Brooklynn was born in the west Texas town of El Paso, raised in the badlands of New Mexico. I grew up on horseback, rodeoing, with my brother and cousins and being the only girl in the family, learned how to tough’n’up at an early age!

My love for the sport of rodeo and the western way of life grew as I got older and I found opportunities to share that passion with others as a rodeo queen. Though my tom-boy roots were still in-tact, I loved being able to share my life with others, even if I had to wear make-up and curl my hair! In the mix of all that was western, I tried to be somewhat normal by playing volleyball, being involved in my local FFA Chapter and high school student council. Even into college, rodeo paved my way for a Bachelor’s Degree not to mention the numerous scholarships I earned for being a rodeo ambassador. Rodeoing for South Plains College and New Mexico State University fed my hunger for the western way of life.

Now as I raise my chicken flock, ride my broncs and tend to the homestead, my heart is where it belongs….in the wild, wild west!

Thea was raised in the beautiful lakeside town of Sandpoint, Idaho where she spent her time in the summer split between the lake and her grandparents ranch. After attending the University of Idaho she found herself in the sun-baked deserts of New Mexico, where she met her fiance and spent five years living on historic the San Augustine Ranch outside of Las Cruces.

When the opportunity presented itself, she reluctantly left the ranch (dragging along  her five horses, five dogs and one cowboy) to relocate to Northern Colorado where she is currently the General Manager for the World’s largest 4th of July and Western Celebration, the Greeley Stampede.

Raised as a cowboy/veterinarians daughter, Lyndsey grew up traveling the dirt roads between rural ranches and small towns in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho and Arizona.

At a young age she began to dream of preserving the cowboy way of life that had been handed down to her through the generations. With a hand-me-down 35mm camera she began taking pictures and as time has passed her cameras grew with her dreams. Now living/working with her husband on a large cattle ranch outside Old Horse Springs NM, she has plenty of opportunity to snap photos of the day-to-day ranch life assisted by Stetson, her cowdog-wanna-be Corgi.

Besides toting her camera around to ranches in the surrounding areas, she also spends a lot of time on the road doing portrait, wedding and fashion photography. There is never a “when she’s not taking pictures” part of her life.

In addition to all the photos she takes “on the job”, anyone going through her archives will find pictures of dishes, starched shirts, muddy boots, spilled beads, hot pizza, dirty dogs, tomato plants, flat tires…anything and everything that makes up her day as a Dirt Road Daughter.

Megan grew up in a small southern Colorado town near the New Mexico Border; she was raised on rodeo and loved every minute of it. Megan moved to North to attend Northern Colorado University where she obtained a BA in Political Science and met her husband.

The two married in 2009 and welcomed their baby girl in 2011. Megan and her husband CPRA rodeo during the summer and Megan barrel races throughout the year. Coming from a small town with only one store, Megan had to be creative in her outfit choices, which lead to a frugal cowgirl fashionista.

She spends most of her time designing wardrobes for customers using their current clothing selection.

By Megan Silcott

WTF? Many people find such an acronym offensive. However, our use of these three capital letters is far different from the typical application … Where’s The Food Without The Farmer? Count it again, yes, that’s a double WTF and the shirts are a show stopper in airports.

That’s the point. I Love Farmers …They Feed My Soul is a bold, in your face kind of group. We want to start conversations about agriculture and sometimes that takes more than the traditional messages from established organizations.

“We may be young, but we are not stupid.” This statement is the opening line on the I Love Farmers’ website. When asked to join the leadership efforts of the group, I found myself questioning that line – I couldn’t deny it. It’s simple and true. I may be young, but I am not stupid.

“We love farmers. They feed our soul. Together we are working to help our generation understand the importance of knowing where our food comes from and who produced it. We’re not your typical ‘who cares’ kind of young people from the Millennial Generation. Sure, we all have cell phones and we text like crazy. We have iPods and spend way too much time on Facebook and Twitter, but we care about our planet. We care about our country. We care about the American family farmer.

