January 3, 2019

City girl becomes a voice for agriculture

Topic: Leadership

by Lisa Hauf

As a little girl growing up in a city, Heather Lang always felt the farm was where she really belonged. Outside is where she felt a desire to be. She valued the work ethic and morals of farmers. Fast forward, and her dream became a reality. She not only married a farmer, she became a farmer. And last month, Lang was appointed to the American Farm Bureau Federation Promotion and Education Committee. Agriculture is no longer a dream, it’s her passion.

Lang, her husband and three children live on a farm near Sterling, North Dakota. They have a diverse small grain operation along with a small farrow to fork hog operation.

“I thoroughly enjoy the pigs – although they can be destructive – their personalities far overcome any of the ‘negatives’ I could say about them,” said Lang.

The AFBF Promotion and Education Committee fills a vital role in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers by providing tools and resources to Farm Bureau members who are eager to help share agriculture’s story. The AFBF president appoints the P&E Committee.

“I want to help bridge the gap between the misconceptions about agriculture and the unknown truth, by building strong relationships along with educational tools to enhance agricultural leaders,” said Lang.

NDFB has a state P&E Committee, with a representative from each of the nine districts. The committee plays a role in ag education around the state and is responsible for raising money for scholarships through the NDFB Foundation.

“If you have a passion for agriculture and want to help educate students about the role agriculture plays in their daily lives, you need to get involved,” said Lang. “My opportunities for growth are endless. I am eager to hear other people’s stories and to share mine; with hopes to find sound ways to get across the truths about agriculture.”

Lang will begin her duties in March at the 2019 FUSION Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Read some of Heather's posts for On Your Table, NDFB's mini-site about food and agriculture:

The benefits of cow poo

Family: The ultimate tradition

All are not created equal

We NAILED it! (Cooking with your kids)