The young farmers thinking outside the box in rural Wisconsin

Weddings, workshops, quality beef, and pick-your-own produce—Derek and Nicole Sippel are redefining farm tourism with their “Art of Agriculture” in Southeastern Wisconsin. 

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Transcript

 Sometimes when we think about, you know, these bad connotations with farming, that can be shown in the media or what conspiracy theories you can find online. There's, there's that dark side of like, this is what people really think we do. And it's not, I do think there's this movement of people saying, pushing back on that and saying, no, I, I know this person and I can see them and go to their farm and I can see that they.

Are totally different from that portrayal that excites me is that we can right directly connect to these consumers and they can see for themselves what farming is. I don't know if you knew what you were getting into Yeah. When they signed up to be a farmer's wife, but here we are.

Tomorrow. It's never a guarantee unless we take care of today. We are a cooperative, grounded in 100 years of forward thinking ever since our beginning in 1921. It's the pursuit of a reliable food supply, a sustainable future, and vibrant communities for all of us. Rooted in the promise. Of a brighter future.

This is rooted in Tomorrow, the podcast by Land O'Lakes, Inc. I'm your host, Kim Olson. Join us for stories of innovators, change makers, and the modern entrepreneurs who work the land.

The most recent AG census by the USDA has noted the average age of US farmers is 60, but dive into the data a little deeper, and you'll see the number of farmers representing the lowest age bracket, 44 or younger is really growing. The farmers you're about to meet in our episode, Derek and Nicole Sipple are two of them.

The Sipple, like many others in their position, are stepping in to carry on the legacies established by generations before them, while also putting a modern spin and personal touch on the operations.

All right, well, let's. Let's, uh, let's jump in. I don't even, I don't even know where to start here because you guys are, uh, badgers. We're Badgers, yes. Wisconsin Badgers. I, and, and I'll come back to that, but I'm a, I'm a Minnesota gopher and I, so I have to tap that down a little bit. Uh, for our conversation today, I'll.

I'll, uh, I'll just, uh, respect you for the, uh, for the NCAA uh, basketball, um, showing at least, at least she got in there. I, I think we won one game in the NIT, but, uh, it's, it's still a sensitive subject here. Yeah, I, I know I. Now, I will tell you, I, I, uh, one of my kids went to Purdue. That's the team that I, I pretend I'm from because they, while they, while they don't, didn't give me a degree, they do have some of my, uh, some of my tuition money.

So we'll be cheering there. So tell me, you guys are, are from Wisconsin, right? You grew up in towns kind of close to each other. Um. But didn't meet until you both were at in, uh, Madison, right? Yeah, that's correct. Um, we probably crossed paths unknowingly just because our towns are pretty small and they are actually like rival high schools.

Um, wow. For the record, I mean, my school won most sports while we were in school together, so we can just put that in as a plug. But, um, oh, Nicole, I'm gonna like you.

I just had to mention it, but no, uh, we uh, ended up having some mutual friends down at school and we were both a, um, part of the agricultural campus there. And, um, yeah, we were kind of set up by a friend and I don't know, the rest is history. So Did you immediately connect on farming? I'm, you guys, listeners can't see this, but, uh, Derek and Nicole are sharing EarPods there and that, that's a close marriage there.

If you can see. Sit, share the mic, share the earphones. It looks great. Yeah. Did you, did you connect on farming or did you, uh. Personal friend said, Hey, I think you guys have some mutual interests. Yeah, it was more the friend. I, uh, did not grow up on a farm. Uh, but obviously Derek is a fifth generation farmer, so he is deeply entrenched.

Um, being a part of the agricultural campus, I was more planning to go to veterinary school, so my focus was more on the small animal side. But just throughout that. That college program, you are kind of thrust into the large animal side of things. And so that's how we started to have some mutual friends.

And um, and I would say that that definitely was something that was intriguing to me. And there was farming and, you know, my family history, but I did not grow up on a farm. So I learned a lot from him and I think that was really cool. Okay. Yeah, I would say, you know, both our communities that we came from were pretty rural and very agriculture centered.