“Few of our friends know how their food is produced. We think that is sad. And, really it is kind of scary. If we are not careful, the United States will become dependent on other countries to provide our food. That is not good. Who knows what goes on in other countries when it comes to growing our food? We have an idea, and it too is not good.”

Some people appreciate farmers, and everyone appreciates a full belly and a comfortable home. However, not everyone understands the power they hold when it comes to agriculture issues and understanding the benefits and consequences of legislation.

The story of I Love Farmers began in 2008 when Californian voters brought on an interesting turn of events, a downturn actually, in the California poultry industry by way of Proposition 2 which requires egg-laying hens, veal calves, and pregnant sows have room enough to lie down, stand, turn around, and fully extend their limbs.

Proposition 2 was sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a nonprofit organization that has had tremendous financial success raising funds by tugging at the heartstrings of the general public.  Though, a variety of reports indicate a majority of those funds don’t actually reach those desperate animals in need depicted in HSUS’ incredibly effective commercial messages.

What the voting population wasn’t aware of at the time Proposition 2 came around, was that the poultry industry had already adopted new cage standards on their own, and was phasing the larger cages in over a period of time. And, that the poultry cages already in use were proven to provide adequate space.  Additionally, chickens by nature are cannibalistic and when given more room than needed those natural tendencies result in excessive pecking harming the chickens as well as production.

The agriculture industry quickly came to the defense of producers, presenting factual evidence regarding space requirements of a chicken to stretch comfortably and the nutritional value and care given to their feed.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also had concerns regarding Proposition 2, stating, “Although the American Veterinary Medical Association applauds every effort to promote animal welfare, the AVMA is concerned about possible, unintended negative consequences to animal welfare of enacting Proposition 2.”

The AVMA continued on to list their reasoning for disagreeing with Proposition 2; while the proposition would be implemented in California, the risk by targeting such a large poultry producing state means the demand for poultry would reach beyond California to areas where the regulations imposed in California weren’t in place; challenging the concept of animal welfare at its core. Moving the regulations from state to state would take time during which American consumers would be buying their chicken and eggs from sub-standard producers, those not caught between the lines of Prop 2.

Why do HSUS, AVMA, and countless other groups all matter to I Love Farmers? Because we’re all fighting passionately for what we believe to be the best option, the ideal solution for an issue we deeply care about. The problem is that some wars are fought with facts, while others are fought with emotional pleas.

HSUS won over voters in California by showing horrendous footage of animal cruelty that would certainly be condemned by any human being with an ounce of compassion – a message that resulted in an immediate, though misinformed reaction.  Proposition 2 succeeded by appealing to the voters’ hearts, not their minds.

The solution is information and knowledge – a conversation about our food, where it comes from and how it reaches our tables.

Fast forward a couple years … have you seen the latest Lay’s potato chip commercial? Welch’s grape juice? How about Kashi, Florida’s Orange Juice, or Lipton tea? They are all filmed in the field. The 30-second, high dollar commercial spots are showing where the raw materials for these great products are grown. Such commercials were rare three years ago.

The agriculture industry is catching on and Happy Cow Commercials are now joined by a variety of name brand, consumer-loved products showing the American family farmer behind their favorite grocery items. Messaging for any product, person, or sale is what tips the scales of consumer buying decisions. I Love Farmers is designed to complement the organizations and programs already active within the industry and give fuel to these important conversations.

In an effort to facilitate the conversation among our peers about our food, our farmers and our future, we have committed to getting connected. We want to get the word out about where our food comes from, who produces our food, fiber and shelter, and how. Social media tools have been a successful avenue to generate these conversations.

