It's #meetafarmerfriday and our featured farmer is JaCee Aaseth.
Tell us about your farm/ranch:
Aaseth Farm and Ranch is a family operation located about 10 miles south of Velva, N.D. Our farm and ranch has been in the family name since 1940. We grow wheat, soybeans, canola, corn, peas, and flax. On the cattle side, we are a commercial, Simmental, and Sim-Influence cow/calf operation. Everyone in my family owns cattle, from my grandpa, my uncles, my dad, my brother, my sister, and my cousins so there are quite a few head on our place.
JaCee and Levi
I have owned cattle since I was 5 years old and built my herd from that. When I turned 12, my sister and I took a loan out through FSA to buy more cattle. We each bought 5 head. Today, at the age of 27, I have built my herd to 40 head, all a mix between commercial, Simmental and Sim-influence. I work a full-time job in town as the Marketing Director of the North Dakota State Fair, however, my fiancé, Levi Black, manages my herd and his herd every day on the ranch.
Why do you farm and ranch?
We often hear farmers and ranchers say, “If I didn’t, who would?” That is my answer. The average age of farmers and ranchers is 57 years old. Our family is the fourth generation and as a farm kid, I almost feel obligated to keep that going. My great grandpa came over here from Norway in 1923 at the age of 19. His dream was to own his own farm and ranch. He started the entire operation from scratch, and you just don’t see that anymore in young kids. So, I can’t let it fail now.
What are your biggest struggles?
It is no secret that times are tough, especially in the ranching industry with below average cattle prices and cost of inputs on the rise. However, that is a problem that we as an industry are working to change. Our biggest struggle in my family is having enough for everyone. I have two siblings. My brother is expected to take over the entire farming operation when he graduates college, so along with that, comes the entire farmstead. My fiancé and I are struggling to find our own operation that is affordable. Currently we live in town. We have talked about building a house, but then lumber prices sky rocketed. We talked about buying an established farmstead, but then the housing market hit an all time high. We are struggling to get ourselves established and find and affordable place to call home. The best advice we have received is from people telling us to find a family member, and purchase under contract for deed. We are seeing more and more of this, because prices of land are not the same and profits just don’t compare.
Do you think farmers and ranchers are inherently different than other people?
Yes and no. I think we have a better understanding of certain things, like the circle of life, where are food comes from, and the economy but I wouldn’t say that makes us different. We are just doing the work that needs to be done for people to thrive. It is no different than truckers, factory workers, coal miners, oil workers, etc.
JaCee and Levi (far right) and other family members are involved in the cattle industry.
What did you want to be when you grew up? How does farming/ranching fit into that dream?
I always wanted to be in the medical field. Farming and ranching didn’t fit that picture. I eventually changed my major in college to ag communications and marketing. In this career I have had the opportunity to be a part of a larger discussion. I have been the Administrator of the ND Ag Coalition, the Executive Director of the US Durum Growers Association, the Communications Director of the ND Beef Commission, and the Communications Director of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. I am now the Marketing Director of the ND State Fair. Agriculture is the root of all fairs across the country. Through this, I get the opportunity to experience and work in agriculture across all aspects of farming, ranching, 4-H, FFA, and the show industry.
If you could say one thing to consumers about agriculture, what would it be?
We all want the same thing: Safe, quality food for our families to eat and thrive on. We wouldn’t feed you anything that we wouldn’t eat ourselves.
JaCee is the District 6 representative on the NDFB Promotion and Education Committee.