NFU Blog

When asked if he had any hobbies or activities he did in his free time, James Nisly simply laughed and said, “Hobbies? I don’t have time for hobbies.” Although whenever he can slip away from his farming business, which is very rarely, he enjoys down-hill skiing.

James grew up in Kalona, Iowa, a small farming community in southeast Iowa that epitomizes rural America and family farming (I feel justified in saying this because I grew up fifteen miles from there, and can attest to the accuracy of this statement). While his family was not involved in production agriculture, the area was infiltrated with those who were. James’ family did, however, keep a few small livestock and a garden in their backyard. So either way you look at it, James has had agriculture coursing through his blood since birth.

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In the United States, the average grocery store’s produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator. The industrialized method of food production is considered efficient and profitable for large corporations, but it can be harmful to our health, the environment and rural communities. Fresh produce from local, family farms can provide consumers with fresher, healthier products while reducing the carbon footprint left by reducing the transportation necessary to get the products from the farm to your table.

For Our Health - Buying local food from local farms means getting food when it’s at its prime. Fresh food from local farms are healthier and tastier because food doesn’t spend days on trucks and shelves losing valuable nutrients or undergoing extensive processing.

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Kate Wismer is a third-generation South Dakota Farmers Union member. She is also Miss South Dakota and will be competing to become the 2008 Miss America at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The pageant will air January 26 at 7:00 p.m. CST on The Learning Channel (TLC).

Kate’s entire family grew up in Britton, S.D. – including 29 of her first and second cousins, one of which will be graduating from Britton-Hecla High School every year between 2001 and 2016. Kate is the daughter of Susan and Mark, two Britton farm–raised kids who made a very intentional decision early in life to spend their adult lives raising their own children in their small hometown. Susan keeps books for several family businesses in Britton, including the farm she grew up on. She was also on NFU’s 2007 Policy Committee, and is currently serving on South Dakota’s Policy Committee.
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