“Faces of NK Seeds” Mother’s Day Series, Part 2

Sarah Dunlap is gearing up for her first Mother’s Day as a mom. As the mother of a 6 month old, she’s looking forward to raising her child in the agriculture community. From personal experience, she says there’s no better way to grow up and no kinder people to learn from.

“There’s no better, more supportive community than agriculture,” Sarah states. “Farmers are kind, generous and hardworking. They are entrepreneurs who work 365 days a year, but if they hear a neighbor is sick, they are right there to pitch in and make sure the crops get harvested — and that kind of support is hard to find. I can’t think of a better group of people.”

Sarah and her husband both grew up on Illinois row crop operations, and they remain active on her Central Illinois family row crop and cattle operation, which her brother and dad still farm. Sarah says she’s grateful to see how the role of women in agriculture has expanded over the last few decades. It’s a trend she hopes to see continue.

“My NK team is comprised of more women than men, which is indicative of the big headway women in ag have made,” she says. “The first faces we see in ag retail are typically women as well, and they make everyone’s lives easier. Women and moms play a huge role in agriculture, but I hope to see more women actively farming in the future.”

Sarah says that, regardless of the role, all working moms walk a delicate balance between work and home. “Moms, in general, do not receive the recognition they deserve, and all moms are superheroes,” she says. “As a new mom, I’ve set a goal of trying to be present where I am. When I’m at work, that’s my focus, but when I’m with my family, I’m trying not to be making mental to-do lists for my job.”

This Mother’s Day will certainly be a special one for Sarah, and she hopes it will be a nice occasion for all farm moms, too. “No matter what role they play, farm moms pick up a lot of slack on the home front during planting and harvest, while their spouses are working long days in the fields to make the world a better place,” she says. “It’s hard on those farmers who may not get to spend many waking hours with their kids during these busy times, but the farm moms deserve acknowledgment for all the extra work they do. It speaks to the strong work ethic that is inherent to farm families and communities.”

Sarah says that farming is tough, but well worth it.

“It’s a fantastic and fulfilling life,” she says. “Raising a child in the ag community is something I’m going to cherish.”