Redefining the Family Farm: Joanna Larson's Farm Beginnings Story

Joanna Larson has been involved in her parents' farming operation for most of her life. When she returned home after college, she saw an opportunity to diversify the family farm with a community-driven approach. To turn her vision into a viable plan, she sought out the support of FARRMS to lay the groundwork for developing new markets that align with her passion for supporting rural communities.

While pursuing a degree in agriculture and biosystems engineering and studying abroad in Europe, Joanna observed farming systems that operated on a much different scale than the large-scale agriculture she knew back home. She saw a greater variety of crops and a deeper connection to the local community, systems that felt reminiscent of the way her own parents and local community described farming generations ago. Recognizing that something was missing when agriculture grew so large, Joanna saw an opportunity to develop a system that could feed the community, and employ local people while prioritizing the environment, pasture, and native plant species. It was this desire to connect the supply chain closer to home and build a more sustainable future that led her and her father to enroll in the Farm Beginnings course in 2024.

Farm Beginnings provided a dedicated space for them to discuss their individual goals, solidify Joanna’s farm dreams and mission, and create a foundation for the generational transition of the family farm. It allowed Joanna to sit down and fully think through what she wants the farm to look like and what she considers sustainable for her personally. 

The course solidified the viability of her business by helping her analyze potential markets and establish a framework for her operation. This clarity gave her the permission she needed to say no to certain opportunities, believing, "This is what I am going to do and what I am going to do well." She stressed that this focused approach is crucial for financial resilience and sustainability, preventing her from stretching herself too thin. Farm Beginnings gave Joanna the confidence and direction to diversify the family farm; she now manages a portion of the land utilizing a high tunnel and pasture to grow and sell a diverse an array of vegetables, wholesale flowers, and retail beef, while also pursuing organic certification for all produce sold at her small farm stand in Sheyenne, ND.

Joanna’s mission focuses on community resilience. She is passionate about the ripple effect of supporting local agriculture, stating that the dollar spent on local food gets distributed throughout the community. "If you care about your small towns, if you care about community resilience, if you care about there being a school in your community where you grew up . . . you have to look at how to support the people that live there and make a livelihood there," she explains. She sees local food as paramount, offering abundant opportunity to better incorporate sustainable sourcing into schools and grocery stores. As an entrepreneur and firm believer that "you can do anything you put your mind to," Joanna has extensive goals for the future. FARRMS continues to be a crucial partner, providing support in grant access, brainstorming opportunities like opening a brick-and-mortar farm store, and addressing the need for a local workforce by engaging motivated youth in leadership and practical work experience. She concludes, "FARRMS just continues to be a great advocate for all local foods in North Dakota and the more we can amplify those voices the better."