepped down from the combine, where we ate some of the harvested soybean left on the separator parts of the equipment, we continued to talk about the quality and health of the soybean and what that means to the purchasing and to the integrity behind his work. I wanted to break out my cast iron skillet and toast them up for a snack, but reluctantly, the crew made the “cut it out motion,” and we were forced to move on.
Bruce spoke at length about how he wants to promote soy innovations that create new markets and uses for soy while creating less waste and improving the product's sustainability. He pointed to our shoes and spoke on safe fire extermination uses for firefighters with soy products.
I looked at this from an urban standpoint. What is it that the urban communities need to understand about the South Dakota farming industry and its contribution to the health of our state? Farming is one of the largest contributing factors to the economy. The use of larger-scale farming creates markets that extend from the soles of our shoes to ethanol. New technology is continuing to utilize these plants for new markets. This style of farming is different in comparison to “Farm to Table” growers who service restaurants and community food outlets. Both of these tiers of farming are needed; one to make connections to other countries serving their needs with limited land availability or to deepen new markets in plant technology, for example, then all the way to feeding us in our homes. When we think of our national security it encompasses both export and our community sustainability and freedom from dependency in our food systems. Bruce is a great example of the heritage in the United States of “living the American Dream”. Talking about what that dream encompasses, we both agreed on the responsibility to the community (as he picked up a staff photo of employees from McDonald’s ranging up to 40 years). The theme at length was, “If you want to continue to live in a thriving city or rural community, you have a responsibility and freedom to protect it. All things can be accomplished together.”
At some point around this time, when Bruce was trailing off on memories of long-term staff and McDonald’s, his wife came in with snacks and apple crisp. At this point, I had lost all focus on our conversation and began planning on how to fill my plate. For those of you who have never been to a community rural farm, this is part of the hospitality of being welcomed into the home as a guest. You are always being taken care of, even if it's just your sweet tooth.
On the way home to Sioux Falls, I was reflecting on what is the American dream post-Bruce Haines farm visit. The freedom to serve, be responsible in your efforts, do the right thing for the right reasons, know your product, and keep it sustainable, including its profitability, and in the spirit of this effort, we will continue to remain interdependent as a community and less dependent on anyone who isn't part of serving our community to care for it and its neighbors. Freedom is hard work, to remain free means to be flexible, adaptable, to use heritage as a backdrop in guiding our future through evolution in what we do and who we are together.
