The Romantic and Real Side of Agriculture
Farmers and ranchers are always battling things outside of their control when it comes to their livelihood. Weather, the rising cost of doing business, market price for their goods, and consumer buying habits are just a few of the variables that affect their bottom line. Add to that list, radical groups on the fight against unwarranted environmental and animal care and the battle seems uphill all the way.
We profiled three Montana ranch women that have taken to social media to try and help educate consumers about what it takes to provide food for their families while giving them an inside look at the lives of every day farmers and ranchers.
On three very different levels, these women are each making a difference for the industry.
The Prairie Crocus Blog and Photography
Written by Cyd Hoefle
Photography by RIchelle Barrett
Havre, MT
“It’s been amazing to me the relationships I have gained from posting. It’s fun to hear from those that grew up on a farm and are no longer living the agricultural lifestyle, but they get it, and they support it. “
- Richelle Barrett
Richelle Barrett would be the first to say she had no idea when she began sharing her thoughts on social media that today she would be a well-known agriculture advocate. For her, it started nearly eight years ago simply as an avenue to relieve the stress of working full time, being a mom and wife, and helping on her family’s ranch.
Back then, she shared thoughts on motherhood, both humorous and sometimes difficult. But as her kids, audience and ability grew, she became more focused on sharing the life of a ranch woman. Her posts about ranching day-to-day resonate not only with fellow ranchers but they’ve also helped bridge the gap between producers of food and consumers of food.
“It just kind of evolved,” Richelle said. “Writing is always therapeutic for me – a way to get my feelings out and reflect back on my parents’ and grandmother’s way of life.”
Part of that reflection comes from living in the same house her grandmother dwelled in, on land that has been in the family, outside of Havre, for the past seventy years. As the third generation to live on the property, Richelle has insight to all the facets of ranch life but often writes from what she perceives would be the way her grandmother, a single mother, may think.
“It helps me to think deeper when I think about what her perspective would be on things,” she said.
Her posts are thought provoking, gentle and poetic and encourage readers to look for the good, enjoy the simple, and to be kind and content.
Today, she has a following of 14,000 on Facebook and has impacted ranch women and beyond with her quiet words of reflection and wisdom. Now much beyond a stress reliever, her writings have opened doors Richelle never dreamt possible.
“I’ve had a couple of posts shared that a few publishers have seen, and some writings have come out of that for me and that’s been exciting.”
She’s now writing once a month for The Cattle Business Weekly and her posts are showing on “Her View from Home,” a Facebook page about marriage and family life.
“I’m truly an introvert,” Richelle said, “so this has been really good for me.”
Her Facebook page has created online friendships with readers from neighboring states and as far away as Florida and Canada.
“It’s been amazing to me the relationships I have gained from posting,” she said. “It’s fun to hear from those that grew up on a farm and are no longer living the agricultural lifestyle, but they get it, and they support it. “
Down the road, Richelle hopes to transition from writing as a hobby to writing for income and, one day, write a book. In the meantime, as she refines her writing and continues her daily posts, she’s proud to be a voice for ranchers and the ag industry.
Check out Richelle at The Prairie Crocus Blog and Photography on Facebook.