Um, you know, she, you know, we call her a city girl, but that's really not the case. You know, ev everyone from the area is somewhat tied to agriculture and has that background. Tell me about the, the cities. I, I'd like to hear, um, about both a little bit and, and how they compare and, um. All tied to agriculture for sure.

Yeah. I, I mean, to our standards, they're pretty small. Um. Mm-hmm. You know, neither of 'em have a Walmart, if that puts things into perspective for anyone. But a lot of, a lot of, uh, bars and churches. A lot of bars. There you go. There you go. Perfect. Need both. Yeah. Yeah. Is now tell me it's, uh, Campbell Sport, who's from Campbell Sport.

So yeah, I went to, to high school at Campbell Sport, which, you know, our school district was very large. It's probably one of the larger ones in the state. So it was like a 30 minute drive by car to get there. Then the bus ride was over an hour. So, you know, my, my hometown is St. Cloud, Wisconsin, so, you know, we would make the trip to Campbell Sport every day for school.

And, you know, it pretty, pretty small town. Um, you know, but the, the high school, you know, we got the athletic department and, uh, we had an FFA, you know, that I was involved in as well. But yeah, pretty close to Kioski where, where Nicole was from. And I would say it's probably the same story there. Yeah, definitely.

It was a drive to get to school. I didn't live in town, so we were more in a rural area, and I would say, uh. Both very, uh, very agricultural. So the FFA was very big. Um, and, uh, four H was very big in both of these, uh, communities. And then, uh, I would say both of us are used to having like drive your tractor to school day be a thing, and the whole parking lot is full of tractors.

So Really? So, yeah. Yeah, we're. Surround by it. And obviously he was a part of it and I, I mean, had experience with it just through going to school and stuff, but just didn't grow up on it. So drive your tra tractor to school day. I love that. It's a big, it's a big deal. Yeah. It's a big deal. And, and those who didn't have tractors brought Lawnmowers.

Lawnmowers. Yeah. Really? That's awesome. And then do you like decorate 'em or you just see like, um, I think more of the decoration was probably mud. I think the dirtier your tractor was the cooler. You were, um, so a badge of honor. I like that. I, and so Nicole, you didn't grow up in it, but now you're certified.

Veterinary nurse. So I, I assume, um, you got some exposure to animals or did you just kind of choose that path because you were interested in animals? How did that come about? Yeah, definitely. So again, despite the fact not growing up on a farm, um, my family was very, um, active outdoorsman. My dad is. It's a big type hunter, fisherman.

And, um, so I am very used to being with animals, you know, um, as well as utilizing them for hunting. So like our dogs were, were a dog, um, hunting with the birds and things like that. So get just got used to that and we're all a bunch of softies. So anytime there was a stray cat or something, we were taking care of it.

Um, and then decided to go on to become a certified veterinary nurse with more of a focus on small animal. But throughout. Schooling, you learn both sides of it. Um, so I have, I have used my skills a number of times on the farm as well. Um, but I do, I'm working, uh, at a veterinary clinic, uh, part-time. And I've been a part of that veterinary community for 10 years now, so, um, fantastic.

We enjoy it. It's a very fulfilling and rewarding, although high stress, uh, type of a career path. Yeah, I'm sure. Did you grow up with labs? I'm just curious. I'm married to a, a, a hunter and he's always, always interested in, uh, what kind of, uh, dogs. He's a, he's a lab guy. He loves that. Yeah, definitely. And granted, they, uh, she wasn't necessarily an award-winning bird dog by any means.

She became much more of a family pet, but that was the, that was the initial goal with her. But yeah, she, uh, she loved it out there. She just wasn't the best listener. Oh, yeah. Well, that's, that's. Not uncommon from what I see. That's part of a lab too. Yeah, exactly. Um, so when you guys started, uh, to think about living on a farm together, what were some of the conversations you had?

So, you know, I'm, I'm interested in as you're, uh, as you guys decided that was the future for you, what was the con. Conversation like between you? I don't know if there was a bunch of conversation. It was more or less I met Derek as a farmer knowing he was going to be farming. Yeah. Um, and it, not to say that my input didn't matter, it did, it definitely did.

