• Home
  • About
  • Connect
  • Press/Media

The Pinke Post

  • Life in North Dakota
  • Recipes
  • Small Town Living
  • Women In Ag

Posted By Katie On November 3, 2013 14 Comments

Farmer, Teacher, Mother of 5: Katie Heger #WomenInAg

Filed Under: Motivated Moms Tagged With: 30 Days, f, motherhood, Women in Ag, working mom 14 Comments

Katie HegerHow does she always stay positive? That’s the question I often ask myself after I have visited with my fellow prairie mama, Katie Heger. Katie is a positive encourager, no matter the situation. She is a mother of five children. Ben (12), Libby (9), Christian (6), Nellie Jo (3) and Piper (17 mo) and a wife to her farming husband, Steven. She has spent 13 years as an educator in schools, worked for the Department of Public Instruction in North Dakota and now is home full-time but still goes into the classroom to substitute teach and spends more time than any volunteer I know thinking of ways to integrate agriculture into elementary classrooms. This is not the way Katie was raised. She was a city girl, born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and she shares about that today and what she thought agriculture was until marrying Steven and becoming a farmer herself. She moved to Underwood, North Dakota to start her life as a woman in agriculture after Steven and she were married. Katie and my husband knew each other at their small, private liberal arts college. But I didn’t meet her until we became active in North Dakota Farm Bureau together. She is a fabulous positive role model as an educator, mother, wife and farmer. Get to know, Katie Heger, below in her own words. 

What is your role in agriculture today? For our farm I run the support team: office manager/ accounting, parts runner, tasty treats chef. I also work to share the story of agriculture on our farm via social media, with my neighbors and students. I also belong to a few organizations that work to make sure agriculture is not taken for granted, swept under the rug and is accurately portrayed and understood.

How has agriculture shaped your life? Growing up in Minneapolis, I did not know what agriculture was really about. I thought farming was a simple process. I have come to understand the vast impact it has on every aspect of our lives. I cannot make it through the first hour of my morning without encountering at least 100 items or conveniences that agriculture is a part of.  Being a farmer, I have come to know that it takes every day of every year to produce the crop we raise. It takes planning, budgeting, more planning, trouble shooting, on-going training, and 100’s of hours (often closer to 1000) each month behind a wheel, at a desk and performing manual labor to get the job done! In addition, I work with my children ( and sometimes their friends)to raise a garden. About 50% of the produce goes to the school in the fall for the lunch program. The other part gets eaten straight from the garden or is canned! We love making pickles, salsa and spaghetti sauce!Heger Farms

What excites you about your community? I am excited to see many young people moving back to our Ag and Energy community. There are several events throughout the year that are family orientated and parents and kids can have fun and visit with others. We have a large 4-H club and more kids are showing interest in livestock. I am also excited because our community is always looking at what is needed to keep it viable and works hard to make the town a welcoming place for individuals, families, and small business.

When was the last time you tried something for the first time? I am always experimenting in the kitchen and when I eat out. The last thing I ate at a restaurant was collard greens. They were tasty! At home,  I can say that I almost never use a recipe. This year we planted a few acres of cover crops, crops that provide nutrients and break through the hard layers of soil allowing water to be absorbed all while minimizing erosion. We planted turnips and white radishes. I made a salad out of these ingredients and a few more. To my surprise my whole family ate it!

What do you do to encourage others? Who/what serves as a source of encouragement for you? I try to encourage others by keeping things positive. I attempt to see the silver lining in each situation. I will also ask people questions to get them to think about the positive outcomes. In addition, I will write notes and mail them and randomly send a message to people thanking them or sharing their impact on me.  A wide variety of people serve as a source of encouragement. Mostly, it is my family. After that it is the people around me. I choose to surround myself with people who lift me up, not drain me. With that being said, the people around me don’t always see eye to eye with me, but help me to broaden my understandings while encouraging me to stand on my own two feet and lead.Katie Heger, North Dakota farmer

What is your favorite home-cooked meal? My FAVORITE meal includes anything with gravy or bacon! On a fall day, a bread bowl with a hearty beef stew hits the spot!

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? I am not sure that I could pick just one person, nor would they be famous. I would pick people who are in a similar place in life, farming, raising kids, doing side jobs, and volunteering. I think we could be a great support for each other. Right now there are several of us “Prairie Mamas” who reach out, share and support each other and this is an invaluable friendship/ mentorship.

If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be? Take time to read, listen and ask questions. Communication is key!

