Be the Link: Rooted in Resiliency

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee elections. As FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says, being a part of your local county committee is “your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production practices, and your perspective are represented.”

We want to introduce you to some committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2024. This week, meet Kristine Bach of Sibley County, Minnesota.

A Foundation of Family

Growing up on a small family farm, Kristine learned about the importance of farming and living in the country.

“I loved my childhood. I helped my grandparents gather eggs, handed tools to my dad when he was fixing a tractor, helped feed pigs, played with cats and dogs, and just wandered outside in the peace,” she said. 

As a teenager, she worked for Green Giant in the nearby town of Le Sueur where she met her husband, David, who also grew up on a century family farm. After graduating from college, they married and bought David’s grandparent’s house on the farm and raised their three children. 

“Over time we bought the land that is the original Bach Farm which was my husband’s dream,” Kristine said. “He farmed on his own for a number of years and was so happy.” 

Kristine helped with bookwork, conducting business with USDA, running equipment, loading the planter, and, with her husband, dreamed up ideas for their farm. Devastatingly, David died in a farm accident the day after Thanksgiving in 2013. Her son Christopher was a senior in college, majoring in biology with a focus on plants. 

“He was also interested in farming, so we talked about it and took the leap, and here we are today,” she said.

Today, she and Christopher operate Bach Farm LLC where they raise corn and soybeans on their sixth-generation family farm near Henderson, Minnesota. 

Importance of Community Service

Kristine comes from a family that values community service. David, his parents, and Kristine’s family were and are very active in their respective communities, and incidentally, her mother was the first woman in Minnesota elected to a township board. 

“I believe that community service is very important, so when I was asked in 2019 by then County Executive Director Daniel Mahoney to run for the county committee, I said ‘yes’,” said Kristine. 

She is currently serving her second term on the FSA committee in Sibley County. County committee members are elected by their peers to serve as a direct link between the agricultural community and USDA. Each year, FSA accepts nominations for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA) and the LAA up for election rotates each year.

“I thought joining the committee would be a great opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the numerous programs FSA has to offer,” Kristine said.

As a committee member, Kristine and her counterparts review program applications and make decisions based on FSA guidelines. 

“I love working with my neighbors to create ways for people of all ages to be successful and sustainable in farming,” she said. “I enjoy working with people who have a love for agriculture.”

Local Voices Matter

County committees administer farm programs in their local area, which involves receiving feedback. 

“Whether it is from producers or staff, feedback is really important,” Kristine said. “We are aware of programs that work well, and for those that don’t, we can pass along the information so improvements can be made.” 

As producers, committee members are aware of local weather conditions and economies, so they can make knowledgeable decisions to assist their neighbors in being successful and profitable. 

“I am really supportive of generational farming but am also supportive of young farmers who are interested and have the passion for farming,” Kristine said. 

Getting involved in your local county committee is a great way to discuss issues, support agriculture in your region, learn more about FSA programs, and how the Agency operates. 

“Say yes if you’re thinking about running,” Kristine said. “You won’t regret it.”

Model of Courage

Community is incredibly important to the Bach Family. When David passed, Kristine and her three children received overwhelming support from near and far, especially their neighbors and families in the community. 

“We are rooted in our community, both figuratively and literally,” Kristine said.

Giving back to the community that gave them so much in a tremendous time of need is very important to her. In addition to farming, Kristine is also a pediatric intensive care nurse and has worked at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital for over 35 years. 

“I’m representative of what most farm families are like, where you have people working off the farm because of the way farming finances and the economy can be,” Kristine said. 

Farming has been a learning curve for both Kristine and Christopher, but they say it is truly amazing to be farmers. You are a mechanic, negotiator, marketer, agronomist, biologist, entrepreneur, and so much more. As a producer, you also have to be knowledgeable about world and local events, but then roll with the weather, markets, and whatever is happening outside of your farm that you have no control over. Kristine said, “It really takes a lot of faith, courage, and resilience.”

More Information

For more information on FSA county committee elections, contact your local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Ellyn Oelfke is the outreach and public affairs coordinator for FSA in Minnesota.