It was just kind of assumed like, this is, this is the career path he chosen. Um, you know, as I got to know him more and get more involved. Realized that I loved it as well. Um, and what an amazing gift that we're able to give our children. And, um, yeah, I, I, it just kind of was the plan from the start. I don't if you have a different thought process behind it.

I don't know if you knew what you were getting into Yeah. When you signed up to be a farmer's wife, but here we are. That's also true. There's a lot, lot of learning involved in the whole process, but it was never a question of will we or won't we be living. Working with the farm, it was just how do, how do I fit in?

Um. Mm-hmm. How do I become more of a part of it? Yeah. And, and you all have children? Yeah, we have, um, a almost 2-year-old and an almost 7-year-old. They have summer birthdays, so coming up. Ah, that's wonderful. Um, so when, you know, you, you run, uh, air Points Farm and you live together, um. With and close to, uh, extended family, Dirk's, extended family.

Um, when you think about, uh, that being a five generation, uh, calling in some ways, um, what has that meant to be part of the family business? I, I love the way you characterize it, Nicole. You know, I, we just knew that that's. That's where he was gonna be and how do we fit that in? I'd be interested, um, Derek, in how you think about it, kind of legacy thoughts and generational.

Yeah, you know, it, I never really questioned it. It was always something that I knew I wanted to do and wanted to pursue, um, and, and kind of keep that legacy going, being a, a fifth generation. Um, but you know, that, that also comes with a lot of pressure too. You know, it, it's not always easy. And as the, the farming landscape kind of changes, um, you know.

It's not gonna look maybe like it did in those previous generations. And, uh, so we're just trying to make it work the best, the best that we think we can. Um, did you have any reluctance to, to take the, take it into the fifth generation? Um, no, no. But then again, you know, maybe, you know, I didn't know everything I was gonna be up against at the time, you know, when you're young.

Um, you know, I just wanted to work all the time and that was fine. Um, but then, you know, you, you get a family and now we have two kids and all of a sudden I wanna spend time with them and not just the cows and, uh, out the field. So it's kind of trying to make it work, um, the best we can and still, still be a family man and a dad as well.

Not just even make it work, but make it our own. Make it something that we enjoy so that it's not just work, something that, um, fits our life rather than we're fitting it. Right. And everyone knows the financial struggles of, of dairy farming and, you know, making it profitable and still enjoying it. Um, which isn't always easy to do, but we're finding a way.

Well, let's talk about how you're finding a way and, um, get into the, the farm piece of it. So when it comes to, um, area point farms, what are all the things you do or produce on, on the farm? Well, we each get to have our little say in what we're doing. So it was a bit of a, a marriage of the, the two ideas when we initially talked about kind of taking a different direction or, or adding something fun, um, into the farming, um, atmosphere that we have currently.

So I. Uh, I'm, I'm growing flowers and doing, um, sort of OnFarm, farm stand, flower bouquets, uh, doing workshops on the farm. And then I also do event florals and weddings. Um, and then, uh, Derek has his own little pumpkin. It's not a little pumpkin. Yeah, no, no. Yeah. So, you know, I think we kind of, this all started from just, you know, some things we like to do on the side that turned into much more now and, uh.

I don't know if we started 'em, we could have imagined what it's kind of become. Um, you know, I, I kind of wanted to grow vegetables and she wanted to grow flowers. So then we grew flowers and, uh, and, uh, dear, happy wife, happy life. Yeah. Yeah. So here's what we say to that. That's the direction that went and, uh.

You know, we also, in the fall, we had a wagon of pumpkins outside our house and you know, it started very small and, you know, mostly just family neighbors would come get pumpkins. And now we have, we'll be planting like eight acres of pumpkins this year. So. That, uh, that really took off as well. Okay. Now what I've been told is that you've grown world record competing pumpkins won at over just over 2100 pounds.