Care to get involved? The I Love Farmers group invites you to join us online via Facebook and be a part of the conversation about American agriculture. Hop on Twitter and instantly engage with people from across the world. Wear a t-shirt proudly supporting beef, pork, organic, local, rare fruit, Farm Bureau, 4-H, FFA, Grange, Cattlemen, Ag in the Classroom, almonds, wheat, corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans … the list goes on of groups and commodity efforts hoping to stir enthusiasm and support.

Join our efforts and help spread the message that agriculture can be hip, organic, a 3,000 acre wheat farm or a single heifer 4-H project. America’s family farmer and ranchers are behind every operation. And their goal is to feed us and put food on their own tables each day.

But don’t you worry … our dirty jeans only take two minutes to change into a pair of slacks or “town boots.” You’ll find us on school boards, Farm Bureau committees and playing reggae music on the weekends. Today’s farmers are as diverse as a pack of Jelly Belly’s. Follow the blogs, mom’s that make their own baby food, men overseas who would trade unmentionables for a prime rib, and Tweet with the hippy stuck in 1963. We all have a favorite food and it takes the hands of our farmers and ranchers to create a double espresso and a New York cheesecake.

Help us show the consumer they can grow their own basil, where their grass-fed beef comes from and that American family farmers and ranchers are at the heart of this nation. Together, our generation can make a difference.

Amanda Radke is the typical girl next door, well, actually the typical girl down the dirt road on the ranch next door.  She has a Carrie Bradshaw’esque sort of style, though in place of Christian LaBoutin heels and designer shades; she rocks a brown studded pair of Stetson cowboy boots and chunky turquoise jewelry. Also, unlike the fictional Bradshaw, Radke is the genuine article – a real cowgirl, living on a ranch in Mitchell, South Dakota who is ready to tell real tales about the American cowboy and western way of life – tales of her life and who she is.

Carrie and Amanda are similar in many of ways, although she appears confident in her role as an agriculture advocate; she didn’t always feel that way.  In one scene of the wildly successful Sex and the City movie, Carrie says, “As we drive along this road called life, occasionally a gal will find herself a little lost. And, then what happens, I guess she has to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda, buckle up and just keep going.”

Just as Sarah Jessica Parker’s character finds herself traveling a winding road, making mistakes and learning lessons along the way, Radke has had a similar experience. In fact, just a few years ago, she would have bet the farm that she wouldn’t be in the ranching business when she completed her degree in Agriculture Journalism from South Dakota State University.
“I remember watching the premier of the Sex and the City movie in Argentina in 2008, when I was studying abroad there,” recalls Radke. “At the time, I was wanting to do anything and be anywhere but the ranch; I was tired of cattle and the hard work on the ranch. I had been teased for being a country girl growing up, and I pictured myself in a more glamorous lifestyle, working in a big city somewhere, in a skyscraper, and wearing designer suits and stilettos to my high-powered job everyday. In a nutshell, I wanted nothing to do with ranching.”

Yet, there’s a quote that reads, “Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it,” and for Radke that quote couldn’t ring more true. She didn’t anticipate falling in love with a cowboy and finding her way back to her parents’ South Dakota cattle ranch. And, she never would have guessed that she would work from home, much like Carrie, as a freelance writer — only instead of writing about the trials of dating in the big city, she writes about the agricultural industry. Now Radke has one more thing in common with her fictional counterpart – becoming a published author.

Radke has self-published a children’s book titled, “Levi’s Lost Calf,”  which will be available this fall. She partnered with illustrator and fellow ranch wife, Michelle Weber, who brought the story to life — one that introduces the reader to life on a working cattle ranch. The pitch-perfect story line combined with colorful and whimsical paintings create a one-of-a-kind reading adventure for anyone wanting to learn more about cattle, horses, cowboys, and cooking. The book has it all — a positive message about being responsible and doing what’s right, a kid-friendly recipe to enjoy for an authentic cowboy cookout, and even a glossary with terms to help the young reader learn more about agriculture.
“In a time where today’s consumers are three generations removed from the family farm, this book will introduce kids to ranchers who serve as stewards of the land and the caregivers to the many animals. Readers will get to experience a real-life cowboy adventure, complete with horses, cattle and a new understanding for where our food comes from. Parents will enjoy the positive message of the book and might be reminded of the good old days when they may have visited Grandpa’s farm,” says Radke.

