New Crop of Farmers :: Pete Rasmussen, 26

“What does it mean to be a young farmer today? Each moment the land speaks; our mission is to remember how to listen. Turning soil, planting seeds, praying for rain, and walking silently each morning through our maze of crops—these daily rituals teach us to be good listeners. Once we learn to hear the land speak, we will be prepared to build bridges between land and people. ‘The peculiar genius of each continent—each river valley, the rugged mountains, the placid lakes—all call for relief from the constant burden of exploitation,’ said Native American philosopher and author Vine Deloria, Jr. ‘Who will find peace with the lands?’ This is our challenge as young American farmers. Each season, as we learn to listen, we’ll better understand what it means to be farmers and guardians of this sweet land.”