Is that right? Yeah. Yep. So, um, you know, I always gotta split it up into two categories. There is the pumpkins that we sell on the farm, um, for decoration. And then there is my competition pumpkins, which, um, you know, I only grow one or two of those and I've had some pretty good success doing that. Um, it was kinda, I have a passion for growing things and I love pumpkins, so it was really a way for me to kind of compete with my skills.

And, um, you know, once you grow a giant pumpkin and these things are growing 50 pounds a day, it really just, it sucked me in. And, and, uh, here I am. Wait a minute. They grow 50 pounds every day. Yeah. So in the peak of the season, um, and if things, the plant is, is going right, um, we can definitely achieve 50 pounds a day where, you know, I go to work in the morning, come back at night, and I can visibly see the pumpkin has grown.

And, uh, you know, we're measuring it to, to kind of track its weight so we can kind of get a gauge of, of where we're at. Okay. I, I, when I was, um. Reading some of the background on you guys. I thought I'm really going to enjoy the conversation about the flowers and the weddings. And now I am a little fascinated by the pumpkins.

I have to say. I, and I would imagine too are when you're doing these kinds of things on the side, um. Does that generate some interest in the farming practices, kinda the way you're doing it, uh, from consumers or from other folks in the community? Um, yeah, definitely. I mean, we're, you know, going down the road of this regenerative agriculture movement and a lot of those practices that I use when we're growing corn and soybeans, I also use on pumpkins and, you know, it, it has had great success in both areas.

And I think the community notices that, um, I am a member of our. Farmer led group, the Sheboygan River, progressive Farmers, and uh, you know, we're a farmer led group that kind of focuses on soil health and water quality. And uh, you know, I think a lot of, like you said, a lot of those practices, people pick up on that and, and they like to see, you know, what we're doing.

Um, you know, a lot of our fields are, are always green or, or have interesting things growing in them. That kind of gets people talking a little bit. And, uh, you know, we like to have field days or, or, you know. Farm walks, things along that nature that kinda helps showcase the things we're doing. And I would say one part of that too is, um, it's really cool to be able to connect with people on social media with the pretty pictures of flowers and, oh, look what we're growing and look at these events that we're doing.

Um, and then obviously in the fall, the crazy different types of pumpkins and squashes that we grow. And then once you get them out here, you can. Clearly we see that this isn't just flowers and pumpkins. There's so much more going on in. They're asking questions about the actual farming practices and oh, there, you know, there's a big field of corn over there, and they might be asking about that.

So it's been a really neat link to just showing the consumer. What farming actually looks like. Um, it's not just maybe what they've assumed and, and thought of growing up or, or see on TV or whatnot. It's um, it's, the reality of it is a lot cooler and I think they, they get to pick up on that. So it's almost like our, our enjoyment or our fun hobby.

Type of, uh, business is pulling people in and seeing sort of the meat and potatoes of things too, and, and using that as an educational opportunity as well. Do you think, Nicole, so now talk to me about the, the weddings and the flowers. So fields of flowers, um. I would think also generates some interest and some questions as you said.

How, how did that kinda evolve for you guys? Weddings are tough businesses. Oh yeah. It's been, it's been a very interesting, um, growth process. But I would say to back it up to the beginning, I, you know, was getting a little burnt out at, uh, the vet clinic, high stress environment and just wondering how I could be more involved on the farm, how I could be home more and around the kids more.

And I made some very. Very like passerby comment of like, oh, you know, maybe I could grow flowers. I worked at a garden center when I was in high school. You grow flowers and do stuff like that. Mm-hmm. And I swear to you, the next day he had like a business plan and a, and a growing plan and a garden layout and like, this is how we're gonna do this and that.

And so, um, that's great. Yeah, it's been a very, uh, I don't know, in some ways an easy process of, you know, he has so much knowledge, um, agronomy knowledge and, and you know, soil health knowledge that he's been amazing to have as a partner. And he can kind of take that over. I don't have to learn it 'cause he already knows.

