“Change is the only constant in life. Ones ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.” Benjamin Franklin
Although 2020 has provided excess lessons for the advanced course in ‘How to Be Adaptable’, the ability to go with the flow is a trait that successful agrarians mastered years before. This group is skilled at being able to quickly pivot finding new direction when things don’t go as planned. Confidently adapting to change and by making educated modifications, provides a forward momentum for businesses and families alike. It is possible there is not a better example of rolling with the punches, than Annie Carlson, extraordinaire.
When meeting Annie for the first time, a warmness is felt far beyond her contagious smile. She has a secret power that makes people feel as if they have been wrapped in a super-sized hug, without physically touching them. Based on her optimistic and openhearted aura, it would be easy to assume that life has taken her on a walk through the park, however like the rest of the world, Annie has had bumps in the road. How she has chosen to learn and respond to challenges, is what separates her from others.
Annie began farming with her dad when she was eleven. When the operation’s hired help exited stage left, Annie was promoted to right-hand man, regardless of her gender. Her childhood farm and ranch focused on small grains, had a large commercial flock of ewes, and two smaller purebred flocks. Annie’s father taught her how to run equipment, the functions of herd management, and allowed her to develop skills and talents, while being by her side. When she was sixteen, her father was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, creating a need a for change. The sheep were sold, and their operation adapted by transitioning to backgrounding calves in a feedlot. In one blink of visiting with Annie about her dad, it is easy to see the passion and love he instilled in her for family, and agriculture, as well as ability to float like a butterfly.
Although Annie took a liking to the outdoor duties of farming and ranching, when inside the farmhouse, she was enrolled in yet another curriculum. Her mother was a talented cook and fiber artist who gifted Annie with these abilities as well. The two spent hours sewing, baking, and cooking together, which gave her an appreciation for garden produce storage methods, creating beautiful fiber products, and the ability to provide food for her family and others. It was Annie’s mom that sparked her fire for reading; a passion that she feeds and has passed onto her own children. Annie’s parents provided her with a foundation and capabilities to adapt to life as it happened.
Annie’s life continued to adapt and change as she furthered her education, earning a double major in Biology and Comprehensive Science Education and a minor in Geology from NDSU. She also extensively studied communication styles, refining her own speaking presentation and delivery tools and also continued avidly reading. Her family always valued learning through many facets and watching Annie’s life from afar, it is quickly noticed that she holds acquiring knowledge at the highest regard.
And then…there was this boy, well actually man, named John that crossed paths with Annie and swept this accomplished woman right off her feet. John was also raised in agriculture, with emphasis on small grains and row crops. The two began their adventure together, started a family, changed homes and professions, all while the adaptation and changing continued.
As Annie and John mapped out goals, dreams, and reality, they birthed their business, Morning Joy Farm, encompassing a broad scope of agricultural elements. During the grazing seasons, the farm hosts sheep, cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, hens, and turkeys, all integrated in one grazing system. They have a large garden, where the whole family works to grow produce for eating and selling. In the winter, schedules shift gears a bit, and they care for breeding animals and horses. The pasture-based, local-market farm offers direct sales of vegetables and meat, catering services, bulk orders, cooking classes, and professional speaking services. (Did I mention Annie also is a homeschool teacher?!) Annie uses bullet journals and Power Sheets to keep life organized.
With many moving parts within Annie and John’s enterprises comes opportunity for growth and a need to be malleable. Although plans for the farm are researched and well thought out in advance, there have been a few times when the pair needed to pivot midstream. John was laid off from his manufacturing job in February 2010, resulting in the decision to farm full-time by expanding their vegetable community supported agriculture (CSA) venture. During this time, they also started a pastured meat business. Morning Joy Farm had production agreements with a local food coop that were not honored, and had to do their best to recoup about $40,000 worth of excess product that suddenly had no market. Both experiences were hard at the time, but they learned once again, another lesson in how to be adaptable.
Annie and John operate debt-free, giving them a margin of freedom to try new things without having to convince a banker of their plans. On the contrary, farming without the bank also provides a limit to risk and keeps a lid on Annie’s self-proclaimed “crazy ideas”! The duo have a rule of not making farming decisions about the upcoming year during the fall, when the family is exhausted from the busy summer. Come January, they are ready to look critically at enterprises, balance sheets, and holistic goals and by February they have a solid plan and begin ordering garden seed, chicks, fencing, pigs, etc. With the current state of the world, those timetables have been moved up. Annie will adapt and start ordering in December to ensure supplies for their farming schedule.
Annie’s passion and entrepreneurship landed her the honor of being the Country Woman of the Year, an award sponsored by the Farm and Ranch Guide and granted to few. Although the award was a privilege, she shares that her greatest pride comes from watching her children excel in their own agricultural learning and business adventures.
Annie has become the master at adjusting and rolling with the punches. Since a young girl, she has been able to successfully change plans on a dime to maintain her involvement in agriculture while being true to her values and goals. As her journey continues and her life story grows, her can-do attitude and positive spirit will find her success in an ever changing world.
“A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless…you fail to make the turn.” ~Helen Keller
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