Behind the Scenes
Farm wife, mom, nurse
Lisa Graber grew up on a farm in Kansas. She met her husband, Tim, an Iowa farm boy, in college. Both had dreamed of raising their family on a farm. As a nurse, Lisa could “move her career.” Tim comes from a long line of turkey farmers and had dreamed of having his own turkey farm. So, the young couple moved to Iowa and 4 years later, started a family.Lisa is happy to have the opportunity to raise her kids on a farm, the same way she and Tim were raised on farms. The time spent together as a family in a positive environment is important to her as is teaching the children a hard work ethic.
As a wife and a mother, a farmer and as a nurse, Lisa brings an interesting perspective with her to work each day as she leaves the farm and goes to a more urban area where many of the people with whom she works do not have an understanding about where their food comes from. Lisa explained that these consumers want to know their food is safe. People, she said, think about health and about how the animals were raised. She said people with whom she comes in contact like the idea that farming is a “lifestyle.” They feel good about the family aspect of farming.
She thinks people would be pleasantly surprised at how free the turkeys are raised on her farm.
Community is important to Lisa Graber. As for being accepted, Lisa told me that many of the young neighbors are employed at the farm and other neighbors will come and get turkey manure for their gardens. Staying in close communication, going to church and being part of the community is important.
From an economic standpoint, the Grabers have a significant impact on the community. They spend money locally. Lisa goes to Iowa City to work, but she brings much of that salary back where it is spent locally.
The turkey farm, Lisa believes, is environmentally friendly in manure handling and management of resources.
Lisa would like to see her children involved in the field of agriculture, but it is ultimately their decision.
What would she change to do a better job on the farm? Lisa believes they are doing it right on the farm and that is passed to the consumer.
Add Comment