I mean, I can learn it from him, but he's the one doing the bulk of the deciding. Um, as far as growing and keeping our soil and land healthy. Um, but then, you know, it's been a good, again, marriage of our skills is that mm-hmm. Then I'm able to kind of do some of the marketing side of things and when I'm choosing what to grow, I might tailor it to a certain type of look.

Um, so a lot of that is sort of the more. Wedding type of flowers. Yeah. So we're not just out here growing wild flowers. As I, I like to say, as people might have this connotation of a flower farm in Wisconsin, it's just some wild flowers. It's really truly growing crops. Um, and being able to market those and sell those is so important.

So, so yeah, getting to kind of flex my creative muscle, which is a totally different side of my brain from what I used at the vet clinic, um, yeah. Has been refreshing and enjoyable. And then. Yeah, the wedding industry can be difficult, but I think we draw a certain type of client, a certain type of bride or, um, wedding couple.

Is more interested in, you know, this is, uh, you know, a more sustainable type of getting flowers for an event or a wedding. This is a more local type of movement, and they might have those interests. And then there's a different style to it too, right? There is a little bit more of a whimsical or natural look to these bouquets, even though they're not wild flowers, they just might look different to your standard.

You know, Posey bouquet you get at a florist. So, yeah, so I think the type of clients we attract is exactly who we want. Um, someone that, who is interested in what we're doing and why we're doing it and has, uh, similar values. So I would say it's not. It's not a lot of bridezilla. It's put it, it's been a really cool experience getting to know these couples and, and, uh, they always get to come out for a farm tour and, you know, they see more than just flowers during that.

They get to see, um, all of us and getting to connect with them on a personal level has been really, really cool. That's so great. I, I'm just so impressed with how you guys have, um, just made it your own. And I, I'd like to talk a little bit about kind of the next generation and. What, what I hear is you've kind of taken the, the previous generation's vision and made it your own in some ways.

You know, we're outside of the box a little bit on, on what we're doing and. But I think at the same time, you have to realize that, you know, things, things are changing in, in the dairy industry as well as agriculture in general. And, uh, to make a small farm work, we think we have to diversify a little bit and kind of keep, keep an open mind as, as to what, uh.

What we do here. And luckily, um, our passions kind of are leading the way and it has kind of brought on this organic growth as I like to call it, where, you know, we're just taking what we like to do and building on it and seeing what works. Do you think it's attracted a younger generation? Yeah, I, I would say so.

I think it's a generational change in just what, um, business and what work looks like, and that includes farming in general. I think that's happening. All over, you know, people are learning what, what farming needs to them, um, and. Uh, yeah, I think it it, but I think it's been educational on both ends of it.

I do think that there's positive growth on, on both sides. Yeah. We're, I mean, we've been doing this maybe five years now, so it's a little early to tell, you know, if we made a big impact, um, on a younger generation. But I would certainly think it, it that we are, and, you know, we, we have high school help here on the farm and, uh, you know, harvesting flowers for us or harvesting pumpkins.

Um, it seems like there's interest there for sure. So it's hopefully something that keeps growing that way. Yeah, I think that it, it just has a, it changes what the word farm means to some of these kids who Right. Maybe have a, a preconceived notion of what a farm is and, and maybe they do have more interest in it than they realized.

Um, yeah. And this is just a way to connect to them, especially with the, the use of the social media too. Yeah, I was just gonna ask how, how else do we get millennials and Gen Z kind of interested in new ideas in farming and, and rural America and what it has to offer the, you guys are doing a lot with the social media piece of it.

Yeah, absolutely. Um. You know, it's, it's one of those things where I started it more or less to keep the family in the know of, you know, what we were doing and maybe why Nicole wasn't gonna work at the vet clinic quite as much anymore and, and what that looked like. And from there it turned into, from a just personal side of things, it turned into a business.

Um. Uh, tool that we use to, yeah, get the word out about things, but, um, also just teach, you know, this is what cover cropping means. And I might be showing a video of cover cropping for pumpkins, or I might be showing a video of cover cropping for, um, some of the farm crops. And, you know, the, the process looks similar and they're learning the same things and, and why we're doing it.