What makes you smile? Seeing others smile, be successful and happy!

Stay connected with Katie Heger on her blog, My Prairie Days and on Twitter. 

Subscribe in the right column by email to not miss any of the daily features of Women In Agriculture this month! 

Past features:

Kelly Rivard: Country Nights, City Lights

Introduction to 30 Days of Women in Agriculture

Follow all my blogger friends sharing in 30 Days on this list from Holly Spangler.

What is your favorite home-cooked meal? (I agree with Katie. For me, bacon and gravy makes everything my favorite.)

30 Days of Women In Ag

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print
Previous Post: « Kelly Rivard: Country Nights, City Lights #WomenInAg
Next Post: Where do eggs come from? Ask Jill Benson, 4th generation Egg Farmer #WomenInAg »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Beef Researcher & 3rd Generation Montana Rancher: Dr. Rachel Endecott #WomenInAg says:
    November 5, 2013 at 9:55 am

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  2. Agriculture Led Her From Alberta to Iowa: Meet Crystal Blin #WomenInAg says:
    November 6, 2013 at 10:00 am

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  3. New Hampshire Pig Farmer & Working Mom: Meet Alicia Pedemonti #WomenInAg says:
    November 7, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    […] passionately working in agriculture in all different stages and walks of life across Missouri, North Dakota, California, Montana and Iowa. Today we are headed to the Northeast U.S to meet Alicia Pedemonti, […]

    Reply
  4. Veterinary Technician, Farmer, Rancher & Mom: Meet North Dakota’s Amanda Bader says:
    November 10, 2013 at 9:49 am

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  5. Not a farm girl to Virginia FFA State Officer to Iowa Ag Education: Meet Katie Lukens #WomenInAg says:
    November 12, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  6. The Next Generation of Idaho Ranching: Meet Cowgirl Communicator Jessie Thompson says:
    November 15, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  7. The Next Generation of Idaho Ranching: Meet Cowgirl Communicator Jessie Thompson #WomenInAg says:
    November 15, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  8. Oregon Grass Seed Farmer with Wedding Bells Ringing: Meet Marie Bowers #WomenInAg says:
    November 16, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  9. California’s Couture Cowgirl & Cheerleader for Ag: Meet Celeste Settrini #WomenInAg says:
    November 17, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  10. Young Farmer & Auburn University Senior: Meet Alabama’s Anna Leigh Peek #WomenInAg says:
    November 19, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  11. Building Connections For a Next Generation: Meet Illinois Farmer Mary Mackinson Faber says:
    November 21, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply
  12. Bolding Sharing Her Voice As A Modern Hog Farmer: Meet Missouri’s Chris Chinn #WomenInAg says:
    November 24, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5  […]

    Reply
  13. City Girl to Cotton Loving Agvocate & Agnerd: Meet Janice Person #WomenInAg says:
    November 25, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5  […]

    Reply
  14. The Force Behind 30 Days, An Illinois Farmer, Writer, Wife & Mom: Meet Holly Spangler #WomenInAg says:
    February 25, 2015 at 6:37 am

    […] November 3: Katie Heger, North Dakota Farmer, Teacher and Mother of 5 […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the Prairie…

I am a mom of three kids and a wife to Nathan. Together we live on the North Dakota prairie, 97 miles from a Starbuck's. I share about family, food, farming and the prairie that I love. I used to commute 98 miles one-way to work but it required too much coffee. So now I am home, consulting, speaking, writing and primarily, juggling family life.
See more of our life on the prairie... Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Stay in Touch…

Get the news from the prairie delivered directly to your inbox when it's hot off the press!

from my kitchen. . .

Who are these Real Farmwives of America?

Crock Pot Turkey & Bacon 3 Bean Chili

13 Make Ahead Family Meal Tips

farm life

Favorite Farm Girls

  • Beyer Beware
  • GOODEness Gracious
  • The Wife of a Dairyman
  • Fresh from the Farm

Griggs Dakota

Visit our 5th generation family farm...

Latest Recipes

How To Make Snowman Sundaes

Real Farmwives & Friends: My Favorite Christmas Entertaining Recipes

Rhubarb Sauce Recipe

More Posts from this Category

Life on the Prairie…

More Posts from this Category

Women in Agriculture

Ladies Night on a North Dakota farm

Sarah Nasello’s Party on the Prairie Giveaway

Debbie Lyons-Blythe of Kids, Cows and Grass & The Need For Organ Donors

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2023 ·Captivating Theme ·Custom Designed by Design Chicky· Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.