As Radke walks down the familiar dirt road of her family’s cattle ranch, the dust kicks up on her Stetsons. While she may not lead a glamorous life like Carrie Bradshaw, she has found happiness in a place she never imagined she would be. She hopes others might get a glimpse of the lifestyle that brings her such joy in “Levi’s Lost Calf.”

All photos by Leather & Lace Photography.

Megan lives on a small farm in Severance, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University in 2010 with her Bachelors in Business Management and Equine Science. While at Colorado State she was part of the 2006 AQHA World Champion Horse Judging Team and received the individual Reserve title.

Megan continued assistant coaching for five years at Colorado State University, and now judges open and 4-H shows across the western United States. She represented Colorado as Miss Rodeo Colorado in 2008, 0traveling over 25,000 miles promoting rodeo, and was named third runner-up at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

Megan enjoys the horse show and rodeo industries, reflective of her past positions as two-time Assistant to the PR/Marketing Director at the National Western Stock Show and Coordinator of the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Program, her position as Marketing Coordinator for Heel-O-Matic Training Systems and her current position as Social Media Strategist and Writer for Miller International. Megan continues to enjoy involvement in rodeos as she coaches aspiring rodeo queens, teaches seminars and clinics, and helps her family at jackpots, PRCA, amateur, and open rodeos.

Jenn was transplanted, from a big city in Texas, to the plains of South Dakota. The only person in her family to ride, she grew up rodeoing, managed a rodeo scholarship to college, and earned a marketing degree from Tarleton State University.

She went on to train barrel horses for a living, before being swept off her feet by a handsome, cowboy who lives where the mailbox is an almost 20 mile round trip. Now able to live out her dream of being a cowgirl, horseman, and artist, she lives with her Cowboy, kids, dogs (and miscellaneous critters), on about 8,000 acres on his 3rd generation-run family ranch, where they raise Black Angus Cattle and Registered Quarter horses.

Most days you can find her horseback, either starting colts, or riding through the cows. You’ll also see her with a camera in her hand, more often than not, photographing life on the ranch. In winter you’ll find her feeding hay, and doing chores. She gets to pursue her passions and enjoys sharing her “charmed” life with others through her blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Born and raised as an only child in the Lone Star State, Josie Drenner learned early on that being a woman doesn’t mean that life should only consist of doing things like shopping, going to the spa, & staying as far away from dirt as possible. While she loved doing all of the typical “mother-daughter” activities with her mother, she loved just the same spending time with her father doing things like offshore fishing, watching him race his custom race car, flying model airplanes, and helping with home-improvement projects. Josie credits those memorable experiences for being the root of the way she lives her life today as a wife, mother, and career woman.

After graduating from high school, she worked in the medical field for 15 years starting out as a receptionist and ending as an office manager. She resigned when the opportunity to become a stay-at-home mom was presented to her. She had always planned on going back to work once both of her children started elementary school, but she wanted to find another career path that would allow her more flexibility with her family. Many different ideas crossed her mind, but it was when her husband bought her her first DSLR camera for her 35th birthday that the thought of being a professional photographer entered her mind. She always loved taking photos, but having a camera that allowed her to get more creative, quality shots is what really got her hooked. She practiced every chance she got until she literally woke up one morning in August 2010 and decided that she was going to take that leap of faith. She filed her papers with the state and “Josie Drenner Photography” was officially open for business in September 2010.

In her first year of business, she did everything from portrait sessions to commercial properties to live Texas music shows to bull riding which resulted in her work being published several times, featured on numerous websites, and used on 2 TX music album covers.