So I think it, it's a good, it's a good connector. Um. And I really enjoy it, doing it too. Yeah. It's a good way to, to just talk to people and learn about. What they're interested in too. Yeah. And I'm fascinated by how much social media often starts with just keeping your family informed. Derek, I'm sorry, I interrupted you.

What were you gonna say? I just kinda wanted to say too, while we were talking about the generations and, you know, being a fifth generation, um, you know, you're kind of set in traditional ways and I do take a lot away from first generation farmers who come to the table with kind of this mindset of, you know, they have no like.

We do this because that's how we always have done it, and I really appreciate, you know, someone coming in or a young person coming in with a totally different perspective and, you know, trying to keep an open mind to, you know, what, what's all, what we're all capable of. I think that's been very important too, having, you know, young people out on the farm or first time farmers that, you know, are, are doing things, you know, a little differently.

And I've taken a lot away from that as well. And especially with the social media is the same thing, you know, I, I get a lot outta that too. So it's, it's worked well on both ends. So what, building on that, what really excites you about the current state of agriculture and, and farming in general? Um, I. I would say I'm really excited kind of about this direct to consumer thing we have going on and, you know, kind of the, the buy local, um, know your farmer type of movement, um, really, really has me excited about, you know, what the potential of the future holds.

What about you, Nicole? I, I think that, that absolutely I would've, I would build on that and say that. You know, I think sometimes when we think about, you know, these bad connotations with farming, that can be shown in the media or what, you know, conspiracy theories you can find online. There's, there's that dark side of like, this is what people really think we do, and it's not, there's this other end of it as well where I do think there's this movement of people saying, pushing back on that and saying, no, I, I know this person and I can, I can see them and go to their farm and I can see that they, they.

Are totally different from that portrayal. Um, so I think that there is, there is a, a positive direction, um, that social media has aided in, um, in getting people interested in actually reaching out and going to these smaller farm operations and meeting the people that are there and. Um, that excites me is that we can right directly connect to these consumers and they can see for themselves what farming is and, um, what a value that that adds on, on both ends.

So I, I love the movement of Right, getting to know your farmer as well.

Well, I really wanna thank you guys for being, um, willing to tell the story. 'cause, uh, we talk a lot at Land O'Lakes about, um, our member stories and trying to get it out there, the real story and the real people. And this is, um, so helpful. I we always try to end our, uh, podcast with just the question, um, how do you see the future of agriculture?

So I'd love it if you guys would, uh, you. Know, I, I look at you guys and I see the future of agriculture and I'm so excited. Um, but I'd like to know what, what you see. You know, we have really high inputs and, you know, um, you know, we don't, uh, how do I say, you know, it's unpredictable what we're gonna get paid for those, um, commodities or milk and just trying to navigate, you know, how we're gonna make it work in the future.

You know, I wish I had, yeah, I could say this is what it's gonna look like and this is what we're gonna be doing. But you know, like I said earlier with this organic growth is we're just kind of finding our way through it and doing what we're passionate about. And you know, I think for the future of agriculture in general, I hope that's the direction it keeps going and that, you know, people are creative and find these niches and, you know, just, just remember we're producing food and, and things for our community and.

Um, just farmers are very resilient people, and I know we'll find a way to, to make it work. Um, but it's, it's gonna be challenging, but I think we're all up for it. Anything to add? Nicole? I, boy, that is just so well said. It, it might be that we just end it right there. I would say, I would just say that that right.

The creativity of the farming community to pivot and, and grow and, and that being their goal is, is what I see, is that everybody's. Yeah, just consistently forward facing. I think that that is what the future holds is they're able to kind of keep peering into the future and keep that optimistic look of like, we can make this work.

And, and we have ways to do that, um, within ourselves and within our creativity. So, yeah, I think, I think I agree. Amazing. Well, a as I said, I, I just wanna thank you guys so much and, um, if the future of agriculture is in your hands. I think we are in all in very, very good shape. I really appreciate the conversation.

Thanks for doing it. Thank you so much. It was an honor to talk with you guys. Yeah, thanks. Thanks for having us on. Thank you.

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